Motorcycle tie down
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,131
Likes: 12,691
From: South Carolina
If the truck and trailer are involved in a minor mishap, like taking an slight excursion off the road, that bike could be gone.
Don`t be complacent like the guy in the video, put some effort into it.
At least two in front, two in rear. Don`t expect the chock screwed to the plywood floor to keep the bike from shooting forward during an unexpected heavy deceleration, use two straps at the rear, pulling rearward, hooked to a beefy hold down point in the trailer.
And leave the Home Depot/Wal mart straps in the store...
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Nov 24, 2019 at 07:42 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 771
Likes: 15
From: Cartersville, Georgia
Home made block of 2x4's to cinch frame down onto, so no suspension travel or blown fork seals, two front soft straps around crash bar and frame, so no bent forks, two rear soft straps to the passenger floor boards, Baxley chock (best chock available) and Mac's ratchet straps (best straps available) .... !!!! .... absolutely no movement after thousands of trailering miles and easy one person loading.
Last edited by BrianSF-GA; Dec 2, 2019 at 01:03 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 333
From: Upper Providence Pa
Home made block of 2x4's to cinch frame down onto, so no suspension travel or blown fork seals, two front soft straps around crash bar and frame, so no bent forks, two rear soft straps to the passenger floor boards, Baxley chock (best chock available) and Mac's ratchet straps (best straps available) .... !!!! .... absolutely no movement after thousands of trailering miles and easy one person loading.
So many variants. The right answer if a moving target because it is different for touring bikes than others depending on available mount points, also varies trailer to trailer on what anchor points are available.
To simplify the complexity you need two things. Front and rear. The most common that you see is a strap on each side of the front, either the handlebar or at the fender\fork mount. Many will have pros and cons for each but these are the most common. You connect with strap of your choice and put a bit of compression load on the front suspension. You don't need to compress them all the way. Now, a wheel chock is a good idea but is not necessary if you have strapped left and right evenly. You don't want the bike leaning one way or the other.
Properly done, you can go with just this if you have a short trip and the roads are good and not overly bumpy.
For the rear, all your looking for hear is to remove the ability of the rear end to hop if the trailer gets bouncy. You don't want it to be able to bounce with the trailer and move side to side. So some will attach a strap to each side and snug them up with a slight rear pull. This is usually mounted to the frame or swing arm, most common is a saddlebag guard rail or the rear passenger peg mount. I use only one strap and pass it through the rear wheel. I am ok with the suspension traveling as long as the wheel is planted. I have seen folks use a single strap up over the seat or over rear fender for this purpose.
Again, the solid front tie is the most important. I have seen many bikes hauled over 100 miles with just the front strapped. The rear moves but if it is the only bike on the trailer a few inches may be acceptable.
To simplify the complexity you need two things. Front and rear. The most common that you see is a strap on each side of the front, either the handlebar or at the fender\fork mount. Many will have pros and cons for each but these are the most common. You connect with strap of your choice and put a bit of compression load on the front suspension. You don't need to compress them all the way. Now, a wheel chock is a good idea but is not necessary if you have strapped left and right evenly. You don't want the bike leaning one way or the other.
Properly done, you can go with just this if you have a short trip and the roads are good and not overly bumpy.
For the rear, all your looking for hear is to remove the ability of the rear end to hop if the trailer gets bouncy. You don't want it to be able to bounce with the trailer and move side to side. So some will attach a strap to each side and snug them up with a slight rear pull. This is usually mounted to the frame or swing arm, most common is a saddlebag guard rail or the rear passenger peg mount. I use only one strap and pass it through the rear wheel. I am ok with the suspension traveling as long as the wheel is planted. I have seen folks use a single strap up over the seat or over rear fender for this purpose.
Again, the solid front tie is the most important. I have seen many bikes hauled over 100 miles with just the front strapped. The rear moves but if it is the only bike on the trailer a few inches may be acceptable.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
My experience is that a strap above the fender on the lower front suspension mount near the triple tree is ok if using a chock to hold the wheel strait while the bike bounces on its suspension. But because the bouncing causes slack in the tie downs on each bump, the front wheel is more secure when strapping down tight at the fender mount to prevent any possible slack during bounces. As for the rear, these bikes will hop around on bumps if not tied down. At least one tie down to hold the bike strait, but two are better to hold the rear wheel solid to the trailer.
If a tie down is attached or laid across any painted part of the bike that bounces, like the frame or tank, it will get scuffed as the straps move with the bounces. I've not tried it, but the suggestion here of strapping the bike down tight on 2x4s would prevent the bouncing that scuffs the paint.
Beary
If a tie down is attached or laid across any painted part of the bike that bounces, like the frame or tank, it will get scuffed as the straps move with the bounces. I've not tried it, but the suggestion here of strapping the bike down tight on 2x4s would prevent the bouncing that scuffs the paint.
Beary
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 463
From: USA
Home made block of 2x4's to cinch frame down onto, so no suspension travel or blown fork seals, two front soft straps around crash bar and frame, so no bent forks, two rear soft straps to the passenger floor boards, Baxley chock (best chock available) and Mac's ratchet straps (best straps available) .... !!!! .... absolutely no movement after thousands of trailering miles and easy one person loading.
Hmmmmm....
The first time I used a frame block like that it worked its way out allowing the straps to drop limp to the floor. Miraculously, the Condor front wheel chock kept the bike standing up perfectly! True test (unwanted) of the Condor wheel chock system. Great product!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
Hmmmmm....
The first time I used a frame block like that it worked its way out allowing the straps to drop limp to the floor. Miraculously, the Condor front wheel chock kept the bike standing up perfectly! True test (unwanted) of the Condor wheel chock system. Great product!
The first time I used a frame block like that it worked its way out allowing the straps to drop limp to the floor. Miraculously, the Condor front wheel chock kept the bike standing up perfectly! True test (unwanted) of the Condor wheel chock system. Great product!