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No straps should be attached above the the height of the point of where the front fender attatches to the front forks and the height of the passenger footboards. All pressure should be pulling forward into a wheel chock NEVER fasten to the handlebars EVER!!!!
When I tie my Ultra Classic in my toyhauler I hook the straps to the frame right above the cross bar above the voltage regulator, pulling down & forward.I also have straps attached to the saddle bag guards pulling down and forward. Just don't compress the forks more than 1\2 way.
Edit: If you look at how the bike ships from the factory you will see them tied as described above, if it's good enough to get it from the factory to the dealer it's good enough for me..
One of the our local Harley dealers advised me to tie an Ultra from the engine guards pulling forward to the D rings on the floor. Compress the fork about 50%. Also to tie the rear end by using the bag guards. You don't need much pressure here since this tie point is mainly to prevent the rear tire from kicking sideways.
I'm going to see my new Ultra at the dealer that I bought from today so will ask them the same question to see what they recommend.
No straps should be attached above the the height of the point of where the front fender attatches to the front forks and the height of the passenger footboards. All pressure should be pulling forward into a wheel chock NEVER fasten to the handlebars EVER!!!!
I sure wouldn't trust the engine gaurd for a mounting point. Mine flexes with just my legs on the pegs and I'm a lot lighter than an 800# bike.
ORIGINAL: chesterbud
One of the our local Harley dealers advised me to tie an Ultra from the engine guards pulling forward to the D rings on the floor. Compress the fork about 50%. Also to tie the rear end by using the bag guards. You don't need much pressure here since this tie point is mainly to prevent the rear tire from kicking sideways.
I'm going to see my new Ultra at the dealer that I bought from today so will ask them the same question to see what they recommend.
I go through the frame and around the engine guard with rags around the frame to protect the paint. I also use the rear guards also, probably not needed but a little extra insurance on a 800 pound motorcycle.
Use a wheel chock, tie down the front using a combitation of hog ties and ratchet straps.
On theUltra, strap to the front of the engine frame where the frame meets the crash bars use hog ties over the crash bar and frame together. Use ratchet straps connected to the hog ties, pull down to about 2/3 compression to eliminate movement in the front end. No, you wont damage the seals they have a built in bump stop.
In the rear use the rear passenger foot rest frame.
Just got back from my dealer and spent an hour with the mechanic doing the PDI on my new Ultra. I asked him how to tie them down and his suggestion as well was to use the engine guard. Only difference he said was at the rear. Instead of using the saddlebag trim (which he says is ok) he uses the rear floorboard mount. This point doesn't have to take a lot of weight, it's just to prevent the rear end from kicking out.
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