European bike hauling options?

JMFNB
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Panama City, FL, USA
Edited Date/Time 10/20/2024 10:52am

Active duty military here and we just received orders to Spain. My family and I will be shipping 3 bikes and looking for options on bike hauling to local tracks and riding areas.


With our oversized American trucks, trailers and vans loading up for a weekend has always been pretty easy.


For my Euro friends what are your best methods and options?


Thanks 

-JB


Edit - We will only be shipping 1 vehicle so naturally my truck is on the chopping block and my wife’s vehicle will be the one we ship.

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Snail
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10/20/2024 11:52am

Motovan

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10/20/2024 2:26pm

Pretty much everyone uses vans over here. Depends what you want really, you can either get a smaller more economical van or a big sprinter type van.

Some people do still use trailers, but people don't worry too much about making sure they have a truck or anything like that. You'll normally see if someone is towing their bikes on a trailer it's a little cheap hatchback that's used to tow, because to us if you're going to have a truck or large vehicle for towing you might as well just buy a van!

Spain has an awesome culture for off-road bikes, there's an argument to say it's the best country I've ever ridden in for the amazing variety you can get, I even rode at a 24/7 free local council owned track in Spain. I hope you have a good time over there

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JMFNB
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10/20/2024 3:43pm
Pretty much everyone uses vans over here. Depends what you want really, you can either get a smaller more economical van or a big sprinter type...

Pretty much everyone uses vans over here. Depends what you want really, you can either get a smaller more economical van or a big sprinter type van.

Some people do still use trailers, but people don't worry too much about making sure they have a truck or anything like that. You'll normally see if someone is towing their bikes on a trailer it's a little cheap hatchback that's used to tow, because to us if you're going to have a truck or large vehicle for towing you might as well just buy a van!

Spain has an awesome culture for off-road bikes, there's an argument to say it's the best country I've ever ridden in for the amazing variety you can get, I even rode at a 24/7 free local council owned track in Spain. I hope you have a good time over there

We are leaning towards a van - thanks for the feedback. We are looking forward to all of it.

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The Shop

PNWMXer
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Washington, WA, USA
10/20/2024 4:57pm

No help for your question, but wanted to thank you for your service. 

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JMFNB
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10/20/2024 10:49pm
PNWMXer wrote:

No help for your question, but wanted to thank you for your service. 

Thanks dude - I actually just hit 20 years yesterday. Still having a blast.

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Motofinne
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FI
10/20/2024 11:25pm

I'd get a proper big van with all the amenities that is needed for trackdays and also day trips with the family.

MB Sprinter, VW Crafter or Iveco Daily. They're not cheap but they are brilliant for packing a lot of stuff and people inside.

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Berni
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ES
10/21/2024 1:13am

Most people here use a van or trailer attached to a sedan or whatever daily car you have.

If you are going to Moron, you have a very good  track just in town. If you are going to Rota, you have several tracks very close.... I am not super up to date, although I am 100 miles aprox from both, I am more of an enduro guy so dont know all the tracks... but close to Rota you have tracks in Chiclana (Jose Butron home), Sanlucar (where team usa trained for the 1996 MxoN in Jerez), you have Jerez too, and then some smaller tracks too.

 

Anyways both Rota and Moron bases are close.... You will enjoy moto here.

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Inferno
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Laguna, IC
10/21/2024 2:10pm
Berni wrote:
Most people here use a van or trailer attached to a sedan or whatever daily car you have.If you are going to Moron, you have a...

Most people here use a van or trailer attached to a sedan or whatever daily car you have.

If you are going to Moron, you have a very good  track just in town. If you are going to Rota, you have several tracks very close.... I am not super up to date, although I am 100 miles aprox from both, I am more of an enduro guy so dont know all the tracks... but close to Rota you have tracks in Chiclana (Jose Butron home), Sanlucar (where team usa trained for the 1996 MxoN in Jerez), you have Jerez too, and then some smaller tracks too.

 

Anyways both Rota and Moron bases are close.... You will enjoy moto here.

Well said Berni!

JB, whether by van (Vito/Transporter are good options) or car with trailer, you won't have any problems, both are good and very popular here.

Enjoy Spain, it's a very motorcycling country, with friendly people, good weather and even better food!

Cheers!✌️

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Falcon
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Menifee, CA, USA
10/22/2024 8:46am

Just coming on here to thank you for your service and to joke about the differences between Euro and US standards. For instance, I was expecting someone to suggest you just get a really big car, like a VW Golf, and tow the bikes on a trailer. 😄 (I think they sell Volkswagens as the SEAT brand name in Spain... maybe?) 

Anyway, good luck and thank you!

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JMFNB
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10/22/2024 10:56pm
Falcon wrote:
Just coming on here to thank you for your service and to joke about the differences between Euro and US standards. For instance, I was expecting...

Just coming on here to thank you for your service and to joke about the differences between Euro and US standards. For instance, I was expecting someone to suggest you just get a really big car, like a VW Golf, and tow the bikes on a trailer. 😄 (I think they sell Volkswagens as the SEAT brand name in Spain... maybe?) 

Anyway, good luck and thank you!

Thanks brother! 

kmoto
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Location
Broadway, NC, USA
10/23/2024 12:20am

So jealous. I'm stationed in Germany and make my way to Spain once a year during the winter to ride. With 3 bikes a Sprinter/Crafter is the move. I have a Mercedes Viano (slightly fancy Vito) and 2 full size bikes is pretty tight. 

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