I spent last year perfecting a motorcycle loading system for the PA-32/34. This year, I’m itching to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I’d like to load up a Cherokee 6 with a motorcycle and camping gear and head west for a couple weeks. My goal is to string adventures together and to use the motorcycle to explore destinations and to visit non-fly-in places. Can anyone recommend places to go and things to do?



I live near Chicago and I’m planning to take a northern route west and a southern detour back home. I should have time to visit at least a dozen places. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Now that is very very cool! STC'd for which aircraft?

that thing looks heavy...

Here’s a quick look at a motorcycle loading system that I helped develop for PA-32 and PA-34 airplanes. A system of ramps and fixtures, called MotoLOAD, allow me to load and secure a motorcycle in around two minutes. A built-in winch system, powered by a cordless drill, does most of the work. After landing, it takes about two minutes to remove the motorcycle, unfold the handlebars and ride away.







The loading system is made from TIG-welded aluminum tubing and it has a removable design. After removing the rear seats, the loading system literally drops into place; there’s no installation required. Then, after loading the motorcycle, the entire unit straps down with a couple of ratcheting seatbelt extensions.

The motorcycle is a highly customized 225cc Yamaha. It hauls two adults down the interstate and tops out around 80mph. It has smaller wheels, shortened suspension, folding handlebars, carbon fiber fenders and other modifications to make it smaller and lighter. It also has an interesting non-spill plumbing system. For completely redundant fuel protection, the loading system has a built-in spill pan that is lined with fuel absorbent materials. There’s enough fuel absorbent to soak up 110% of the motorcycle liquids.

The hardware itself is very interesting but the real goal of the project was to see if we could change the way that people use their airplanes. Ground transportation provides adventurous pilots with more places to go and unlimited things to do. It turns concerts, conventions and every-day places into convenient fly-in destinations. It also eliminates reservations, paperwork, business hours and third-party headaches. So far, several of our early adopters have reported flying more often, visiting new places and regularly exploring their destinations.



More info at http://www.MotorcyclePilot.com

That's pretty cool I've seen the belly pod ones before, do you have a version for the cessna 206?

Looks complicated, and I just couldn't enjoy an XT225 with little wheels. My Husqvarna SMR 450R weighs less than the XT 225 and does 110. A system to carry a KTM 450 would be more interesting. I have seen pictures of a vintage Ducati 250 in a 206 too with no mods to the 206.
I think my favorite so far has been the two stroke KTM strapped to an Attlee Dodge luggage rack on a supercub.

D.

Loading systems for the Cessna 206 and A-36 Bonanza are in the works. We’re swamped with some big certification projects but I hope to have something wrapped up later in the year.

David, I know the gentleman with the Cessna 206 and ’65 Ducati very well. The Ducati was not very convenient and I’m told that it was only carried 4 times in 12 years. It is a fairly heavy bike and it has to go through the door at an awkward angle; a delicate 2-man job. Last summer, he replaced the Ducati with an XT-225. I built him a quick-release axle, center stand, folding handlebars, etc. He was able to get away with the stock wheels and suspension. He says that he can load the XT-225 by himself in around 5 minutes and he has already brought it on a number of trips. I think the new loading system will streamline that to around 60 seconds and eliminate lifting entirely.



The loading system is indeed complicated. We mocked-up and tested at least a dozen different configurations and we found that there are many simple ways to do it… but there aren’t any simple ways to do it quickly and conveniently. We stuck to a goal of making it convenient enough for every-day use and that didn’t allow us to cut many corners.

I’ve been exploring some larger bikes and I’ll keep the KTM 450 in mind. It does look well-suited for this application. Some people have expressed interest in an electric, such as the Zero FX. In any event, the smaller wheels and/or lowered suspension are necessary to fit inside many airplanes. That would be a real shame for competitive dirt biking but it really doesn’t affect the mission of delivering pilots to destinations.

onefitty, it currently fits the Cherokee 6, Saratoga, Lance and Seneca. We’re working on similar systems for the Cessna 206 and A-36 Bonanza. There’s no STC required. When we designed the system, we were already up to our eyeballs in STC projects and the last thing we wanted was another one. We managed to design the entire MotoLOAD system to be free from airframe alterations and installations. Basically, the motorcycle and loading system both qualify as cargo. The FAA has provided us with a letter of review to that effect and I keep a copy in the airplane just in case I ever have a ramp inspection.

bigrenna, we worked very hard on weight reduction and the complete motorcycle and loading system total around 330 pounds. The useful load of these airplanes allows me to carry my girlfriend, motorcycle, full-fuel, and a hundred pounds of luggage… the perfect recipe for most trips. Let me elaborate on this part of the design philosophy. We noticed that the average occupancy of 4-place airplanes is only 1-2 people. That leaves, in most cases, enough useful load to haul a small motorcycle. I like to say, “It’s not useful load if you aren’t using it.”

I am interested in the Cessna U206 setup. I own 3 and rarely have the back seats in them. I could really use this to move my contract planes around. Please keep me informed.

Don't want to rain on your parade cause that's a great idea and you've put a ton of work into it. It does seem complicated and heavy tho. Which in a lot of cases is fine. Just curious pluses over the bikes listed below. I'm on a waiting list for this puppy. Pretty excited. I could haul 2 of them and still b under the weight of this system and bike w no mods. Not trying to be negative at all. Always someone trying to rain on your parade I know. Good luck w your system!


http://www.fxbikes.com/

Here is your solution:

1. Get someone else to haul your bike and have them meet you at the trailhead.
2. Ride.

Worked for me last weekend! Yeeeehaa!

Skydive206, that sounds like a neat application. How often do you have to move airplanes around? I just built one for a gentleman in Texas who flies around to quote jobs for his business. He used to keep junk cars at 5 or 6 of the airports that he visits most frequently. Now he can quote jobs anywhere with just one motorcycle. I like hearing about new ways to put it to work.

55wagon, no rain taken. I’ve been in touch with FXbikes for several years and I’m interested in their products if they ever pull things together. Unfortunately, they keep having delays and they don’t yet have the capital to begin production. Which model are you on the waiting list for?

Their main product, the 125cc dirt bike, doesn’t have much transportation value because it isn’t street legal. They want to introduce a street-legal version but it too is lacking. As a single-seater, we had to compare two of them with our two-place Yahama. We found that our Yamaha is 20 pounds lighter (230 pounds dry), takes up less space and costs less money. The Yamaha also provides highway performance which is important for practical use. Further down the road, FX Bikes wants to make a 2-place, 250cc Freeway model. That’s the one that I have my eye on. It will match the Yamaha with an 80 pound weight savings.

We’ve done a lot of homework and we’re always actively looking for something better. In addition to the basic weight and performance, we also had to consider the width of the engine and frame to ensure it can fit in a 12” deep pod. We also looked at many specific features (axle style, engine vent location, etc.) to make sure the bike could be easily modified for our needs. All things considered, we still haven’t found a better bike than the one that we have.

Flyingpile, lucky you. I did something similar… but I got my girlfriend to haul the horses. She only let me get away with it once!

Motopod: Try flying into Red Lodge Montana, then get the bike out and ride over Bear Tooth Pass and through Yellowstone Park, not much to not like on that route. Just wait a while, they have to plow the road as it is closed in the winter I'm pretty sure. You'll recognize some of the views from car commercials, like I do of Big Sur/Highway 1, photogenic as hell. I've flown with wheels for 20 years now, but I have to pedal, it sure adds to the fun of a trip to be able to get around on your own.

It would be better advertising if your girlfriend weighed 250 lbs or more, just saying

Thanks for the tip. Bear Tooth Pass sure looks nice, I just took a look on Google Earth. I’m planning for later in the summer so the snow won't be an issue.

I might also stop at Devil’s Tower, which is a 30 minute ride from the Hulett airport. I’ll have my climbing gear with me and there are some nice 2 and 3 pitch routes I’d like to climb. Maybe I can do some climbing in the morning, spend the afternoon riding Bear Tooth Pass, then spend the night in Red Lodge.

MotoPod

You might check out the Magruder Corridor Wilderness Road from Darby, MT through Idaho to Grangeville, ID. I haven't done the entire road, but a buddy & I are doing it this summer. (Two day run one way)

http://www.jeffhead.com/magruder

Or you might fly into Stanley, ID (home of the Sawtooth Mountains) & check out/ride to the Yankee Fork (canyon & guides on the gold dredge) & you could also hit Red Fish Lake (get reservations now for cabin rentals at Red Fish & they also offer canoe to ski boat rentals) or Enjoy a room in Stanley with a hot tub next to your room. If you stop here fly south 20 miles to Smiley Creek & enjoy one of the best burgers in Idaho at Sawtooth City {only one dinner})

Carey, ID & ride to Craters of the Moon lava flow & caves 25 miles east. There is also Ice caves 37 miles south of Carey (Shoshone Ice Caves)

You can Google all places listed & get more info. If you decide to go to Smiley Creek you could camp at Alturas Lake (similar to Red Fish just not commercialized & zero services but beautiful)

My suggestions. All pretty close together & I begrudgingly admit they are all around Sun Valley so you could see it as well, but its a tourist town.

byeBill

You should post where you do intend to go I'd like to meet you if your within reasonable mileage & see your setup.

I send one plane out every weekend during the summer and it usually returns Sunday night for inspection and maint. When it doesn't fly many hours a month early and late in the season the pilot could leave the plane, return by motorcycle and reduce ferry cost. Sometimes an airplane has to go to a new location and stay for 3 -4 weeks but is only flown on weekends. The distances are 120 -175 miles one way that we contract out to. Now if I want to leave a plane behind, someone has to come get me and endure 220+ mile round trips in a car. My plan was to use a stripped down Ninja 250, plenty available, cheap but still seamed to heavy. I made and used electric bicycles for use from the airport to town and back that went 35mph but range and durability were the limiting factor. Wheels tires and tubes had a hard time carrying the lead acid batteries, peddling the dead batteries the last couple of miles back to the plane sucked.

There was an article in GA News probably 10 years ago about a guy who owned a C170B and had rigged a loading "system" (ramp, R&R RH door, tie-down straps) for hauling a Vespa scooter. He used it as off-airport transportation in his job as a traveling Bible salesman.
The "170 Book" has several article about people who did a fold-up mod to Honda Trail 90's to make them easy to take along. Not enough horsepower so no freeway on one of those though. In fact, if they're anything like the folding bike someone gave me, a high-speed wobble might be more of an issue than the lack of power.

Cessnaford, I enjoyed reading your write-up and you took some great pictures. The lava caves sound particularly interesting. Getting “almost” stuck is one of my favorite things to do. I’ll let you know where I’m going to be and perhaps we can meet up. Maybe you can borrow my rig for the day while we’re hiking.

Hotrod, I’ll have to look up the C170B guy. I haven’t heard of him yet. The modified Honda Trail 90 sounds like a Suitcase Cycle. They were made by S&K Air Sea Cycles back in the 1970’s. The frame was modified to split into two pieces. The wheels, luggage rack, handlebars and seat were removable. They also had folding pegs, modified gas tanks and other changes. When fully disassembled, all of the parts could fit into two large fiberglass cases. I’m told by owners that assembly takes a while and the center section is heavy to lift. However, they are pretty nice overall and I believe they built a couple thousand of them.

Hey motopod. Do you sell just your modified bike? I'd be interested in one of those to put in the Back of the 180 without the pod. If so how much would it be?