Honda sells motorcycles, why is the bed so short?

If the bed with tailgate down was just a little longer, you could use a bed extender with motorcycles. Unless they'll be offering a special bed extender for use with bikes, the motorcycle company has really missed the mark to co-market their truck.

i wondered the same, however I think my mountain bike will fit nicely

Honda engineered this vehicle for use with all of their "other" products they made sure the largest 4 wheeler would fit in the bed or two offroad bikes (I think there's even going to be an optional mounting bracket). The bed is 6.5' long with the gate down, how long is a bike.

It's also engineered to carry a 4' wide sheet of building material flat on the floor between the wells.

here u go

http://automobiles.honda.com/images/new_models/ridgeline/specs/main.jpg

i wondered the same, however I think my mountain bike will fit nicely
Only if you take a wheel off or lower the tailgate.

Honda engineered this vehicle for use with all of their "other" products they made sure the largest 4 wheeler would fit in the bed or two offroad bikes (I think there's even going to be an optional mounting bracket). The bed is 6.5' long with the gate down, how long is a bike.
Closer to 7'. If the tailgate and bed combined were 7', a bed extender would fit around the bikes. Then you can load more of your gear in the bed, and not have to worry about it sliding out.

The wheelbase on a large dirtbike / dual sport bike is about 58", so it should fit, although the back end will hang over.

We'll soon find out.

although the back end will hang over
Exactly my point. So a bed extender won't work.

Here's one that AMP had at the SEMA show jus for us dirtbike/Ridgeline folks!:D

My 600rr fits just fine w/ the gate down... :confused:

I've had my 450x in there for about 400 miles and no fitment issues, wheels rest on hte tailgate - it's actually kind of nice to not have the tailgate bounding around when you're driving like it does in a 'true' 6ft bed.

If you still need a bed extender with the bikes - you're just plain hauling too much crap dude :D. Thats what the trunk and backseat are for. Those inner lower tiedown points work awesome for flat bungees and gastanks too.

I say big props to Honda for making this the 'fits like a glove' for the dirtybike at least :)

Sure, you can't fit a bike in the bed with the tailgate up. But name one truck that does everything the Ridgeline does, for the same price, that also allows you to fit a bike in the bed with the tailgate up. Maybe i'm missing the point, but why does it matter if you can fit a bike in with the tailgate up or down when you have 6 heavy duty tie downs in the bed to secure your bike with. Honda could also be faulted for choosing a bed that will not fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood flat in the bed with the tailgate up. Honda didn't design the Ridgeline to do everything someone wanted a truck for. They designed it to be flexible enough to both be practical for day to day use, and be able to handle the occasional uses their owners might want, such as being able to fit a motorcycle in the bed, or fit a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood flat in the bed. Sure, you have to put the tailgate down, but it goes down for a reason, such as stated above. I see trucks all the time with their quad cab and full length bed, and I wonder if these people actually use that full bed all the time, or just have it for those occasional what-if's. It's not the size of your bed, it's how you use it.

Why do you need a bed extender at all with the bikes? I have always driven with the gate down and no extender with my bikes. The bikes were always secured at the front and back.

because if the bed was too much longer, no one would be able to park it in a garage. :)

I agree. If you are that concerned with hauling that much stuff, then buy an enclosed trailer dude. The RL is rated high enough that you can tow a decent trailer w/gear with no problems. A sportbike will fit securely with the gate down, that is all I need. I don't need no mammoth F250 for my needs.

Had my Mountain bike in it this week, tie-downs worked great. Also watch this video, what you're looking for starts at about the three minute mark. The video is given by Gary Flint, the Project Manager for the Ridgeline.

http://video.vtec.net/05/naias/tov_rline-01.wmv

TL

Link doesn't work (403 Forbidden Error)

Guess the Honda 50 my boys want will be no problem for the Ridgeline - and it'll fit with the door up!

I'd say someone needs to work on a "Bro" for the tailgate while down (another thread talked about having the tailgate getting really dirty while driving in the down mode).

-ridgeln

Try this... http://vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=320271 They are all good videos but the one I'm speaking of is the upper left-hand one.

TL

My 600rr fits just fine w/ the gate down... :confused:

My 600 F2 fits in the bed as well, but the problem is nothing else can go in the bed because it will slide out. Stuff like the ramp to unload the bike! I have an idea that I'm going to investigate further come spring. Since the bed extender is actuallly two pieces with insert bars in the middle, based on my initial measurements, if the top insert is removed, the rear tire should just curve over it. That's my hope anyway so I can haul the bike AND other stuff when I head down to Bike Week in Myrtle Beach next May. If no one tries it before then, I'll make sure to post the results!

If the bed with tailgate down was just a little longer, you could use a bed extender with motorcycles. Unless they'll be offering a special bed extender for use with bikes, the motorcycle company has really missed the mark to co-market their truck.

My CBR fits fine. A bed extender would go right around it. The rear tire is barely on the tailgate. couldnt be happier

There was a bed extender in one of the pictures up above in this thread that looks like its top bars stick out further just to handle what yuou are trying to achieve. I wonder what brand they were.

I wonder if my Goldwing will fit in the bed...............

There was a bed extender in one of the pictures up above in this thread that looks like its top bars stick out further just to handle what yuou are trying to achieve. I wonder what brand they were.

Hey Bill, The bed extender we saw at SEMA with the two Honda dirtbikes is sold by the originator of the "Bed Extender". AMP is the company. www.amp-research.com

I wonder if my Goldwing will fit in the bed...............
If you build it...they will come ;).

I think it will fit, but 2 things come to mind:

-1- Does God himself even own a ramp and the cajones to load that bike onto a 41" deck height truck bed?

-2- You're gonna have to put the wing on a diet if you want the posterior to even think about putting 300# of dynamic load on that tailgate.

..I wish you the best of luck, but hope that you're kidding :cool:

Hey Bill, The bed extender we saw at SEMA with the two Honda dirtbikes is sold by the originator of the "Bed Extender". AMP is the company. www.amp-research.com
Thanks again for the link 5S http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif'm wondering if they will come out with a production piece similar to the one they have for the Fuglavanche/Escalade (http://www.amp-research.com/images/invent/Escalade_Xten.JPG) on their site, or if they will stay with that funky angled deal.

I like the fact that they made it happen on the ridge with a dirtybike in the bed, but I'm weird and would like a bed extender I can use as a 'cage' in the back of the truck when its empty. If it were angled, It would still work ok - but smaller shorter stuff would be sliding around and annoying to bungee onto the cage.

Yeah I'm nitpicking when I should just be giving them kudos for making something that works, I'll shut up now ;)

Im a Honda MC Dealer, and can fit two 450's (X and R) in the back (Gate down) no problem. Also a RINCON ATV. Room to Spare. This is why you can put 300lbs on the gate.

Thanks again for the link 5S http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif'm wondering if they will come out with a production piece similar to the one they have for the Fuglavanche/Escalade (http://www.amp-research.com/images/invent/Escalade_Xten.JPG) on their site, or if they will stay with that funky angled deal.

I like the fact that they made it happen on the ridge with a dirtybike in the bed, but I'm weird and would like a bed extender I can use as a 'cage' in the back of the truck when its empty. If it were angled, It would still work ok - but smaller shorter stuff would be sliding around and annoying to bungee onto the cage.

Yeah I'm nitpicking when I should just be giving them kudos for making something that works, I'll shut up now ;)

No need to ever shut up ssg! That's why we all come here. I fact I'm in total agreement with you. Helmet bags, Boot bags, Ice chests, food and camp gear all fit in the trunk and rear seat area but gas cans, oil and tool boxes slide around unless tied down really good. I was thinking of a quick release aluminum box intergrated into a modified (long tube) bed-extender for our weekends as well.

Yeah man, why can't I put my wifes CRV in the back??? After all it is another Honda!! Lol:D

I'm trying to convince my wife to let me trick out her Miata for auto cross - that way I wouldn't have to buy a trailer, I'd just load it into the bed of the Ridge!

-ridgeln

Anybody ever seen a harley in the back of a ridgeline? It would be nice to be able to just put my fat boy in the back for the spring ralley. Just checking:)

Honda sells motorcycles, why is the bed so short?

Because motorcycles are meant to be ridden. :D
http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm :cool:

I just posted this in another thread so I apologize for the repeat for those of you that already read it.

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Before we bought our truck we test drove it straight to our house for several reasons. The main two were:

1. Was to make sure it fit in the garage comfortably with our SI and the two sportbikes we own and to see exactly how much room it takes up. We have a slightly oversized 2.5 car garage and it fit nicely.

2. We also wanted to actually measure our sportbike with the truck there to make sure it would fit in the bed. It fit - barely but it fit (lengthwise - width wise no problem at all with plenty of room to spare) and there is an off chance that if we put both bikes tail to nose we can fit two. We take a trip every summer with both bikes (I will only ride the older one and my husband rides the 05) and we also do track days with them. The capacity to haul our bikes is one of the many reasons we bought our Ridgeline. As you know there are 6 tie downs and if needed you can buy a bed extender.

I hope that helps......but yeah they could have made the bed about 6" to a 1' longer. However, for it being their first truck I think they did a great job. It will be interesting to see how the 2007's look and what changes they make to it.

Thanks again for the help Gsxrgirl!


I just posted this in another thread so I apologize for the repeat for those of you that already read it.

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Before we bought our truck we test drove it straight to our house for several reasons. The main two were:

1. Was to make sure it fit in the garage comfortably with our SI and the two sportbikes we own and to see exactly how much room it takes up. We have a slightly oversized 2.5 car garage and it fit nicely.

2. We also wanted to actually measure our sportbike with the truck there to make sure it would fit in the bed. It fit - barely but it fit (lengthwise - width wise no problem at all with plenty of room to spare) and there is an off chance that if we put both bikes tail to nose we can fit two. We take a trip every summer with both bikes (I will only ride the older one and my husband rides the 05) and we also do track days with them. The capacity to haul our bikes is one of the many reasons we bought our Ridgeline. As you know there are 6 tie downs and if needed you can buy a bed extender.

I hope that helps......but yeah they could have made the bed about 6" to a 1' longer. However, for it being their first truck I think they did a great job. It will be interesting to see how the 2007's look and what changes they make to it.

Thanks again for the help Gsxrgirl!


No problem - anytime!!!! :D

A few notes...I use my ridgeline to carry my Honda Fourtrax 300 4x4 atv and it does fit fine with the tail gate down but I would feel a lot more safe had honda designed this truck to fit a full size ATV with the tail gate up. As someone else mentioned the heavy duty tie downs are great....I believe a NECESSITY because with the tail gate having to be down I wouldn't even dare transport an atv without some serious tie downs. I would love to see everyone elses pictures of there ATV in the bed especially the RINCON someone mentioned they had, that is my DREAM four wheeler but I am 22 and the Fourtrax 300 is doing just fine for now while I'm in school.

Here is my Ridgeline with my HONDA ATV......Honda is the only way to go!!!
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/Atvnut2056/HPIM0411.jpg

Heres another with my girl friend riding my Toy
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/Atvnut2056/HPIM0413.jpg

If the bed with tailgate down was just a little longer, you could use a bed extender with motorcycles. Unless they'll be offering a special bed extender for use with bikes, the motorcycle company has really missed the mark to co-market their truck.


I have a yamaha R6 that fits perfectly with the tailgate down, it sits directly in the little groove, I have had my bike and my buddies gsxr both in the bed at the same time and they both fit like a champ. I do have a Kawasaki Vulcan that is a little longer wheel base that I have issues with, but I usually take my R6 so I have no complaints

Here's one that AMP had at the SEMA show jus for us dirtbike/Ridgeline folks!:D

so...does anyone know where I can actually buy the AMP bed extender? I search the all of the known internets and didnt really find anything.

Just got a reply from AMP. I guess production hasnt started on the AMP bed x-tender, and I guess it will be a official Honda accessory.

I guess honda realized that they need a bed extender that will give room for a dirtbike.

I don't have a bike or an ATV, but I think the bed works just fine for my needs:D If it were longer then it would look like those other "long bed" trucks. And who wants one of those:eek: It's an RL it's BLUE it's a HONDA and above all it's MINE:cool:

Even with a big pickup I never had anything loose in the back. I wasn't too worried about it dropping out the back when I floored it, but I sure didn't want it bashing on the bike!
http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/3640/tollboothpx1.th.jpg (http://img465.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tollboothpx1.jpg)

I have put my 05 Honda Rubiconn ATV in the back of my Ridge and drove from Dallas to Ottawa Canada. No issues. I drove it in the bed and used the winch on the ATV to hook to the tie downs. Strapped the back again and no issues. I checked everything at every gas stop and all was fine the whole trip. The Rubiconn is a full size all terrain atv.