WheelDock Motorcycle Storage & Transport

First Impressions

The WHEELDOCK is a transport system designed to transport your motorcycle on a trailer or truck in a safe and secure manner that will assure, upon arrival at your destination, that your motorcycle will be as ready to ride as you are.  This transport system is built with welded steel and it has a load bearing carriage mechanism which is one of only two moving parts.  It is built to last, and it is custom built to fit the front wheel of your bike.

Setup and Operation

The WHEELDOCK is functional in at least two additional ways.  You can place it on your garage floor or on a flat driveway for storage and cleaning.  It will hold your bike upright making it easier to reach, and clean those hard to reach places on the left side caused by the lean of your bike when it is on the kickstand.

I had the opportunity to meet Rod Brakhage at a rally this past summer and watched as he passionately demonstrated the virtues of the WHEELDOCK.  Rod describes himself as an “imagineer”  He says that if he can imagine it, he can build it.  I think an imagineer must be something of a cross between Leonardo da Vinci and Eli Whitney.  While Rod will dispute the metaphor, the WHEELDOCK does reflect his persistent attention to design, simplicity, functionality, reliability, and quality. 

Set up and operation of the WHEELDOCK is really quite simple. To install your WHEELDOCK on your trailer or truck for transporting your motorcycle: 

• Place the WHEELDOCK in position for transporting your motorcycle.
• Then measure and drill two 9/16” holes through the floor.
• After installing two bolts –furnished with purchase– in the floor, you are ready to install the WHEELDOCK onto the bolts.
• Once installed, simply tighten the bolts with the wrench provided and your WHEELDOCK is now ready to transport your bike.
• Reverse this process to remove the WHEELDOCK.

 

The process is pretty much the same for either a wood floor or a metal floor, with one exception.  With a metal floor, you will need to add a piece of 3/4" plywood that is approximately 4” square to the bottom of the floor.  The process is explained in sufficient detail in the owner's manual that is shipped with your WHEELDOCK.

To operate the WHEELDOCK:

• Open the carriage mechanism by placing your foot on the cocking lever and pushing it down until it locks into place.  You will want to do this before you approach the WHEELDOCK with your motorcycle.
• Bring your motorcycle fully into the WHEELDOCK and press the Trip Lever with your foot.  The WHEELDOCK is fitted with a gas – spring loaded – cylinder which forces the carriage mechanism into place and secures your motorcycle.  The wheel is clamped and your motorcycle is stabilized and secured.
• Install a safety strap running through the front wheel and connected to the anchor points on the WHEELDOCK.
• Attach two safety straps to an upper midpoint on your motorcycle and connect to anchor points on your trailer or truck.

 

Pressing the cocking lever to release the wheel for exit

You are now ready to transport your motorcycle. You will have confidence that it will be safe and secure from typical concerns one might have while transporting a motorcycle.  For example; preservation of seals and springs in the suspension system, possible loosening during travel, etc. 

While you are not transporting your bike, or during storage, you can use the WHEELDOCK to hold your bike in an upright position without any additional installation.  Place the WHEELDOCK on a flat surface, drive into it and press the Trip Lever.  You can get onto or off of your bike with out any concern about stability.  While the motorcycle is in this position, it will be easier to clean from both sides and it will take up less room than is required for a bike to lean on it’s sidestand.   

Features and Quality of Construction

• Your WHEELDOCK is constructed with a combination of rectangular steel tubing and flat steel stock 1/8” to 1/2” thick depending on the functional requirements within the WHEELDOCK system.
• Welds are of superior quality.
• Pivot points utilize 5/16” bolts, washers and locknuts.
• WHEELDOCK is measured and constructed to fit your motorcycle.
• There are 3 points of contact between the shoe or base of the WHEELDOCK and the motorcycle’s tire.  Those are at the widest part of the tire and at the bottom of the tire.
• Front wheel is secured with pressure created by a nitrogen filled spring loaded cylinder.
• Rails are formed at entry to guide bike’s front wheel to center point.
• Carriage mechanism can be reset from either side to release motorcycle.
• WHEELDOCK is designed for single person operation.
• WHEELDOCK arrives, at your destination, fully assembled and ready to operate.
• T-nuts, 1/2” x 2” bolts and T-handled wrench are provided.
• WHEELDOCK requires very little maintenance.  A drop or two of oil is all that is required.
• WHEELDOCK has been tested, by the design team, at 1600 lbs and found “zero appreciable damage.”

WHEELDOCK can be purchased at www.WHEELDOCK.com for $295.00 plus $25.00 for shipping and handling.  It comes with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee so that “if the WHEELDOCK does not perform to your complete satisfaction,” you can return it in the original container for a full refund. 

The WHEELDOCK includes a limited lifetime warranty for the original purchaser.  The only conditions against warranty are that purchaser promptly notify WHEELDOCK, LLC, of material or workmanship defect and establishes that the WHEELDOCK system was used according to Manufacturers specifications. Additionally, any customer can exchange for a different size stand for a flat fee of $50.

Final Thoughts

WHEELDOCK is the first (and may be the only) CM product review to receive a perfect rating (10 out of 10). It's a great idea that is executed with quality -- at a very reasonable price.