Best make of motorhome to store motorcycle

[Lanielush]

Hi
What are the best makes to search to find a motorhome that has a garage store at the rear to transport a motorbike when touring

 

[Vansflyer]

Carthago C-Tourer for us with a KTM 790 Duke in the back. Loads of payload but still uprated to 4800kg so could carry the bike, 150L water and all we needed for a winter trip and still be legal.
Done 22k miles with it (or the 390 previously) without issue.
Cracking little bike with panniers and Shad topbox for storage.
Bar end mirrors for ease of loading and in or out in less than 5 min.
Bike in garage is the 390 but the 790 is only slightly longer and still fits fine.
Had full size bikes in at that point, now got Brompton units and the garage is tidier now

 

[Paul F]

No, I suppose it depends on how much petrol is in it

Thats not always the full story. When the Jap bikes used to quote dry weights they would always exclude fuel - but often also engine oil, fork oil, brake fluid even battery fluids to quote a low weight. Not sure what KTM do, hence the query. Wet weights are much more useful.

 

[Vansflyer]

Thats not always the full story. When the Jap bikes used to quote dry weights they would always exclude fuel - but often also engine oil, fork oil, brake fluid even battery fluids to quote a low weight. Not sure what KTM do, hence the query. Wet weights are much more useful.

Agreed, a bit like motorhome weight.... MIRO is "variable" to say the least.

Wikipedia quote 189kg wet for the Duke 790 if you believe them. It is a light bike compared to some of the chunky monkeys for sure.
I chucked the van on a weighbridge when fully loaded to be sure and all was good for us thankfully.

 

[bigtree]

I have an SV650 that lives in my garage, I have a Hymer S820, the garage weight limit is 350kgs. With regard to mirrors, I used to have to take them off to get the bike in and out however, I have now fitted bar end mirrors which just fold back.

View attachment 853553

Brilliant van with a massive garage.

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[bigtree]

Garage height is a limiting factor, I would have preferred an adventure style bike like the vstrom but they are just a bit too tall.

Concorde had a KTM 1290 adventure in his Concorde.

 

[Paul F]

Wikipedia quote 189kg wet for the Duke 790 if you believe them

Exactly...but KTM quote 174Kg on the 2024 model to catch your eye!

I suspect 15-20Kg can be added to all 'Dry weights' which actually brings the 'lightweights' back in line with the competiton. An MT-07 for example at 179kg -184Kg wet.

I still love the Duke in all its forms, but its not as light as the marketing people would have us believe.

 

[bigtree]

Exactly...but KTM quote 174Kg on the 2024 model to catch your eye!

I suspect 15-20Kg can be added to all 'Dry weights' which actually brings the 'lightweights' back in line with the competiton. An MT-07 for example at 179kg -184Kg wet.

I still love the Duke in all its forms, but its not as light as the marketing people would have us believe.

390,690x2,790,890r,990,1290r and 1290rr. Love ‘em.

 

[andyelbac]

125cc Honda SH MODE for us (a real man's bike!). Sitting in our Burstner LyseoTD680G. The garage only has a weight limit of 150kg and the bike comes in at a wet weight of about 116kg (with half a tank of fuel). With the rack and ramp and other stuff we are running very close to the limit. Still had to install rear semi air to carry bike. Top box goes in the droo down section of the garage and mirrors have to come off (just takes a few minutes). I have to waggle the handle bar a bit to squeeze it in and I ended up moving the garage light a bit further up as sod's law says it was located exactly at the height of the handle bar as it tries to go through the door. I must admit to being very envious of those with much larger garages and payloads but not sure I would have a bigger bike even if I did as :
1) I'm new to biking (only passed my scooter test for the MH bike and still terrified every time I ride that!!!)
2) It's all I can do to get my partner on the scooter. She would laugh in my face if I tried to put her on something that actually looks fast!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

125cc Honda SH MODE for us (a real man's bike!). Sitting in our Burstner LyseoTD680G. The garage only has a weight limit of 150kg and the bike comes in at a wet weight of about 116kg (with half a tank of fuel). With the rack and ramp and other stuff we are running very close to the limit. Still had to install rear semi air to carry bike. Top box goes in the droo down section of the garage and mirrors have to come off (just takes a few minutes). I have to waggle the handle bar a bit to squeeze it in and I ended up moving the garage light a bit further up as sod's law says it was located exactly at the height of the handle bar as it tries to go through the door. I must admit to being very envious of those with much larger garages and payloads but not sure I would have a bigger bike even if I did as :
1) I'm new to biking (only passed my scooter test for the MH bike and still terrified every time I ride that!!!)
2) It's all I can do to get my partner on the scooter. She would laugh in my face if I tried to put her on something that actually looks fast!

Hi Andy, I don't know the exact specifics of your base vehicle other than it's probably the Fiat. I wondered if you could fit the same kit to go under the garage floor as I have. It's made by Sawiko and bolts directly to the Fiat chassis. I have added a couple of photos showing a before and after of it in place. I had mine fitted, but you can self fit if confident with spanners. It will give some peace of mind with a more comforting 250kg loading for the garage floor.

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

Hi Andy, I don't know the exact specifics of your base vehicle other than it's probably the Fiat. I wondered if you could fit the same kit to go under the garage floor as I have. It's made by Sawiko and bolts directly to the Fiat chassis. I have added a couple of photos showing a before and after of it in place. I had mine fitted, but you can self fit if confident with spanners. It will give some peace of mind with a more comforting 250kg loading for the garage floor.View attachment 853735View attachment 853733

Also see here , https://memoholland.co.uk/towbars-motorhome/chassis-extensions/chassis-extensions-fiat-ducato-2006
Watling Engineering, Waltham Abbey area used to be the go to fitters, but there now closed.
Mike.

 

[Northernraider]

Both Carthago's I mentioned are capable of carrying motorbikes.

Depends on the weight , a ktm Duke is pretty light . But would it take a 250kg bike on the floor?

It does depend on the bike and the van . And of course the budget.

If money was no object an rs would be the best choice of van . They're built for that. Most of the motorhomes with garages are aimed for scooters and deck chairs

 

[Folkranger]

Many of the Continental MH manufacturers have models with garages (Hymer, Niesmann&Bischoff, Carthago, Hobby, Rapido and on and on.)

Have you got the m/c or is this just an idea?

You need to match the size of the m/c to the garage size, both internally and the garage door size and if it is a heavy one which needs a ramp to load it you need to allow a bit extra on the door height for when the handlebars/mirrors are at top of ramp(some can be detached/bent down)

Then you need to go into each specification to find out what fits the m/c you have or want to buy. Allow quite a few 10s of hours to do this.

Do not choose the MH just on this criteria, there are lots of other considerations.

Also check the garage maximum loading weight.

 

[funflair]

I am not sure if the OP has been back to read all the helpful suggestion but there is certainly plenty to go at here, just to add my somewhat biased offering I will say that and Morelo model will take a bike/scooter, we have a 250kg garage loading limit and the chassis extensions and payload are up to the job but I would go for the chequer plate option or run the wheels in an alloy channel if it was a heavy bike.

 

[Paul F]

we have a 250kg garage loading limit

When moving from Hymer to Morelo I was concerned about this Martin, as the Hymer with the chassis extensions would take 450Kg. When querying with Mike at Premium he told me not to worry too much about the very conservative 250Kg advisory. He informally told me that it will take much more without a problem!

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[funflair]

When moving from Hymer to Morelo I was concerned about this Martin, as the Hymer with the chassis extensions would take 450Kg. When querying with Mike at Premium he told me not to worry too much about the very conservative 250Kg advisory. He informally told me that it will take much more without a problem!

I am sure you are right Paul, it would be 250kg as two point loads that would concern me rather than the overall figure, our little 125 sits there no bother and I don't even need to remove the mirrors.

 

[Paul F]

I am sure you are right Paul, it would be 250kg as two point loads that would concern me rather than the overall figure, our little 125 sits there no bother and I don't even need to remove the mirrors.

Yes, the same for me...have to take the mirrors off the bigger bikes but it takes an R1 comfortably, which will take me over the 250Kg with all the other stuff I have in there. I havent broken the floor yet - and the rear axle is always within limit at the weighbridge (overall weight is a bit more borderline !)

 

[WESTY66]

I’m sure the carthagos are 350kg garages, I know mine is, Malibu’s come in at 250kg whilst the Adria’s show their weak point at a paltry 150kgs

 

[funflair]

Yes, the same for me...have to take the mirrors off the bigger bikes but it takes an R1 comfortably, which will take me over the 250Kg with all the other stuff I have in there. I havent broken the floor yet - and the rear axle is always within limit at the weighbridge (overall weight is a bit more borderline !)

I find that the front axle loading is quite high with a retarder, big fuel tank and full gas tank so something hevy in the garage is great to balance it all out a bit.

 

[Paul F]

I find that the front axle loading is quite high with a retarder, big fuel tank and full gas tank so something hevy in the garage is great to balance it all out a bit.

Plenty of capacity on my front axle as I dont have the retarder or the big fuel tank...just as well really, as the front is where I sit and I probably make up for both of them....

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[Carpmart]

I find that the front axle loading is quite high with a retarder, big fuel tank and full gas tank so something hevy in the garage is great to balance it all out a bit.

With these larger weight motorhomes and a large and high payload garage, the biggest challenge is indeed creating the weight balance between front and rear axle weights!

It’s certainly not easy with mine…

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I dont have the retarder or the big fuel tank...j

I made the mistake of not having the large fuel tank and after a few trips away got fed up keep having to top up so booked it in to have the large one fitted at Meier and near on a €1k saving over factory price

 

[funflair]

I made the mistake of not having the large fuel tank and after a few trips away got fed up keep having to top up so booked it in to have the large one fitted at Meier and near on a €1k saving over factory price

I don't think it's difficult to save a chunk of cash over factory prices next time i might do things differently

 

[Paul F]

I don't think it's difficult to save a chunk of cash over factory prices next time i might do things differently

I saw this and thought exactly the same;

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[bigtree]

Depends on the weight , a ktm Duke is pretty light . But would it take a 250kg bike on the floor?

It does depend on the bike and the van . And of course the budget.

If money was no object an rs would be the best choice of van . They're built for that. Most of the motorhomes with garages are aimed for scooters and deck chairs

Read the thread Tam, the two vans I mentioned are capable of taking 250kg but I doubt if anyone is going to load a bike of that weight in their van, it’s usually a light bike plus all the other stuff we carry.

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[A S R]

Burstner Elegance and a KTM 390 Duke.

 

[bigtree]

Agree. I'm just pointing out that just because a bike will fit, it doesn't mean you'll be able to carry it. Floor loads in garages are often limited to 150kg. And rear axle loads are often an issue.

Not in the Carthago or my previous Frankia, that was one of my requirements when purchasing.

 

[cyberyacht]

I’m sure the carthagos are 350kg garages, I know mine is, Malibu’s come in at 250kg whilst the Adria’s show their weak point at a paltry 150kgs

They may have a 350Kg limit but if you dangle a bike of any weight behind the axle, the loading will be such that you are very unlikely to be able to reduce the front axle load sufficiently to operate at 3500Kg. I'm thinking about swapping two e-bikes for a lightweight CG125 or Vision or similar and that is going to require some juggling of existing stuff. It will probably mean carrying less than a full tank of water. On the light chassis the rear axle limit is 2000 but could possibly be uprated to 2240 with semi-air to enable the load in the garage but on a standard B licence, you are then stuck with a max of 1260 on the front. Virtually impossible to achieve.

 

[Pablo19]

I've got a Knaus 650MEG Sun Ti (3850kg) with a garage big enough for a motorbike but I think the weight capacity is 150kgs. I don't really want a scooter or 125cc and so far the lightest bike I would consider is a Fantic Caballero. The 500cc one is 150kgs which would mean I couldn't have anything else in the garage, the 250cc version is 135kgs. I still can't decide whether to just buy a bigger bike that I would prefer and get a trailer.

 

[VXman]

My Burstner 727G would (Height dependent - I fit my Scooter in there). you might need to be careful with weight though. To be safe get above 3.5 ton (4.250kg) as original or get a 3.5 uprated and beef up the rear suspension with air assist.

I can carry the Scooter in the garage (80KG) and 2 electric bikes (50kg) on a rear rack within the uprated weight.

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[Richard n Ann]

I've got a Knaus 650MEG Sun Ti (3850kg) with a garage big enough for a motorbike but I think the weight capacity is 150kgs. I don't really want a scooter or 125cc and so far the lightest bike I would consider is a Fantic Caballero. The 500cc one is 150kgs which would mean I couldn't have anything else in the garage, the 250cc version is 135kgs. I still can't decide whether to just buy a bigger bike that I would prefer and get a trailer.

You just need something adequate for holidays. I had a 110cc scooter and although it got us about efficiently it was sometimes dire setting off with 2 people on.
I originally came across the Duke 390 by googling "lightweight 250 motorcyles" I think a 250 would be adequate and you can buy a high performance bike for home use