There has been a few comments about how Risky tied down his CBX on a trailer, thought it might be a good idea to have a thread about how we transport our bikes. I used to have a 7x4 trailer and would put the bike diagonally on the trailer and secure the handle bars to either side of the trailer so it was wedged in the corner, I also would secure the back wheel to the other side of the trailer so it couldn't move. I would also put a 3rd tie down around the front wheel so if the front straps gave way the bike couldn't fall off the trailer. This worked really well for me until I went to Morgan park and saw that everyone was locking them down via the axles to avoid damaging fork seals. I stopped strapping the bars and ran my straps between the fork leg and axle, the bike was so much secure this way. I have since bought a delivery van and have a wheel chock that secures the front end. I have also bought some channel strips which are yet to be fitted whereby I can secure the rear wheel. I have had a few straps break over time , my advice is buy quality straps !!!! So how do you do it ?
just bought my first wheel chock last yr ,same design as yours and wraped ,no main stands on my 650s so can use on the shed floor /or take out to the trailer with no bolting down ,normally just tie down to trailer rails and even though by law have to use straps always use some rope as well .I don't trust the straps (BUY QUALITY ) as seen a few break over time where if/when rope weakens you see it first
I've got a 6 x 4" trailer, I put the bike on it dead centre and ratchet the handlebars down at 45 degrees on both sides. I pull it down enough to compress the forks slightly and ensure it's firm. The rear wheel sometimes overhangs off the back of the trailer, to avoid it sliding left and right I usually have an occy strap or two pinned round the top of the wheel to both sides of the trailer to hold it central. Have travelled this way with many bikes over many hundreds of kms with various bikes (both of mine and others, even done it with a mate's stolen bike that had the steering wheel lock on) and have only had a ratchet strap break once on me. The strap was old and frayed and in hindsight I shouldn't have used it but I learned my lesson. Bought a new set the next day. I would like to modify my trailer though with a slot in the middle wall at the front to poke the front tyre through into a chock of some sort.. on my to do list for someday.
This is pretty much how I do it STEP 1 Hook the tie-downs to the handlebar or (better) the upper or lower triple clamp. The triple clamp anchor point is easier if you use a pair of nylon loops (soft ties). Loop the soft tie around the clamp first, load the bike, then attach the tie-down hook. Attach the other end of the tie-down hook to the anchor point in the truck bed. STEP 2 Put the bike on its sidestand and tighten the left tie-down. It doesn’t need to be drum-tight yet—just remove the slack. STEP 3 Push the bike over to the right side. With the left tie-down already snug, the front suspension will be compressed. This spring force is what’s going to keep everything snug and in place. When the bike is upright, snug down the right tie-down. STEP 4 Keep the bike straight up and down, not leaned over to either side, and don’t pull the tie-downs too tautly; compress only about half the travel in the front suspension. STEP 5 To keep the rear end of the bike from bouncing around, take a second pair of tie-downs and run them from an anchor point in the bed, around the rear wheel, and over to an anchor on the right side. All you're trying to control is lateral movement here. http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/01/01/tie-down-your-motorcycle-the-right-way
i do not trust the bent hooks so the hook i hang down but tie the tiedown to the handle as close to top mount as possible. the hanging hook i tie to the tiedown so it does not hit the bike. the ratchet part i tie to the trailer mounting point.the bent hooks can open up as they are not welded.
I like the tie down strap's i got from my Yamaha dealer a few year's ago, Coast Yamaha They have long hook's that loop back into sewn loop's back on the strap at one end, on the other end they have double hook's which pull together tight holding the bar on your trailer tight from both side's They are pretty thick too, about 4 time's the thickness of my 400kg rated strap's
These are the one I use. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorbik...trap-/300948333543?hash=item4611eb23e7&_uhb=1 With the snap hook at each end there is no chance they can come off the trailer tie point or the bike. With dirt bikes using long travel soft suspension I use a plastic bar between the tyre and underside of the front guard to stop the suspension moving as the trailer goes through bumps on the road, like the one is this ad. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorbik...-Down-Brace-/111791168041?hash=item1a0745da29 On the back I use straps to stop the rear tyre from moving sideways.
