Trailering your sporty..

[XLFREAK]

Okay, I know, "ride the sucker"...but, I'm thinking ahead...to when the snow falls again....and I want to load the beast on a trailer...and head south.
I do have a trailer that should do the job....how best to tie the bike down?
What do you use for a trailer?

[H@mbone!]

Well I have been useing what looks like a utility trailer but hinges up. But I have my wife get on it and push the front forks down and I wrap a couple rachet straps around the handle bars and pull on them till there tight and rachet a way keeping both sides of the bike even. I strap the other end of the straps to the front of the trailer one at each corner. I usually try to get the forks as down as far as I can get them stopping at the bottom triple trees if I can. Then I run a strap thew the rear wheel from one side of the trailer to the other putting a little pull to the front of the trailer then strapping it down. Thats the best way I have found to hold my bike down.

[Vegas1200C]

You want to chock the wheels if you can. A good bump can slide the wheel sideways and then you are in trouble. DO NOT compress the forks all the way. Too much compression over a long period of time will blow your seals. Try to get ratchet straps across the front and back at a 45 degree angle. Do not strap to the handle bars. They aren't designed for that stress. Do not cover the bike. Any dirt on the cover or bike will scratch the paint.

[OldFenderGuy]

I use one of the "Bike-Grabs", that are heavy duty steel, and by themselves will hold your bike in place.

Has a quick disconnect trailer mount, so it only takes about 30 seconds to put in a trailer for trailering a bike, or to use it on it's own to hold the bike level for general maintenance, etc. (See below picture)

To trailer a bike, just ride the bike into the chock, which holds it upright and level. Couple of straps and you are good to go.

[snowman]

Originally Posted by OldFenderGuy

I use one of the "Bike-Grabs", that are heavy duty steel, and by themselves will hold your bike in place.

OFG - Where did you grab this bad boy?????

[OldFenderGuy]

Originally Posted by snowman

OFG - Where did you grab this bad boy?????

I found out about them from some guys I know that used them while at Bike Shows.

They are great, both for trailering and also for doing regular work on your bike when you want it to be sitting level.

They are adjustable and work on front or rear wheels from 80mm to 210mm.

Here is more information and a review by webBikeWorld;

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock/

More information from a firm that sells them;

http://www.lockitt.com/BikeStands1.htm

[mikeLI_77]

Originally Posted by mhamden

Well I have been useing what looks like a utility trailer but hinges up. But I have my wife get on it and push the front forks down and I wrap a couple rachet straps around the handle bars and pull on them till there tight and rachet a way keeping both sides of the bike even. I strap the other end of the straps to the front of the trailer one at each corner. I usually try to get the forks as down as far as I can get them stopping at the bottom triple trees if I can. Then I run a strap thew the rear wheel from one side of the trailer to the other putting a little pull to the front of the trailer then strapping it down. Thats the best way I have found to hold my bike down.

The above way is good, just a few add ons or alternatives to it. If you have a solid rear wheel you could put a strap between the tank and seat on the frame of the bike, you just don't want to angle them to far back so the strap is rubbing against the battery cover and oil tank. That's how I strapped mine down once and it worked fine. Put some rags between the strap and whatever area you attach the straps down. If you have a spoked rear wheel try and put the strap on the rim itself and try not to let the strap pull on the spokes when you strap it down. If you use brand new straps check them after a few miles of towing it because new straps may stretch a bit and you don't want them to get too loose.

[Snuffy]

Use a Pingle front chock on mine, compress the front shocks about 1/3 and rachet to keep bike plumb or straight up and down. I stap at the top of the tree on a 45 degree angle and a strap through the front wheel, just enough tension to keep bike from shifting. Do not leave bike in gear. I also strap each back shock on a 45 degree with the straps pulling forward towards the tongue of the trailer. I put a tension on the back shocks. Do not compress front forks or back shocks to their limit just enough on the back like you were sitting on it. Trailered mine from Tennessee to Texas with no problems. one more thing remember to secure the loose end of the tie down. don't want them flopping in the breeze and smacking your scooter. Put the rachet as close to the floor as possible

[XL O.C.D.]

Wheel Chock!!!! Trust me. I was driving on an unfamiliar road this weekend, 60 mph in the middle of nowhere following a jacked up SUV. SUV hit the railroad tracks at 60, I hit the brakes and by the time the trailer hit the tracks I was still doing 35... bounce... my heart sunk faster than the bike dropped when I saw the headlight disappear from my rearview mirror.
One of the straps pulled the front end sideways over the bump.
I won't be trailering again without a Wheel Chock!!!

[Mr Jimi]

All real good suggestions! I agree with all of them and I always use 4 ratcheting straps and at 45 degree angles and it will stay where ya put it. Don't forget a stone shield of some sort to keep rocks and dirt from hitting your bike, kinda like a wind deflector? Then what are ya gonna do at a motel? Bike thieves love bikes already on trailers Here is a picture of the way we carry ours?

Its our camper also
Jim