I bought a new Streetglide last week and when I got it home there were multiple problems with the bike so the dealer came to take it back for service. When the guy tied it down he used the softties but went around the crashbar and frame rail. My question is if anyone uses those softies on painted surfaces like the front downtube? I have never done it myself for fear of damaging the paint. Thanks for any opinions.

 

To each their own. I strap around my handlebars and bag guards.

 

Thanks, I do as well, the dealers trailer left no choice but to grab the bike around the frame rails at the crash bar, I am worried that the paint got worn on the frame.

 

If they were the fleece type softies, you should be ok.

 

I tie my bike around the upper down tubes at the crash bars with HD soft ties and I have not noticed any paint damage. I do put a piece of microfiber on the crash bar where the strap touches it.

The down tubes at the crash bar looks to me like the most secure place to tie the bike down.

 

I'll piggy back the thread. How much weight rating should you have on your tie down points? THe D ring setups I was looking at for putting in the floor of my utility trailer were only ratted 300lbs. I was a little suprised. I am trying to not put just screw eyes in the floor. THe D ring setups I was looking and flip flat for low profile when not in use. I have side boards on the trailer so tieing down to the top rail is not an option.

 

I use these with backing plates
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Curt-83600-R...255c79&vxp=mtr

 

Trailer has 2x10 flooring so those would not work unless I cut a recessed spot in the wood.

 

These are what I am looking at currnetly:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&storeId=10051

Show a 900lb breaking limit. Is this enough?

 

Not for me, but I think anything worth doin is worth overdoin!