I always double strap the front of the bike. Two tie downs on each side. I had one strap break and the other strap kept the bike upright until I could stop. With one strap on each side and if one breaks the bike will fall.
Good luck

 

Kuryakyn has tie down brackets pt# 3920-0436 for chrome or #3920-0429 for satin black.

Or you can loop the ties around the fork and lower triple tree. Or around the highwaybar if you got it and through the down tubes of the frame.

I try to stay away from the handlebars cuz the ties can scuff the finish on chrome or black bars.

 

I have the front wheel in a chock before strapping it down. Sorry, no pics.

 

get someone to sit on the bike to compress the suspension then tie it down using cargo straps.you can do it by yerself but secure the handlebars first tot the trailer front when seated on the bike, on the trailer.Then tighten the handlebar straps after the other straps are fitted. Hope that makes sense

 

Take a look at this.

 

Double strap and chocks. A little extra precaution will prevent this...

 

I don't really agree with the video. He didn't really explain how the bike was strapped down using his method. Maybe I missed something but I don't see how if the straps on one side are cut with a knife the bike still stays upright. I prefer the first method using straps front an rear and a few miles after leaving I will pull over and check the tightness of the straps. After that I check strap tightness at every gas stop and they seldom need tightening.
I also don't compress the shocks except for the little they compress when tightening the straps. I have what's called a Trailer in a Bag. It has the wheel chock on the front so that when you drive into it, it holds the bike upright so you can get off and strap it down. It also disassembles into parts using pins to make for easy storage. I also remove my windshield and saddlebags when towing.

 

I wrap the straps around the front like the video and I also wrap one around the back tire through the rim. Towed a bike on a 3 hour drive and it didn’t move. I use the same straps but I get mine for free [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Here's a good write-up from Cruiser: The Right Way to Tie Down and Transport Your Motorcycle

I try to use the 45° angle method like mentioned in the article.

I don't know exactly what kind of bike that you are trying to strap down so I can't give any more help.

 

I bought the Kuryakyn brackets. Also strap down from the bottom of the forks.. I strap side to side from the rear passenger foot rests, and also loop through the rear wheel, so the back end can't slide around.

Trailered 2500 miles each way from Canada down to Arizona last winter with no issues.

--
Gordon

 

No expert on this at all, but I've done several thousand miles on a trailer and in a truck bed.

First thing, get a chock. They aren't expensive and are will worth having. The purpose of the chock is to lock the bike into an upright position. You can either bolt the chock down in your trailer or use a strap to keep it at the front of the trailer. A chock also works in the truck bed.

I use soft straps to attach the ratchet strap to the bike. I like to attach as close to the triple tree as possible. Sometimes I have to use the bars. If I do use the bars, attach as close to where they are supported as you can so you don't bend them. I attached the straps so they are pulling the bike down and forward. I like to compress the suspension about a third to half way. You hit some good bumps and the bike will compress itself and possible loosen or lose the straps. Be aware you can bend the bars, so if you use them, be careful.

I will also use the soft straps and tie down the rear on the frame or shock mount. These straps are just tight enough to keep the bike from going sideways if I hit a big bump. They aren't really holding the bike in.

I've used this method several times for thousands of miles without any issues to the trailer, straps, or bike.

Get a chock. Let it do most of the work, not the straps.

 

wheel chuck is always best to get. drive into it. kick stand down for now. 5 straps total. front left, front right, back left,back right an Front. pull bike almost tight on all then tighten all. after about 10 miles recheck should be good.

 

Just returned with my new bike yesterday from Beaumont, TX to Austin. About 250 miles. Used the frame-mounted method in the front with one strap across

the luggage rack in the back. It was nice not working the suspension on a bumpy trip. Highly recommend .

 

Wheel chock,2 soft straps on front on upper forks then angled ratchet straps.

Two soft straps on rear highway bars then angled ratchet straps.

I partially compress the front forks and never use the handlebar as a attachment point.

I used this method for several thousand miles with no damage or leaking fork seals.

 

I think you pretty well got all your answers you need.

Wheel chock, 4 straps on front, Cinch the front down, but not over tighten, two straps on back sides, and possibly one on the rear wheel.

Check every hour for the first 3 hours, and then forget about it. (well, maybe check once in a while)

--
Gordon

--

 

Do not use the crash bars! Use the rear passenger foot peg frame mounts. I know this by experience (the highway bars fractured due to the stress).

 

How to tie down a bike ...

 

For attaching the straps at the front of our TS111 bikes, I use the hole at the front of the frame. This moves the mounting point up higher and allows the straps to clear the front fender.

I also make sure to use high quality tie down\ratchet straps. I always go by the load limit rating of the strap. (thicker straps, heavier hardware)

 

Thanks everybody for the help and advice!

 

No photos but I've shown dozens of guys how to properly attached a ratchet strap to their bike. Wrap the strap around whatever you're going to tie to, about a foot back from the hook take your finger and push the strap through the eyelet on the hook, take the loop you just created and put it over the hook, give a tug to take out the slack. Try it!

 

We trailer our Roadmaster and Chieftain a few times a year. First is a quality chock. (Condor, Lock N Load, Wheel Dock......) I use two Condor Pit Stops with the trailer kit installed. Once in chock, only two quality straps with sufficient weight rating and built in soft strap ( I use 1000 lb Ratchet straps) are needed to hold bike forward into chock. Tension straps to secure bikes from moving leaving travel in suspension. The nice thing about the Condor Chocks is that they sit in the garage and we park the bikes in them all the time. Have put several thousand miles on this way and have had no issues. Our first trip I wanted to install a camera but did not. Just check at each gas stop.

 

I had to take my bike in for a new voltage regulator , about 70 interstate miles. I bought this chock at Harbor Freight , it's freestanding or mountable. I couldn't get the bike to go on it , so I cut the bottom piece in half , lengthways , and added 1.5 in. Now it works great and it adjusts to almost any size wheel . The parts are removable and the flat frame can be left in the trailer. $59 and it's made out of solid steel.