How a bike gets loaded
Which bike, and does it roll
Make, model and whether the wheels still turn. A locked rear wheel changes the whole approach.
Chocked before it is strapped
The front wheel goes into a chock so the bike stands on its own before anything is tightened.
Strapped to solid points
Frame, yokes and footpeg hangers. Never over plastics, levers, a screen or the mirrors.
Home, garage or dealer
Wherever the bike needs to be, with the price agreed before the truck sets off.
Where bike recovery goes wrong
Almost every horror story a rider will tell you comes down to the same thing. The bike was treated like a small car. It was rolled onto a bed, a strap was thrown over the handlebars, and it was winched down until something creaked. Handlebars are not a tie-down point. Pull hard enough over the bars and you are loading the fork seals, the top yoke and whatever plastic happens to be in the way.
Done properly the bike stands up by itself before a single strap is tightened. A front wheel chock takes the balance out of the equation, which is what makes the rest of it safe. The straps then compress the suspension slightly, front and rear, so the bike is held against its own springs rather than bouncing on them for fifty miles.
The other common problem is nobody mentioning that the bike will not roll. It happens constantly, usually a chain off the sprocket or a rear wheel locked after a drop, and it is a completely normal thing to call about. It just needs different equipment. A rider who says it on the phone gets the right truck. A rider who does not say it waits while someone works out a plan B on a cold verge.
If you have come off, none of the above matters until you are safe. Bikes can be rebuilt. Get behind a barrier, keep your gear on while there is traffic going past, and call when you are somewhere you can stand still.
Motorbike recovery FAQs
How do you stop the bike falling over on the truck?
A front wheel chock holds the bike upright and stops it rolling, then it is strapped down at the front and the rear so the suspension is loaded rather than the bike swinging on it. Straps go to solid points on the frame, yokes or footpeg hangers, not over bodywork, mirrors or a screen. A bike strapped properly does not move for the whole journey.
My bike will not roll. The chain has come off and the rear wheel is locked.
That is worth saying up front, because a bike that will not roll cannot be walked up a ramp and needs a different approach. The same applies to a seized engine or a dropped bike with a bent lever jamming something. It is a very common call and not a problem, but it changes the equipment and the time it takes, so nobody wants to discover it on arrival.
Do you take scooters, mopeds and trikes?
Scooters and mopeds are straightforward and are handled the same way as a motorcycle. Trikes and sidecar outfits are wider and heavier and cannot use a standard bike chock, so tell us which you have got and roughly how wide it is. Larger touring trikes sometimes need a different truck entirely.
I have come off. What should I do before you get there?
Look after yourself first. Get off the carriageway and behind a barrier if you are on a fast road, and call 999 if you are hurt or the bike is in a live lane. Leave the bike where it is unless it is causing danger, keep your gear on while you are near moving traffic, and only worry about the bike once you are somewhere safe. Then call or WhatsApp 07944 820302.
Can you collect from a track day or a green lane?
Often, but access is everything. A hard-standing paddock is easy. A field gate, a rutted byway or a mile of loose surface may not be reachable by a recovery truck at all, and it is better to hear that on the phone than after a wasted trip. Send a pin or a what3words location when you call and we will give you a straight answer.
General breakdowns are vehicle recovery, and collisions are accident recovery. Vans have their own van recovery page and electric cars need flatbed recovery. Moving a bike that runs perfectly well is UK-wide transport. Check your area on the coverage map.
What drivers say.
“Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. They were incredibly quick to respond, professional, and provided excellent customer service throughout.”
“Excellent service. He transported my car after it had been involved in an accident on the main road; he handled the transport safely.”
“Excellent service from Blue Line Recovery Services. The driver arrived on time, was very friendly, professional and made the whole vehicle recovery process stress-free.”