Buying Guide for Motorcycle Carriers

A motorcycle carrier is a piece of equipment that can help you transport your motorcycle. It comes in different types, sizes and materials. Choosing the right one for your needs is essential because it will affect how safe and secure your bike travels.

Do you Need a Carrier?

If you want to transport your motorcycle, then a carrier is the way. If you plan on storing it, then a storage rack is better than nothing and won’t break your wallet. But do you want to move your motorcycle around town without hassle? Then, a trailer will do just fine!

Which Type of Motorcycle Carrier is Right for You?

When it comes to buying a motorcycle carrier, there are many different options. However, there are two main types of motorcycle carriers:

1. Soft-sided Carrier

The soft-sided carrier can be folded up and stored in the trunk of your car or truck when not in use. This type of carrier is ideal for people who don’t have much space available at home but who still want to transport their motorcycles safely from A to B.

2. Hard-sided Carrier

The hard-sided carrier has a more rigid frame construction, making it easier to carry heavy bikes over rough terrain or through busy traffic areas like parking lots! It’s also much easier to load/unload your bike on/off because these carriers feature built-in suspensions that keep them balanced throughout transport. Hence, no harm comes from tipping over during transit (which could result in an expensive repair bill).

What Material is Your Carrier Made From?

You’ll likely find four primary materials in a motorcycle carrier: steel, aluminium, plastic and composite. Steel is the most common material, and car carriers have used it since the early 1900s. Aluminium was introduced as an alternative to steel around the same time as plastics were first introduced in 1946 but only became available to consumers after World War II ended.

Plastic carriers have become increasingly popular over recent years because of their low cost and ease of transportation (you can throw them on your bike). Composite carriers are made from a combination of plastic resin with fibreglass or carbon fibre layers added for strength and rigidity; both types can withstand high-impact forces without breaking apart, as some other materials might do under these circumstances!

What Motorcycle Arrangement do you Need?

When shopping for a motorcycle carrier, there are many factors to consider. For example, how many bikes do you need to carry? Do you want a single bike carrier or multiple ones? How much money can you spend on your purchase? And how much space do your bikes take up in the vehicle?

Before deciding on what kind of bike carrier will work best for your needs, it’s essential to look at how much room there is in each model so that it’s clear whether or not it will fit into whatever kind of vehicle (car or SUV) that would be carrying them.

What Type of Hoist do you Prefer?

There are a few different types of hoists that you can choose from. The most common is the chain hoist, but there are other options such as swing arm and tow bar hoists. It knows how each of these works is important to find one that’s right for your needs.

Chain Hoists

A chain hoist will suspend your motorcycle by its rear tire, allowing it to be lifted up and out of sight in seconds. They’re great if you want something quick, but they’re not ideal for long-term storage because they don’t allow for any adjustment or movement once it’s installed on your bike frame (which means that if someone damages their bike while being stored with this type of system installed).

Swing Arm Hoists 

A swing arm hoist is the most common type of motorcycle lift because it allows the bike to be moved around and adjusted as needed. This makes it perfect for those who have multiple bikes stored in their garage and want to be able to move them around at will.

How Much Space is Available on your Towbar?

When looking for a motorcycle carrier, it’s essential to consider the size of your bike. The weight and dimensions of your motorcycle will determine how much space is available on your towbar. This might require extra consideration if you have a spare wheel.

When choosing a towbar that fits your bike and trailer, it’s also important to consider how much clearance there will be between them when they are both attached.

Types of Motorcycle Carriers

There are several types of motorcycle carriers available, including:

  • Towbar mounted. This carrier style will attach to your vehicle’s tow bar and allow you to transport your bike behind the trunk or cargo area safely.
  • Trunk mounted. If you want to keep your ride out of sight while still allowing easy access, this option is ideal because it attaches directly to most cars and trucks' rear bumpers without needing extra parts or brackets.
  • Rear bumper mounted (or roof mounted). This allows riders who don’t have room for a tow bar hitch on their vehicles’ roofs or even those who don’t have enough room around their trunks but still want something secure enough so as not to worry about leaving their motorcycles anywhere unattended while they’re driving around town!

Assessing the Capacity of A Motorcycle Carrier.

The weight rating and maximum width, height, and length determine the capacity of a motorcycle carrier. The weight rating of your motorcycle carrier will tell you how much it can safely hold. You’ll want to ensure that the weight rating matches what you expect to carry on your bike. If not, this could cause problems loading or unloading your bike later in life (or during transport).


The maximum capacity of a particular model may also vary depending on whether it’s designed for use with motorcycles or cars. For example, some models have larger openings than others, allowing more items like bikes inside without getting crushed too badly against each other while moving around freely inside them—but others don’t have enough room left over after fitting everything else into place!

Work Out Your Budget

Before you start looking for a motorcycle carrier, you must work out your budget. You will need to consider the carrier’s cost and other accessories, such as a bike rack and soft luggage.

The first thing to do when thinking about your budget is to determine how much money you can afford to spend on a motorcycle carrier. This will help determine whether or not it makes sense for you to purchase one at this point in your life. If possible, try purchasing something cheaper than what would usually be considered “entry-level.” This means getting something that doesn’t require much maintenance but has enough features to not break down too often over time (and thus cost more).

It’s also worth considering whether or not this item should be used only occasionally or regularly enough for its value to add up over time (and therefore warrant purchasing). For example, if buying an expensive item like this requires high maintenance costs, which turn off customers who don’t want their vehicles damaged by careless handling, there shouldn’t be any need for one!

How to Choose a Motorcycle Carrier

Before you decide on the best carrier for your motorcycle, it’s important to consider:

  • The weight capacity of the carrier. You don’t want to be stuck with an overly-heavy carrier that won’t fit in your garage or parking spot.
  • The dimensions of your bike and its accessories. If there’s room for one more accessory (like a helmet) but not another (like an air freshener), then maybe this is not the right choice for you.
  • Ease of assembly/disassembly. Some carriers can easily be assembled and taken apart. In contrast, others require tools or complicated techniques like using a wrench on screws that might not even exist anymore!
  • Ease of use. How much time will it take me each day when I need my motorcycle transported safely? Is there something wrong with mine already, so I can’t use it immediately after purchase…or will I have plenty left over before needing help later down the line?

Functionality

The first thing to consider when choosing a motorcycle carrier is its functionality. In general, you’ll want to look for carriers that can hold your bike in place and prevent it from shifting during transport. You’ll also want them to be able to have two cycles at once if possible.

When picking out a carrier for your bike, there are some things you should keep in mind:

1. How many bikes can you carry? 

One of the essential features is determining how large or small an object will be when placed into another container (e.g., your trunk). If there isn’t enough space inside the vehicle, it may not even fit all three bikes!

2. What type of bikes do we plan on using? 

Different varieties have different requirements when transporting them securely, so it’s best to know what kind before purchasing anything else needed by our chosen method(s). 

Adjustability

Adjustability is one of the essential features of a motorcycle carrier. Adjusting your bike’s position on the carrier will allow you to customise it and make loading and unloading easier.

Adjustability is also important because it helps ensure that your bike will fit in your chosen carrier, which makes it more secure for transporting your ride. If a bike doesn’t fit into its carrier, there could be potential damage or injury during transport if something goes wrong with securing the vehicle properly.

Safety

Safety is essential when transporting motorcycles. Therefore, the carrier should also be designed and tested for safety. This means many things, but it can also mean that the carrier has been certified by a reputable testing organisation such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

The best way to ensure your motorcycle will arrive safely at its destination is by using a quality carrier tested and certified by an independent party such as UL.

Durability

Durability is one of the most important considerations when buying a motorcycle carrier. A durable product that will last for years and can be used in any weather condition, so you don’t have to worry about breaking down while on your way to work or school.


Durability is also essential because it will help protect you from injury if there is an accident with your bike while attached to the carrier. If your motorcycle falls over or slams into something while riding in its gear, it could lead to severe injuries such as broken bones or even death!


Motorcycle carriers come in different sizes based on how much weight they can handle before becoming unstable or tipping over onto their side (which would be very bad). The best way around this problem is by getting one that offers several levels of adjustment so that no matter where you need extra space—inside or outside—you’ll always be able to fit everything without any issues!

Affordability

Choosing a motorcycle carrier can be daunting, especially if you’re new to motorcycles. There are so many options available that it’s hard to know where to start. In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular types of motorcycle carriers and help you choose the right one for your needs:

Motorcycle Rack

This is typically used on trucks or SUVs with enough room behind the rear seats for a rack attachment point (usually on top), but more room is needed below where any luggage would sit. The benefit here is that they don’t require any additional storage space behind them—you can mount them directly onto your vehicle’s frame! This option also makes sense if there are already holes in your truck bed frame where another rack could go; otherwise, it will likely need some drilling and cutting off some material before mounting anything else inside its place (such as an exhaust pipe).

Roof Mounted Bike Carriers

These products allow easy access into cars without having their passengers get off first; however, they require careful consideration since some models only allow loading from one side while others have unique features like tire clearance issues due to differences between different brands’ designs.

Side Mounted Bike Carriers

These devices work similarly but attach directly to vehicles’ sides rather than tops/backs.

These kinds feature wheels instead of tracks, allowing them greater mobility during travel across uneven terrains such as rough dirt roads or gravel paths leading away from city streets towards lakeside beaches near vacation spots.

Conclusion

When looking for a motorcycle carrier, it’s essential to consider your needs and the type of motorbike/moped you own. Many different carriers are available on the market today, and each one will have specific features  that make it more suitable for certain types of bikes. 

If you are looking for a quality motorcycle carrier rack, check out our offer! Trade Hero’s handy hitch-mounted motorbike carrier does away with the need to haul a large trailer. Construction made of sturdy steel, with a staggering 227 KG weight capability. Transporting your scooter, motorbike, or dirt bike is simple and secure with an anti-rattle stabiliser.


A high-quality product is the Motorcycle Carrier Rack Basic from Trade Hero Australia. Additionally, we provide a variety of towing components and motorbike carrier racks.