Mounting a snowboard on a motorbike

**Matt Cartney** · #1 3 Feb 2008

Here's an odd one (I guess, you never know on this forum), anyone have experience of mounting a snowboard on a motorbike?

The bike is an XT600E with ally panniers. Currently I am thinking of mounting an old Thule roofrack snowboard clamp vertically on my pannier an having some arrangement using 20mm flat steel bolted into my bash plate and coming up to meet another piece of steel bolted into the binding holes of the board and joined together in some quick release fashion (possibly just a padlock). This should hold the board securely front and back.

Any thoughts welcome.

Matt

**oldbmw** · #2 3 Feb 2008

I used to carry a belly board on the bike, just bungee strapped to the seat and rear carrier., let it hang off the end.

**Walkabout** · #3 3 Feb 2008

Someone on here or ADVrider, maybe more than one, has carried a fullsize surfboard around with them, strapped down the side of the bike - I guess he did not like the boards for hire!

**Matt Cartney** · #4 3 Feb 2008

I think the tricky bit is going to be mounting the board with the boxes. Otherwise it would be reasonably simple, like you say, to mount the board along the side of the bike.

I thought about mounting the board across the back on the rear parcel rack but it's 162cm long so is a bit wide for that I think.

Matt

**stuxtttr** · #5 7 Feb 2008

The only time i carried a snowboard was just to cover a few miles on lanes and i just lashed it across the bike. I carried one in Spain but again it was only up the mountain so it didnt need to be very secure.

If you are going a long way, consider mounting the board flat off the back of the bike it will stick out back a way but at least it wont make you too wide.

Alternativly how much will it be to mail it to youre destination.

I once took a board with me round the globe it was a real hassel hitching rides and although it was useful to have my own board everywhere I went I could have hired,borrowed or purchased one.

**Matt Cartney** · #6 8 Feb 2008

Hi,

Yeah, I like to have my own board. The few I've hired have always been a bit duff.

That's a good idea, sticking it out from the back, I hadn't thought of that. Will have to get the board and try it out in a few positions.

Matt

**GeoffL** · #7 19 Feb 2008

If the balinese can do it with a surfboard...
bali boarders on bikes on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

**wile e** · #8 2 Mar 2008

Well it all depends on how far/where you're traveling. I think the biggest problem is that it will act like a sail or at minimum affect how the wind hits the bike. I was riding from Bilbao to Madrid and the wind was so strong that if I didn't lie down and hug my tank, it would push me across lanes. And even then I still had to fight it.

Not sure how much of a back country guy you are, but what about a split board? Better for the back country plus it would make the snowboard able to fold in half, thus creating less surface area for wind. Just a thought.

**Matt Cartney** · #9 3 Mar 2008

Hi Wile e,

A split board would probably be easier to mount (and I confess I would like one) but they are seriously expensive. Actually, the problem has been solved for me as my mate is going to take the board out for me by plane.

Thanks for everyones replies.

Matt