A local guy makes carriers very similar to Joe Hauler but I think cheaper and huskier material. My nephew wanted one for his 650 V-Star and got the Super Heavy Duty Street Bike carrier (rated 1000#) for $400 with the ramp. 8 1/2 in wide track for some wider street tires. For SoCal bikers it's an option as the units are welded and not UPSable. Motocrib 1 714 925-0229 in Rosemead CA, near Whittier. 7 different stock carriers and will do custom carriers.
I use a Moto-Tote carrier and I'm very happy with it. It sure makes transporting my motorcycles much easier and I can jam along with the flow of traffic instead of having to go 55 mph in the slow lane with everybody else that's towing a trailer. I usually get home late so I like that it has lights on the back. It also comes with a ramp that attaches to the base unit. I've used it for five years with no problems.
1st - I bought the carrier before I had a pickup, back when I used to take my bikes with my SUV and got used to how easy it was to use. 2nd - Now that I own a pickup I enjoy knowing that my tool chests, ice chests, riding gear and everything else I bring will be safe locked in the back of my truck while I'm out riding. The lid on my truck is waterproof and lockable. Sometimes I ride out in the boonies and some of the guys I ride with have had things stolen from the back of their trucks. Now when we ride, my riding buddies put their valuables in the back of my truck where they are locked up and out of sight. It sucks that fellow riders would rip each other off, but it happens. And, it's a hell of a lot easier loading and unloading my bike from the carrier than it is from the back of my truck. Below is a better picture of the Speedsturr lid.
I dig side-slings. Used an old school "Moto-Caddy" for 15 years when doing SAR and hard-enduro's in AZ and stuff....I could get into tighter spots with it and still keep my camper shell/carpet kit on, which, we all know how handy one is after hours and hours of mud and snow and snot after dark etc. blah blah blah..... These have come quite a ways since the orriginals. I had to really modify mine a lot to get it to quit rocking and to keep the bike in place but it served very well for many a moon. I'm thinking of another one and a new camper shell/carpet kit again as I'm getting too old for sleeping on the ground and "bed-liner butt" in the AM just blows when the air matress goes pfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft overnight.
