A motorbike cannot be towed like a car. It has to be carried upright, held by a wheel chock and pulled down onto its suspension with soft straps, or it can fall over and damage the tank, levers and fairings. Good motorcycle towing uses a bike deck, a small trailer or a rollback fitted with a chock, and an operator who knows where to strap. Tell us the bike and where it is, and local operators quote you directly. It is free to ask, and you need not accept.
How a bike should be secured
- Front wheel locked in a wheel chock so the bike stands upright on its own
- Two straps at the front, from the lower triple clamp or bars, using soft loops so hooks do not scratch
- Two straps at the rear, from the subframe or pegs, to stop the back swinging
- Suspension compressed a little, not bottomed out
- In gear or with the brake held by a strap if the deck is sloped
Which vehicle suits your bike
Scooters and small commuters fit on a light trailer or in a bakkie with a ramp. Big adventure and touring bikes need a proper deck with a chock and good tie-down points. A rollback with a chock bolted on can carry one or two bikes. A bike that will not roll, after a crash or with a locked back wheel, needs a dolly or careful winching. A car trailer hire with a chock can also work for a planned move if you have a tow bar.
After a fall or crash
Check yourself and others for injuries first, and call emergency services if anyone is hurt. Move the bike off the road only if it is safe to lift. Take photos of the bike, the scene and any other vehicle before it is moved. If you have cover, call your insurer before you agree to any tow, and read accident towing on slips and storage.
What it costs
A local motorbike tow is often quoted at about R650 to R1,800. Distance, the size of the bike, after-hours work and a bike that will not roll all affect the price. Ask whether the price includes straps and a chock, and whether the operator carries the bike on its own or with other vehicles. A bike carried alone on a small deck is usually quicker to load and less likely to be knocked.
What to include in your request
- Bike type and rough size
- Whether it rolls and the steering turns
- Any crash damage or fluids leaking
- Pick-up spot and drop-off workshop
- Whether keys are available
Motorcycle Towing for different clients
- Motorists and families: a commuter bike with a dead battery taken from home to a bike workshop
- Company fleets and rental firms: courier and delivery scooters collected from routes and taken to the service bay
- Truckers, buses and logistics: a courier company's bikes moved between branches on a covered deck
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: a farm quad or trail bike carried from the lands to a dealer in town
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: used bikes moved between dealers, auctions and assessors on chocked decks
- Construction, mining and plant hire: site motorbikes and quads moved between mine sections for repairs
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: an adventure bike recovered after a breakdown on a gravel pass on tour
- Municipalities, estates and schools: traffic and security bikes collected and taken to the municipal workshop
Frequently asked questions
Can a motorbike be towed by its front wheel like a car?
Where should straps go on a motorcycle?
Is emergency motorcycle towing available at night?
Who will move my bike if I use this site?
Motorcycle Towing by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg