26 replies to this topic

[SteveK]

I'm told that the crossing, via high speed ferry, to St Malo can be a rough ride, question is how are bikes secured on ferries and who does the securing. I was thinking about jamming it between caravans which should take the impact as they must be good for something!! Do I need to take my own tie downs.

Steve.

[hallrob1]

I'm told that the crossing, via high speed ferry, to St Malo can be a rough ride, question is how are bikes secured on ferries and who does the securing. I was thinking about jamming it between caravans which should take the impact as they must be good for something!! Do I need to take my own tie downs.

Steve.

It depends on the Ferry Company - on the Isle of Man ferries they supply rope or a strap and some towel (for the seat) for you to do it yourself. That was on a boat that was 90% bikes so I'm sure you don't get that service everywhere.

Contact the Ferry company - they'll let you know.

[dapleb]

Most will have straps for you. If your bike is a bit "precious" you might want to lay zummat under the straps to prevent chaffing. Oi leaf mine in gear with me gloves under the strap (mostly so I dunt have to carry em). Some peeps put a likkle tie from bars to lever to keep brakes applied.

Banana man welds his to the deck and then grinds off the welds when he reaches his destination.

[Matt101]

I'd be interested in what you find out Steve. I am going Weymouth-St Malo in August. But via Guernsey.
6Hrs break in Guernsey so time to have a look around.

Matt

[dapleb]

Ohhh like that idea Matt.....how mush was that then?

[SteveK]

I'd be interested in what you find out Steve. I am going Weymouth-St Malo in August. But via Guernsey.
6Hrs break in Guernsey so time to have a look around.

Matt

We are going with Condor Ferries (£150 return) stopping at Jersey but no time to get off. Have used the Eurostar before but never taken a bike on the ferry. I have mailed the question to Condor ferries and I'll post their reply when i have it.

Steve

[Matt101]

Hi Dap

Worked out £110 return for me, swmbo and the bike.

Weymouth- Guernsey-St Malo with a 6hr stopover in Guernsey
St Malo-Jersey-Weymouth with a 2.5hr stopover in Jersey

All in all a cracking deal.

Condor Ferries out of Weymouth.

CAN'T wait

Cheers Steve

Matt

Edited by Matt101, 17 June 2010 - 07:40 pm.

[PapaLazarou]

If you take a small (25-30mm) ratchet strap yourself, they don't take up that much room when wrapped up (and could double as a tow rope if things go pear-shaped later).

Use it to tie the bike down yourself from the floor on one side over the seat to the floor on the other. If you have a long enough one go over the seat, under the engine (watch the exhaust) and back over the seat and attatch to floor at other side.

Try to compress the suspension as you feed it over so the bike can't loosen the strap once its all done up.

A must is a bit of foam to protect your seat cover from the strap.

Good luck!

[hammerman]

I did the Portsmouth - St Malo crossing in the car the other week. There was a BMW GS1200 in the queue in front of us. It was put on the centre stand and secured to the floor with a ratchet strap, well away from the other vehicles (between the pillars on the car deck). The seat had a dry bag type material pad on it to prevent the strap damaging anything. I'm not sure if the owner supplied the pad, but I'm pretty certain Brittany Ferries supplied the strap. Give them a call and ask.

[dapleb]

Hi Dap

Worked out £110 return for me, swmbo and the bike.

Ohhh that wans going on the list of things to do. Thanks for the info.

[sidestand]

I did the Portsmouth - St Malo crossing in the car the other week. There was a BMW GS1200 in the queue in front of us. It was put on the centre stand and secured to the floor with a ratchet strap, well away from the other vehicles (between the pillars on the car deck). The seat had a dry bag type material pad on it to prevent the strap damaging anything. I'm not sure if the owner supplied the pad, but I'm pretty certain Brittany Ferries supplied the strap. Give them a call and ask.

Brittany Ferries always supply the cushion to go on the seat under the ratchet strap
With LD Lines (Dover to Boulogne) it's a bit of old carpet (which still does the job)

In my experience - all ferry companies strap yer bike down properly, so you shouldn't have any problems

All the scare stories stem from the old Isle of Man Steam Packet Company back in the seventies, when they drained yer petrol & nicked it, craned the bike aboard & tied them down with a bit of manky old rope, then tossed the whole lot together on the Irish Sea

Edited by sidestand, 17 June 2010 - 08:12 pm.

[dandywarhol]

NOT a good idea to leave it on the centrestand on long crossings - ship engine vibes can cause electronics circuit boards to crack and solder joints to break!

[3vd]

I'm taking my son on my 2008 9er up to Shetland camping in August. I've Bought the Motrax heavy duty handlebar tie down straps for this. I've used them on my fireblade for a couple of trackdays with a trailer and they're spot on! Defo recommend them (although I'll need an allen key to slip off hand gaurds).

[Fernihough]

I do not think you should have any concern. The staff in the ferry will know how to secure your bike including strap and possibly a block in front of your wheel.

I would however advise that you provide your gloves to position between strap and saddle in order to limit risk of damage to the seat.

Also, I suggest that you stay with the staff while they attend your bike. Last week end, I saw a Ducati fall on the side after the staff tighten the bike too much and broke the side stand !

But the highest risk is to slip on a floor covered with diesel in some places!!!

Take care and enjoy your trip

F

[jdelfino]

Also, I suggest that you stay with the staff while they attend your bike.

F

[3vd]

I won't be letting them strap my bike down by the seat! I've got handlebar straps and I'll be ensuring they use them. If they can keep my fireblade in place on a bouncy little trailer then they'll do the job on the ferry...... I hope!

[kingtut]

I've had my bikes secured by various techniques on the ferries.

The first (and funniest) was a blue nylon rope securing the bike to a handrail - Yep, no joke.

The majority were straps from handlebars/frame to deck.

The best was on the Hull - Rotterdam crossing, where you rode over a 2 inch thick steel cable (about 2 inches off the floor), and stopped with the cable directly under the middle of the bike. The crewman then ratcheted the bike down by securing them to the cable on each side - and they had the pads (not filthy) to keep your paintwork protected.

[TonyDevil]

re: sidestand snapping
make sure the ratchet in the strap is on the opposite side to the sidestand, this means all the compression is done on the suspension and doesnt put as much pressure on the sidestand

[AzzA]

Fairies on bikes.