I am purchasing a RK that needs to be trailered back to my home some 1500 miles away. Would like to know the right way to secure bike to trailer. Bike does not run but rolls fine. I thought about front handlebars and the engine guard by the rear bags to tie on to. Is it ok to tie the front forks down? Thanks

 

that worked for me. be careful of brake lines and wires.double strap if you can. straps been known to break. check em every gas stop.

 

For that far I would avoid tying off to the handlebars and engine guard. Get some soft ties and tie off to the frame. On the from of my Electra Glide I can get soft ties up and around the lower fork brace. Be careful there are some brake lines running thru there too. It looks like it's gonna hit the fender but it won't. Make sure you spend a lil money on the rachet straps. Don't depend on those cheap ones, they will stretch or break. Walmart sells both kinds, but get the heavier ones. When you tie it down ratchet it down about half of the suspension travel. You don't want it bouncing up and down the whole way. I tow my bike back and forth from Pa to Texas and never had a problem. Tie it down and after 50-100 miles stop and check it to make sure it is good, after that it should be fine for the whole trip.

 

When we go to the rally s as vender's I am always trailering at least 2 bikes at a time.I use a front wheel chock,and 4 ratchet straps.Once the front tire is in the wheel chock,I run a strap from the front of the floorboard support where it bolts to the frame forward to a D ring..one on each side..Next I will fold a heavy moving blanket and lay it over the seat,connect 2 more ratchet straps to the bike and cross tie them over the seat to the floor on 2 more D rings..With the straps pulling like this the bikes are very solid..

 

one of the neatest tricks I've learned about tying down a bike - use a 6X6 block under the frame and "rachet" the bike down solid. keeps the forks and shocks from allowing the bike to bounce.

 

Thanks for all the good suggestions. Has anyone heard of clamping the front tire down and the rear is free?

 

personally, I would NEVER allow the rear to be free. one strap is all that i use on the rear, just to keep it from bouncing around.