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Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:44 am

Hi all,

I have a T1 panel, but I’m contemplating on bying a T3 westy so the family (wife and a 4 & a 5 year old) can also enjoy the VW hobby :D

I’m also into (old) motorcycles, and would like to use the Vanagon for going to some oldtimer rallys, together with the bike I’m planning to ride the next day.

I was wondering if you can fit a bike inside the van?
Bearing in mind that the westy kitchen also takes up some place..

Maybe somebody already has done this with the wheel between the 2 front chairs or something?

Thanks already!
Cheers.

Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:54 am

I think it wiil depend on the size of the motorcycle, doing a Samba search yield some results:

Dirtbike in Westy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=442519

Dirt bike inside tintop to transport?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=700334&view=next

Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:54 am

There's a few photos out there of folks with vans (Westys, even) with motorcycles inside.

I remember one poster who had to strap his door down because he couldn't close it all the way.

When I was riding small vintage Hondas (CB350f) I could have fit one of those in the Westy. Strapping it safely would have been a challenge. I would hesitate to do anything like that now because an accident, hard braking, or sudden turn would likely turn the bike loose in the van and cause injury to me or the van.

kourt

Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:15 am

while possible to some small degree, it is much safer and practical for everything involved to load it onto a small trailer.
the van won't even notice the trailer behind it, until you go to back up :wink:

Thu Sep 09, 2021 2:34 pm

little off subject :arrow: years ago we moved a Yamaha 650? up from NJ to NE in a 72 kombi , half way up 95 slider door tumbled off , on an exit ramp, those where the days , ran the rest of the way in a wind tunnel, what a rush the 80's where 8)

Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:01 pm

If you have a Westy, then you'll have to run the front wheel between the seats. I've got a tintop Syncro with a super basic bench rear seat that comes out with two bolts. Plenty of room for a bike. With a Westy rear seat, I don't think you'll have much wiggle room to jam a bike in there since the rear seat is not easily removeable.

What size of bike is going inside? I made a 2 foot wide ramp out of scrap wood so I would have more control getting in/out. You could construct out of scrap wood a slot between the seats for a front wheel to drop into position. Then you'll have to find mounting points for the tie-downs. GoWesty has metal eyebolts that screw into the some of the seatbelt mounting points so you can hook into those for a tie down. All this stuff can be figured out with a measuring tape and some brain power unless the bike is too big.

Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:45 pm

You should really buy a AAA Premium Membership if you think you need to bring a tow vehicle with you,!

Thu Sep 09, 2021 3:49 pm

I load my Honda Trail 90 in the main body of my van all the time, I have to remove one of the jump seats to get it to fit and tie down nicely. I'll see if I have a photo.

Thu Sep 09, 2021 6:23 pm

This is one of those rare instances where the EV has a superior interior layout for this specific purpose.

Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:37 pm

I was out visiting my dad in CA last week. I woke up my syncro from a year long slumber and took it out camping for a couple of days. My modified TW200 with an ATV rear tire barely fit.

On a side note, I lost my rear hatch screen :(
The insulated window covers in the back were so-so

Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:52 pm

I put my son's Honda NC50 moped inside all the time, and I've also fit my own Yamaha RD350 in there with the front wheel in between the front seats.

Both of those are fairly small bikes and fit fine, but I don't know if you'd fit anything much bigger in there without removing a wheel.

Sun Jul 31, 2022 5:46 pm

A spankin' new 2017 KTM 350EXC (on sale in May 2018 👍🏽) in a Westy, with 4 salesmen helping.
From thread Dirt bike inside tintop to transport?
It would be easier in a tintop.
I use a rear hitch carrier or trailer, it would beat the crap out of the interior doing this often.

Sun Jul 31, 2022 6:14 pm

i use this:

https://theusatrailerstore.com/the-original-slick-wheelie-motorcycle-hauler/

Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:56 am

tjet wrote:

I took the liberty of posting this pic in The Yamaha TW200 Thread over on www.advrider.com.

Mon Aug 01, 2022 6:29 am

I see a trend here. Well done. :D

tjet wrote: My modified TW200 with an ATV rear tire...

Mon Aug 01, 2022 9:30 am

GoEverywhere wrote: I've also fit my own Yamaha RD350 in there

I count myself lucky that I survived the 80's on my RD350 - but what fun!!

Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:12 am

syncro surf wrote: GoEverywhere wrote: I've also fit my own Yamaha RD350 in there

I count myself lucky that I survived the 80's on my RD350 - but what fun!!

I daily commuted on it about 60 miles round trip until the start of the pandemic when I went full time remote. That bike is just stupid fun, but MAN once it hits its power band it does it's level best to kill you at every chance :P

Mon Aug 01, 2022 2:21 pm

syncro surf wrote: GoEverywhere wrote: I've also fit my own Yamaha RD350 in there

I count myself lucky that I survived the 80's on my RD350 - but what fun!!

My buddy had a GT380 triple with oversize Weiscos & J&R Chambers. It could take RDs :wink:

jimf909 wrote: I see a trend here. Well done. :D

My sister said the same thing...."Wait, is that tire from your crazy vw van?" :lol:

I guess it has a similar look. Must be the 80's looking headlight...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2028265.jpg

Getting a Latte at Two Guns cafe while beta testing my new ATV tire mod
https://www.tw200forum.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=au...00647/full

Mon Aug 01, 2022 3:58 pm

tjet wrote: syncro surf wrote: GoEverywhere wrote: I've also fit my own Yamaha RD350 in there

I count myself lucky that I survived the 80's on my RD350 - but what fun!!

My buddy had a GT380 triple with oversize Weiscos & J&R Chambers. It could take RDs :wink:

jimf909 wrote: I see a trend here. Well done. :D

My sister said the same thing...."Wait, is that tire from your crazy vw van?" :lol:

I guess it has a similar look. Must be the 80's looking headlight...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2028265.jpg

Getting a Latte at Two Guns cafe while beta testing my new ATV tire mod
https://www.tw200forum.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=au...00647/full

Those GT's were pretty awesome too, I nearly bought a GT550 right before my RD350, but the RD was quicker in my test rides. The GT's didn't get reed induction while the RD's did so they were usually quicker from light to light while the GT's bigger displacement got the RD in top speed.

Mon Aug 01, 2022 4:48 pm

We stripped down the GT. Nowadays they call them "naked" bikes. It looked like a vintage cafe racer with the clip ons. We also ditched the oil injection and just mixed it with the gas. That bike had a great sound.

Looked like this, but with a quarter fairing

https://tankautomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/SuzukiGT550-large-2.jpg

Don't even get me started. I worked at a Yamaha dealer when I was a teen. I uncrated a real TZ250E. My young brain could not comprehend such an amazing machine. They had it on display for a few weeks until the race team picked it up.