I'm off to France for a bit of time away shortly, I just got something through e-mail today that i wasnt expecting.
Seems DFDS expect you to secure your own bike with straps they provide. Unlike the Isle of Man last year where those guys just got stuck in and did it themselves, DFDS don't appear to.
I presume side stand down, 1st gear, and strap over the seat (with padding) and thats about it? maybe a another bit of webbing to stop it rolling forwards/backwards too?
Any advice greatly appriciated
Additionally I also place a tie/strap around the front brake lever....you should also remember to ratchet to the left side of your bike to pull the bike down onto the side stand. Remember that ratchet straps are very powerful so don't over tighten it.
Good luck and enjoy your trip :smiley:
ratchet to the left side of your bike to pull the bike down onto the side stand - important
Excellent advice gents. I hadn't considered the position of the ratchet, but it makes perfect sense.
I'll grab something for the brake lever, I use strips of velcro for keeping cables and stuff bundled up and it weighs nothing so that should do the job for the brake lever.
tks
OC of course is spot on with his advice :yes:
Quote from: Rusty on June 18, 2018, 09:28:42 PM
OC of course is spot on with his advice :yes:
Behave yerself :mfr_lol:
Thanks for all the advice.
Seems the Dieppe ferry's now have the front wheel cradles, so you simply drive on to cradle, then a forward a little more to allow the cradle to hinge forward towards the wall and V bar on the wall, this is enough to hold the bike on its own!.
I left the bike in gear just to be safe with my velco on the front brake but it wasn't going anywhere.
On the way to France they secured it over the seat with straps, so I chucked my jacket under those, on the way back they had a harness that went over the rear wheel that secured it against the fixing points in the floor then ratcheted down. That way felt much better and very very secure.
Either way, the guys on the ferry did it themselves and I just looked on for piece of mind.
Quote from: Tay on July 12, 2018, 03:17:02 PM
Thanks for all the advice.
Seems the Dieppe ferry's now have the front wheel cradles, so you simply drive on to cradle, then a forward a little more to allow the cradle to hinge forward towards the wall and V bar on the wall, this is enough to hold the bike on its own!.
I left the bike in gear just to be safe with my velco on the front brake but it wasn't going anywhere.
On the way to France they secured it over the seat with straps, so I chucked my jacket under those, on the way back they had a harness that went over the rear wheel that secured it against the fixing points in the floor then ratcheted down. That way felt much better and very very secure.
Either way, the guys on the ferry did it themselves and I just looked on for piece of mind.
They are bump stops I have one bolted on my shed floor. Some are thatchem rated Ride the bike in and it sits there till the next ride the only down side because the bike is straight into the bump stop your bike steering lock will not engage my insurance policy stats the lock has to be on a bit of a dark area if a claim arises just my two pennath to keep you in the picture :yes:
( I suppose in the shed/garage you could have a rear wheel skate to slide the bike for the lock to work just an idea )
Quote from: Tay on July 12, 2018, 03:17:02 PM
Thanks for all the advice.
Seems the Dieppe ferry's now have the front wheel cradles, so you simply drive on to cradle, then a forward a little more to allow the cradle to hinge forward towards the wall and V bar on the wall, this is enough to hold the bike on its own!.
I left the bike in gear just to be safe with my velco on the front brake but it wasn't going anywhere.
On the way to France they secured it over the seat with straps, so I chucked my jacket under those, on the way back they had a harness that went over the rear wheel that secured it against the fixing points in the floor then ratcheted down. That way felt much better and very very secure.
Either way, the guys on the ferry did it themselves and I just looked on for piece of mind.
Good to hear that you managed okay and I hope you had a great trip :smiley:
It was a cracking trip, very relaxed this time.
Less packing and repacking as per my Isle of Man/Wales trip last year, too many hotels/B&B's made me cranky, lugging the panniers around were a ball ache.
This time a house in Normandy in a little village called Le Ferre was our home for a week, Only ran with the top box for the most part just to chuck gear into when we headed out. It was a tad hot but doable.
Fantastic roads (whatever road type!!), nice people and 100M away from the local patisserie!!!
Pre paid credit card for tolls and stuff made thing easy, obviously a bit of a problem for fuel (mental note), Going to try to Nordics out next year if I get a chance, but need to save some serious cash, its a bit expensive out there.