tie downs ? how
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6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 10
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tie downs ? how
How does everybody else tie their sporty's down on a trailer? by the frame? pain in the ***. Or do the 'ol stand-by and compress the front forks? I've heard pros and cons of hauling them with the front forks compressed, and thoughts? Have heard different ideas on the same thing about tying dirt bikes down
Thanks
Thanks
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
one cam-buckle type strap on each side of the bars near the barclamp.
angled down, out, and forward keeping the front tire against the front of trailer. straps go over the bars and both end of straps hooked to trailer.
one backup ratchet-strap on each side hooked same way.
straps tightened enough to compress the forks about halfway.
bungee cord through the wheel that hooks to the centers of the left and right straps and takes the slack out of the staps on bumps.
hooks are in holes drilled in the rails. the hooks cannot completely unhook without human intervention.
2x2 screwed to trailer floor on each side of front tire to keep it from turning left/right.
one heavy strap through the bottom of the rear wheel.
if done right the bike can bounce around freely on the suspension and not go crooked or lean at all.
sounds like a lot of trouble but i can load and unload in a few minutes and haven't lost the bike yet even after 10-hour each way trips.
angled down, out, and forward keeping the front tire against the front of trailer. straps go over the bars and both end of straps hooked to trailer.
one backup ratchet-strap on each side hooked same way.
straps tightened enough to compress the forks about halfway.
bungee cord through the wheel that hooks to the centers of the left and right straps and takes the slack out of the staps on bumps.
hooks are in holes drilled in the rails. the hooks cannot completely unhook without human intervention.
2x2 screwed to trailer floor on each side of front tire to keep it from turning left/right.
one heavy strap through the bottom of the rear wheel.
if done right the bike can bounce around freely on the suspension and not go crooked or lean at all.
sounds like a lot of trouble but i can load and unload in a few minutes and haven't lost the bike yet even after 10-hour each way trips.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
I tie down using 6 ratchet straps, 4 forward and 2 aft. The forward straps are run through the triple trees and tightened until the forks compressed about 1/2 way. I do not recommend tying down from the handle bars, as I've seen bars that got bent when the trailer hit a a big bump or pot hole.
Using 4 forward straps ensures that you have a safety in the event that a strap or ratchet fails / breaks. You can loose a strap and the bike will remain upright, not lying on the trailer on its side.
Using 4 forward straps ensures that you have a safety in the event that a strap or ratchet fails / breaks. You can loose a strap and the bike will remain upright, not lying on the trailer on its side.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
Two ratchet straps up front through the trees going out & forward like others have stated holding the front tire against the front of the trailer with the front springs compressed about 1/2 way. Then one ratchet strap through the rear tire, but wraped around the tire, to the other side to aide in keeping the bike from tilting one way or the other.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
I use...
A strap harness called the Canyon Dancer,(http://www.canyondancer.com/Products.aspx), have used it quite a bit and never had any issues. It does compress your front shocks a bit. Keeps the bike tight to the front of the trailer. Then just run a ratchet strap to through the back wheel/swingarm and tighten it down. Never had an issue, and the roads around here are fairly rough for trailers!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
The front of my trailer has a radius so I use a removable chock. Something like this:
http://www.discountramps.com/motorcy...eel-chocks.htm
Chock and anchor points were mounted through both the trailer floor and the angle-iron floor supports.
Four straps in the front plus one at the front tire. One side to side looped around the rear tire. Sometimes, I'll place a stack of polishing clothes/towels on the seat and strap over the top, which mostly does nothing.
Do NOT use the cam-buckle/friction style straps. Ratchet straps are the safest.
http://www.discountramps.com/motorcy...eel-chocks.htm
Chock and anchor points were mounted through both the trailer floor and the angle-iron floor supports.
Four straps in the front plus one at the front tire. One side to side looped around the rear tire. Sometimes, I'll place a stack of polishing clothes/towels on the seat and strap over the top, which mostly does nothing.
Do NOT use the cam-buckle/friction style straps. Ratchet straps are the safest.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 89
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From: St. Louis, Mo
[quote=shootermike;8482343]How does everybody else tie their sporty's down on a trailer? by the frame? pain in the ***. Or do the 'ol stand-by and compress the front forks? I've heard pros and cons of hauling them with the front forks compressed, and thoughts? Have heard different ideas on the same thing about tying dirt bikes down
Thanks[/quote]
I've been riding since the early 70s
and never had my bike on a trailer.
I have towing insurance and let the
tow operator worry about securing
it, if it breaks down..
Thanks[/quote]
I've been riding since the early 70s
and never had my bike on a trailer.
I have towing insurance and let the
tow operator worry about securing
it, if it breaks down..
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