Motorcycle Owners

[bsavage]

Agreed, we'd love it!

Brenda, of...

[Doggy Daddy]

Motorcycle lifts vary in may ways.
Before selecting a motorcycle lift, I identified 4 different kinds that I was interested in and considered certain factors with each:

1. Can you still tow a vehicle behind the RV with motorcycle lift on?
2. Does the lift interfere with gaining access to the engine
(pusher's) or cargo storage area in up or down positions?
3. Does the lift slide into one or 3 receivers?
4. What is the height (clearance) of the lift in up position?
5. What additional length with the bike lift add to the RV. [3,4,5ft]
6. What is the weight capacity of the lift?
7. What is the weight of the lift empty?
8. What material is the lift made from, i.e. steel, aluminum, alloy?
9. Will the lift operate with RV engine off?
10 Means of operation: Hand crank, electric, hydraulic. ?
11. How easy or difficult is it to operate lift and secure motorcycle alone.
12. Can the lift be used/modified to carry quad or 3 wheel (elec/gas) scooter? (Versatility)
13. What difficulty is there to disassemble/remove the lift from RV.
14. Does RV have chassis frame and suspension strong enough to carry lift with bike mounted?
15. Does RV have sufficient wheel base and GVW for lift and Bike so not to make the front end light?.
16. What is the location and history of the manufacturer?
17. What warrantee is available?
18. What type of lighting is used, bulb or led?
19. Can you buy the lift used?
20. Price of lift - choice 1, 2, & 3 ?
21. What is the Cost of fabrication/installation of receiver to RV?
22. What accessories/options are there to the lift and their cost?
23. Can I see them on other RV coaches and get their opinions?

[Whiskers]

Thanks to "bsavage" for clarifying my intent in the original post....was not meant to be "motorhome" only but all RV'ers who love to travel with their bikes. Also, thanks to the moderator for being on the ball and taking an active interest. As we're testing the waters here and wish to stimulate interest and discussion on this topic, how about some suggestions on exceptional "rides" (not the bikes...the roads) and RV parks that folks would recommend.

We've only been RV'ing for a year but have been "bikers" for more than I care to count so I'm not highly knowlegable on the RV park part. Spending this winter doing some exploring. Started in Florida at the beginning of Sept and worked our way west with stops in Ft Myers, Titusville, Ocala, Panama City, New Orleans, Houston, Corpus Christi, RG Valley, and now in Medina TX. The riding in all but the latter was just "so-so" IMO. However, the Texas "Hill Country" is exceptional and I would highly recommend it to everyone. We thought we'd stay for week but soon after arriving changed that to 4 weeks. We will definitely return next year. You'd think the roads were purpose built for "ridin", the RV parks and sites we've looked at have lots of room (not packed in like sardines like in the "Valley") and generally it's not busy. Most of the parks have space available and you can generally negotiate a better deal than they publish on thier rate sheets.

Heading towards New Mexico, Arizona and California next so if anyone has any suggestions I be most appreciative.

[Harm]

Whiskers, we're with you. Sounds like a great idea.

[bsavage]

Ahhh, well, Arizona (we lived there until recently) has some awesome rides. Our experience has been more in Northern AZ... if you like bendy curves, switch backs, mountain roads with great pit stops... the ride from Wickenburg to Prescott (via Yarnell Hill) is awesome. Stop at Whiskey Row in Prescott. You can either stay somewhere in Prescott (although I don't personally know of any RV Parks there, there must be some), or push on to Jerome. This ride is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced. Don't over-ride it or go too fast, very bendy... very tight turns, awesome views. In Jerome, stop at the "Spirit Room" (if it's Saturday afternoon they'll probably have a band). You DO NOT want to take any RV to Jerome... ride your bike there, the roads are very, very narrow, again with very tight turns.

Also, Sedona is awesome, and highway 89 between Sedona and Flagstaff is beautiful, but we have had occasions where the traffic in Sedona (in town) was excruciating. Once out of town, though, you can't beat the scenery.

Each one of these rides (Prescott via Yarnell Hill), Jerome, Sedona could be done from the Prescott area as day trips. You would just go from Prescott to Wickenburg and back again, and so forth. There are plenty of pit stop options in Wickenburg. Or, you can do a big loop, but it's a lot of riding for one day, and who wants to hurry through all that scenery?!! Be prepared for major temperature changes as you head into and out of the mountains, even in the summer.

Feel free to ask if you have other questions, and have fun!!!

Brenda, of...

[motojavaphil]

To add to Brenda's comment on Arizona the old RT 666 now 191 between Safford and Alpine is a must do. We ride over at least once a year from Albuquerque just to do it. Do not attempt this with an RV and be very careful, one awesome road. The other roads Savage mentions are excellent and I second them. Southern NM is unremarkable unless you go up to Silver City. You will be on the edge of the Gila and a very nice road Rt 152. You will also be able to do a day trip on the 666 via Mule Creek Rt 78 from Silver City or even better, Glenwood. There is a Ghost Town named Mogollon that is well worth visiting near Glenwood NM as well. Northern NM has more to offer for fun motorcycle roads. Southwestern Colorado, Rt 550 and Rt 149 are heaven for motorcycles. Just be ready for elevation, colder temps and funnnn!

[Kablewizard]

In April I am organizing the Patriot Guard Get together up near Camp Verde we have rooms in the Casino resort hotel and there is a RV resort thats part of them across the highway so if you want to join the fun, no one will know your really RVs they don't mind as long as your there to have fun and ride.

Like I said before we are also bikers, we have a 2005 blue Goldwing and take it with us a lot, I have done some great ride, the Dragon with Rusty when we had a rally in TN and then some great roads in Northern TX last year and the very roads that were talked about above here in AZ. If everyones interested maybe we can get something planned out here and do some of those roads, just let me know. Phil thats just the old route 666 for those of us that have been here a while. The rout 66 ride on a bike is also great May 1-3 with everyone else too.e

[mountainkowboy]

We're in on the MC and RV thing. We presently put the Road King in the back of the Ranger, but I dont like it in the elements (detailing it take to long)while traveling or at the CG. So we are looking for one of these to tow with the bike in it. They weigh under 3000#'s and with the right setup could do double duty as a hotrod too.

[talotto]

Try the ride from Apache Junction, AZ over to Globe, AZ. Beautiful views, lots of curves, etc. Also ride over the mountain from White Sands (Alamogordo, NM) over through Cloudcroft, and down to Carlsbad, NM. - Tony

[Whiskers]

Thanks for the tips on great roads. Will be trying some of those in the days to come.

Here is a good site to help everyone identify other nice rides: www.openroadjourney.com

[hamguy]

Do not miss the beautiful run from Superior, AZ S. on 177 to Winkelman. Then Hwy 77 up to Globe.

It parallels the Gila River for a ways and is quite pretty.

[bingoldsby]

First... to Doggy Daddy, what a great and insiteful list of important considerations for a lift/carrier. If I may, I'd like to add one item. "Is the motorhome's license plate still visible with the bike mounted?" On mine, it is not. But so far, I have not been stopped because of it.

In the matter of the RV/Bike discussion section - that would be nice, and I would hope that there would be enough action to warrant it. As anyone here can see, there sure are a lot of sub-sections already.

I have a 2002 Goldwing, which I carry on a trailer, a 1996 Honda Helix 250 scooter, which I have an electric lift/carrier for, and the Miata. I can only have one at a time. Drat!

[Doggy Daddy]

Brian, You said "I can only have one at a time." Do you mean that you can't tow while carrying a bike on the Elec lift at the same time?

[StevePav]

Quote:

Originally posted by mountainkowboy: So we are looking for one of these to tow with the bike in it. They weigh under 3000#'s and with the right setup could do double duty as a hotrod too.

mountainkowboy,

Looks like an old flat glass Chevy van. Are you looking at one for a toad? Is there anywhere on the web to find their weight? I have a 79 Chevy Van I'd love to use as a toad, but my towing cap is 3500, and I'm told my van, with all its rear seats, is 4000. I am having trouble deciding if I want a bike or a 4-wheeled vehicle as a toad.

Thanks.

Steve