Fly Racing Folding Runway MC Ramp Review
Anyone who has ever had to load his bike on a trailer any taller than knee-high knows the gnawing feeling of worry in the pit of your stomach, especially if done alone.
No one wants to be “that guy” in the online videos who wrecks a perfectly good bike because his ramp is too short, the angle too steep, the transition too abrupt, or the ramp too narrow.
As the height of your trailer or pickup-truck bed increases, so do the chances of a flop. I have sweated many loading scenarios because I had opted for a too-short economy model. Not only does this create a scary angle but, if your bike is low-slung, the chance of catching the frame below the engine on the transition increases dramatically.
None of these situations have a happy ending and bad stuff happens really fast. My choice was to always find a helper or three and go ever so slowly but that is not a real solution. I now have a really nice, big trailer with a tailgate height of 34 inches, which is a game changer, especially with my old six-foot ramp. If we do the math, it is nigh on 45 degrees.
I needed a new ramp and knew it had to be close to eight feet long to minimize the angle. Unfortunately, a 96″ x 36″ ramp takes time to assemble for each use, weighs over 100 pounds, and takes up the space in which you might transport another bike. So I took a lesson from the racer boys at the track.
Enter the 92-inch Fly Racing Folding Runway MC ramp. At 7.25 inches wide at the narrowest point, it is a stairway to heaven that gives real peace of mind and body. The increased length decreases the angle of attack and the transition becomes less critical.
For safety and convenience, I went with a pair of Fly 92-inch ramps (a 79-inch version, also shown, is available). I use one on the right to roll the bike up, and the other on the left to step up on. Anyone who has used a solo narrow ramp and been stuck at the tailgate, holding the bike and unable to climb into the truck bed, knows the feeling and the advantage of two ramps. On my own, I can load anything short of a big-inch cruiser or tourer—rated ramp weight limit is 750 pounds—with complete control and confidence, although I recommend you always have someone to spot you.
As usual, one gets what he pays for, yet the price difference between a cheap model and one that offers real security is not that much, and the quality of the Fly Racing Folding Runway MC ramp is obvious. The rungs are closely spaced and have generous grooves to enhance traction. You will appreciate that more on dew-laden mornings. It is nothing compared to the repair bill for a bike that has capsized.
The Fly Racing Folding Runway MC ramp has generous, rubber-backed top lips, but I recommend that you use one of your straps to secure the ramp to the tailgate. Most of us have seen ramps start to migrate off the tailgate due to repeated braking forces as the bike descends the ramp. Fly Racing’s Tie Downs do the trick and can later be used to cinch down the bike using built-in soft ties. Once the loading is complete, the ramps fold in half, without any tools or disassembly, and stow away easily.
The 92-inch Fly Racing Folding Runway MC ramp is a polished, 6061-T6 aluminum insurance policy that weighs only 14.5 pounds and should keep you forever from being that guy.
For additional information, visit Fly Racing Folding Runaway MC Ramp.
Story from Ultimate MotorCycling magazine.
