Afternoon all Im taking my Ducati MS Enduro for a trip into Europe soon, booked on DFDS Dover-Dunkirk ferry Been watching various YouTube videos of taking bikes on ferries, I have a couple of questions, which hopefully someone more experienced can answer 1) is the Ferry deck and loading ramp slippery ? 2) Park bike on side stand or centre stand? 3) which side to put the ratchet on when strapping down ? Kind regards Neil B
1 not slippy as such, but if wet take care. 2 side stand in 1st gear with Velcro strap on f brake lever. 3 have ratchet on same side as side stand. 4 take your time, you have plenty of it.
Ramps can be wet but I have never found them slippery. If not confident ride with both legs off pegs. Side stand only. Most ferries provide a padded ratchet strap that goes over the seat. You could use a folded towel to boost protection. Did a ferry crossing once where they had foam pads and rope. This one time the crew lashed the bikes down. The bike will be secure, with a single strap my ST4S survived a roller coaster, storm crossing from Plymouth to Santander. This is published by DFDS Ride onto the vehicle deck. Park where directed. Use the provided straps to compress the suspension slightly and secure the bike to deck anchor points. Ask crew to inspect the setup if you're unsure.
Watch them when they strap the bike down, as some of their staff can be a little over enthusiastic. I took my brand new KTM 1290 on the ferry a few years ago, they ratcheted it down so hard, it burst the fork seals. Bloody idiots.
On the Bilbao ferry they bent the Multi seat almost in half they were so enthusiastic, I had to call them back before it became permanent.
Did a sailing last year Frog/Blighty and we were guided to a row of front wheel chocks welded to the deck. Never had this before. A row of us were then strapped down over our seats. My Panzer was heavily loaded(3 month euro tour) and struggled on my own to pull bike back out of chock. The 2 KTM’s & Suzuki were no probs. Cheap cable lock keeps helmet on bike. Those stairs up/down to decks are narrow and easy to crack helmet on wall, other peeps.
Ive just come back from a trip to Belgium and France went out Dover Dunkirk. Bike on side stand and they strapped it down. I had to release it. Came back Dieppe to Newhaven. Was a bit of a job because I had to manoeuvre a BMW K1600GT sideways into a chock and they then strapped it down. I had to release it in Newhaven needed a hand to get the bugger out of the chock. Nothing was slippery and it had been raining most of the Holiday
Taking the Chunnel removes all the strapping down. Only issue we had was the first bike was allocated an earlier train to the rest of us. Anyways, we all got the earlier train.
I’ll be using new haven to Dieppe a week on Saturday. Be interesting to see if the boat has these chocks
Used the chunnel & pre booked. Got to barrier & was issued this by the machine!!! I was on the Panzer mind.
The French Chunnel desk staff at the terminal couldn’t be less bothered. They gave me a ticket for a different train & time. My mate who I followed through and had booked our tickets had no issues. Took a fair bit of arm waiving to get booked back on original train&time.
I've not seen those front wheel chocks before on a ferry, they are great. The deck is metal and can be both wet and potentially slippery with diesel. I have always felt safer with the bike on centre stand and a little bungy around the front brake lever. My ST4S appeared to lean a little too much when on the side side, hence the centre stand.
