I know, I know... please no snide comments about why I'm trailering. I have an Ultra Classic and want to know what, if anything, I should do about the rear shocks. Should I leave them at riding pressure (15-20psi), let all the air out, or max them before I strap the rear down.

 

Just leave them as they are.

You don't ride it anyway. (Just had to throw that in!)

 

I place a strap at each side of the handle bar, then one at each passenger foot peg pulling forward. The shocks can be left alone. The rear end of the bike will be where you placed it 1200 miles earlier. I use cinch type, NOT ratchet 2" hog ties on the bars with loops and 1" straps at the passenger foot pegs. It never moves.

 

 

Leave them were you have them and strap it down.

 

I don't strap my bike down by the handle bars anymore. I run a softie around the forks just above the fender brace. No pressure on the shocks that way. I don't strap down the rear, I run a strap not too tight to the passenger footpegs, just in case the bike bounces it will remain straight.

 

Takes me longer to get the trailer hooked up to the car than it does to secure the bike. No compressing the suspension, no movement at all !!!

 

1 If possible, secure the bike so that the front shocks are not compressed.

2 Never transport a bike leaning on the sidestand. It can and will ruin the bushings in the side atand.

3 Make sure the bike is in neutral. Prevents the oil pump from sucking with every fore and aft movement.

4 Have all tiedowns pulling the bike forward against some type of chock. If you tie down the bike to the front and to the back, every fore and aft movement will have two of the straps helping to stretch the other two.

Bwana

 

I always ride my bike to trailer week

 

The rear is not going to go anywere,and just a light not full compression on the front.I double my front"just in case"