I have always tied off to the bars also and never bent a handle bar yet. But it just goes against my grain to tie off to the ends of the bars - don't seem right.
I'd have a tough and worrisome trip if I used one of those Canyon Dancer straps even though others say they're just great.
Sorry Canyon Dancer, but it's a no-go here.

 

I used one of these (Canyon Dancer, looks like the one I used was the new one with "cups") and didn't have any problem with bending bars or blown fork seals, but it did oval out a stock rubber handlebar bushing and it tweaked the bars giving the illusion that they were bent. I'd readjust them but they'd work themselves back to the tweaked position. Replaced the bushings with synthetics and no problem since.

I probably had it strapped down tighter than it really needed to be.

 

So, not much was said about leaving in gear or natural. I saw one leave in neutral...
I have a 80 mile trip tomorrow with my first Harley. I hope all goes well....

 

Use some of the grey matter between the ears a second , the bikes not running so nothing is turning inside the trans so what difference would it make being in neutral or in gear if it's tied down properly and not slamming back & forth all over the place ?



Not a fucing bit .............. Sometimes you guys really scare me knowing your out there on the road with me .............

 

Ok, riddle me this...where do you put the straps on a Road Glide? Last transport I did I used the engine guard (no one says "crash" in a motorcycle thread). No problems, just curious....

 

Okay, who do I send the bill for my fork seals to??? I trailered my ride from Cali to Montana and back and I blew my right seal. I bottomed mine out. Oh well. With 121k im sure they were due to be replaced.

 

I was not going to weigh-in on this primarily because YOU are tying down a very different bike than I but on second thought perhaps some part of my method(s) may help/apply... First, I have a little different approach about (not) compressing the shocks (too much)... NOT saying bad/good but, I try not to compress them too much if at all... I prefer the bike able to take full advantage of the full/graduated travel of the shocks/springs to help absorb any rough ride... And/But/Also, at the same time, I don't want the straps to become loose/tight... Second, I have a very different bike/trailer...

I have attached some photos and hope they may help/give YOU some ideas... The photos do not show the bike tied down with the new Titan BullDog wheel chock which has added a better refinement (especially loading alone)... Good luck

 

Ummm, you just did Here is a link. You were right, they tie it to the engine guard.

http://www.roadglide.org/showthread.php?t=18985