Urgent towing question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 6,107
From: Florida
Never strap the bike down on the kickstand, and never cover it.
I usually bungee the front brake. There are 2 schools of thought on this,1 pro & 1 con. I dunno; I just do it & never a problem.
I usually bungee the front brake. There are 2 schools of thought on this,1 pro & 1 con. I dunno; I just do it & never a problem.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 37
From: Monroe, Louisiana
Put in neutral. Hauled mine about 700 miles inside enclosed trailer with it in gear and the lifters lost their prime. Started it and what a noise.
It won't hurt to leave kickstand down. Don't tie it down with it on kickstand. About half way down is ok on the front forks. Also tie the rear down where it can't bounce from side to side. Disarm the security or leave fob on it.
A tarp or cover is a don't do. It will rub the paint. Probably good idea to take windshield and bags off to keep them from getting etched from salt.
Don't know if I would attempt to haul it in the conditions you describe. Too likely to get damaged.
It won't hurt to leave kickstand down. Don't tie it down with it on kickstand. About half way down is ok on the front forks. Also tie the rear down where it can't bounce from side to side. Disarm the security or leave fob on it.
A tarp or cover is a don't do. It will rub the paint. Probably good idea to take windshield and bags off to keep them from getting etched from salt.
Don't know if I would attempt to haul it in the conditions you describe. Too likely to get damaged.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 99
From: Merrimack NH
Get some soft straps and tie down at the front fender mounts. I've hauled my RG this way many times. Allows the suspension to work with no compression on the forks for a long period of time.
Good advice on the stopping a couple of times at the beginning of the trip to check the straps.
Good advice on the stopping a couple of times at the beginning of the trip to check the straps.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,709
Likes: 9,209
From: Snow Hill, NC
I tie the forks down also for double redundancy...i loop a ratchet tie around the forks where the fender is bolted to the fork....and i have bolted anchors to the side of the forks.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 1
From:
If your are using ratchet straps with hooks, wrap electrical tape around the hooks. If you get any bounce, they can't come unhooked. I have replaced the hooks on my straps with those screw to close chain links.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
OP, you're obviously gonna have to sift thru a lot of opinions to figure out what works for you...and by now you're probably on the road...for me, ALWAYS in neutral, NEVER in gear. Suck the front forks down halfway so there's always tension on the front tie-downs. NEVER leave the jiffy stand down, and NEVER leave the bike on the jiffy stand. Good way to damage the stand, the frame, or both. You'll be fine, don't over think it, doesn't hurt to tie the back of the bike down to keep it from bouncing around, it's my habit, some say unnecessary, but I have had the back jump up a little bit and go sideways...Good luck...and, no tarp...ever.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Be sure the trailer has some means to secure the bottom of the wheels. If you have no rail to place the wheel in, ask U Haul idf you can screw a 2x4 into the wood floor on each side of the wheels. If you have no method for securing the bottom of the wheels, buy extra straps and after you have it strapped in from the top, place additional straps at the bottom to keep it upright and prevent the wheels from bouncing or sliding sideways which would loosen your upper straps. Also leave in neutral using 2 straps in fron pull to front of trailer followed by 2 straps in rear pulling same to front of trailer. Do not make these straps work against themselves. I like toadd 2 more to the back pulled to the side to keep it centered in the trailer and as mentioned above, if the wheels are not in a cradle or rail additional straps down low pulling sideways to keep the bottom center in the center of the trailer, once the bottom slides out all straps go loose and you lose the cargo. Straps are cheap, get plenty
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,887
From: Newcastle, OK
Get some soft straps and tie down at the front fender mounts. I've hauled my RG this way many times. Allows the suspension to work with no compression on the forks for a long period of time.
Good advice on the stopping a couple of times at the beginning of the trip to check the straps.
Good advice on the stopping a couple of times at the beginning of the trip to check the straps.