Tie downs

[Shotgun]

I know this will end up being a stupid question, but I'm going to ask anyway.  I just purchased some soft tie down straps (Big Bike parts) and am wondering why one side of each one of them is twisted.  Please don't make too much fun of me. Thanks.

[Russell Rice]

I have no idea what type of tie down straps you have but I always put a twist in my straps. When you see the big trucks with there tie down straps flopping around and making noise that will cause the straps to loosen up a little bit. If you put a twist in the straps be for you tighten them up they will not flop around and will not come loose. Just my opinion.

[IamGCW]

If they are double loops, then the twist is for wrapping around a bar (handle bar, crash bar, frame) without making a fold in the loop.  Wrap one around your handlebar (not the wires) and pass the flat loop through the one with a twist. 

[R J]

DO NOT AND I'LL REPEAT IT 24 TIMES, do not tie your ride down by the handlebars unless you want it on it's side when ya get to where ya is a goin.

Use anything except them bars.   Those bars will move in the risers and presto, your front end is a lose and a floppin around.

Use anything solid that does not have a bolt in it that will let the item you used slip and losen up your strap.

I use the front engine guards and the saddle bag lower mounting rails.

Follow the rear strap to the bike.



Follow the red strap to the bike.



Mounted that way, the bike and the trailer act as 1 (ONE) unit....

[Mildew]

You'll notice highly skilled flatbed super truckers put a 1/2 twist in their straps to keep them from vibrating going down the big road

[Shotgun]

They are double loops.  That explains it.  Thanks.

[fudgie]

If you are using them for trailering, use them 1st to get them stretched out.

[donaldcc]

Hey RJ,  What are the specifics on your trailer.  I like it. 

[Walküre]

DO NOT AND I'LL REPEAT IT 24 TIMES, do not tie your ride down by the handlebars unless you want it on it's side when ya get to where ya is a goin.

Guess I'm just lucky I didn't go down in flaming death!!

Seeing as the young gent who helped tie it down, is a sponsored racer, who travels with bikes all over the country, I'd guess he's lucky, too...

I don't think I would put the tie downs by the hand grips, but by the risers I don't see as a problem...



R

[fudgie]

Thats a cool u-haul, never knew they made one. Is that also your wing in your pick?

[Walküre]

Thats a cool u-haul, never knew they made one. Is that also your wing in your pick?

I hadn't seen one like it, before, either. They didn't have one like it when I picked up my last Wing, some years ago. I liked it a lot, made it really easy. The back ramp had TWO different positions, in case the bike was too long, it laid back a little bit more, giving probably another half-foot or so.

No, the Wing is one of the guys' I work with. He really wanted a Valk, when he got an unbelievable deal on the wing, from his neighbor, who couldn't ride any more. If I recall, he saved something like $8k from what it was worth. But, he STILL comments on the Valk, when he sees it. He's more of a Valk type guy, than a Wing type guy, but more than that, he LOVES a good deal!!     Don't we all...

I'm down to the one bike, just the Valk. At one time, we had two wings, an '81 with 100K miles, and an '86, with 70K, and a '95 Skirtster (wife's!!) 1200. She sold the HD, when she had knee replacement, I sold the '81 not long after she got the HD, then I sold the '86, when I was only riding back and forth to work, 2nd shift, working weekends, so NO one to ride with, days, or Tuesday and Wednesday, my days off. Plus, I saw more deer, than people!!!


Well, we saw how long THAT lasted!! Just couldn't be without a scooter, of SOME kind, and I had always wanted a Valk, from the first time I sat on one, back in '99 or '00...took me a while, but I finally have one...

R
R

[R J]

Hey RJ,  What are the specifics on your trailer.  I like it.  

I think you will like this trailer much better.
I had a lot of broken welds on that one, especially if I took off for California pretty much non stop.

http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/
 
The bike haulers, are all air ride with a compressor to raise an lower the bed.  Twist a valve on the right fender and it goes down to the ground, turn it into the lock position and the trailer floor will raise from the compressor airing up the air bags.

Best $$$$ I have ever spent on a trailer.

[R J]

DO NOT AND I'LL REPEAT IT 24 TIMES, do not tie your ride down by the handlebars unless you want it on it's side when ya get to where ya is a goin.

Guess I'm just lucky I didn't go down in flaming death!!

Seeing as the young gent who helped tie it down, is a sponsored racer, who travels with bikes all over the country, I'd guess he's lucky, too...

I don't think I would put the tie downs by the hand grips, but by the risers I don't see as a problem...



R

My advice is free, ya no want to use it, that is your prerogative.

I was in motor recovery in California for about 25 years as a 2nd job, so I'd say I have hauled a few more bikes than your racer buddy and also all sizes and models.  Yes, I have dropped a few and made changes to my technique of tying down.  Haven't lost one or had 1 fall in the past 15 years.   Lost one once when the risers broke.   I use only 4 straps also.

Reason behind my tie down.

The bike and the trailer have to be one unit, by that, if the bike moves, the trailer has to move the same amount, visa versa on the trailer moving.  You tie on the handle bars and you will have fork bounce,  Make sure you come forward on the front with your straps, rearward on the rear.  Check out the straps on that trailer.   NO strap is above the floorboards. and when you grab the back rest and give it a shake, the whole unit moves together.

[Jabba]

I have hauled my bikes with usually only 2, straps attached to the bars for YEARS.  Now... it's not normally a valk. 

When I haul the valk, I double up on straps, in case of failure.  I also triple up like RJ does it as a back-up.

But, RJ... when you ONLY tie down from the crash bars like you do... isn't there still suspension bounce in the "system"?  Or do you somehow block the bike up, to eliminate the fork compression?  I have never been happy with how much down leverage I can get doing it like you show.  I need to see it in person maybe. 

Jabba

[Walküre]

But, RJ... when you ONLY tie down from the crash bars like you do... isn't there still suspension bounce in the "system"?  Or do you somehow block the bike up, to eliminate the fork compression?  I have never been happy with how much down leverage I can get doing it like you show.  I need to see it in person maybe.  

Jabba

this is what I felt, also. With the tie downs, low on the bike, the leverage is all above the point of attachment, with very little below. The bigger the angle of the strap to the bike, the more it would take to overcome. So, with a slight angle, it wouldn't take much to "kick the feet out from under" the bike. Plus, that would only be enhanced, by the front forks collapsing. In my opinion, the back is mainly to keep the bike centered, and above the shocks might be worse than below. But, with the fronts having a very low angle, an inch of compression on the front forks, could make the straps overly loose.

I've only trailered a few bikes in my life, but never had a problem. I just think from an engineers standpoint, the higher attachments are at least as good, if not better, than the lower. But I lean towards better. And from my experience, it doesn't take very much to "pre-load" the front forks, minimizing any movement, if they are in good shape. And with very little pre-load, they don't move at all, even with some serious rough road.

I did shake the bike, from every corner, and shook the heck out of it (biggest bike I ever trailered, other than an 80's Wing). No movement, whatsoever. I was a little concerned about the front wheel steering to one side or the other, but nothing, after 300 miles.

R