Tie Down

[BobbyBoy]

Where can I go to find out how to tie down my Valkyrie for trailering?

[PhredValk]

Shoptalk articles, at the bottom of the left hand column.

http://www.herberts.org/wayne/valk/tiedown.htm

And you can search from the home page for more advice.
Fred.

[John Schmidt]

Just don't tie it down in front using the handlebars. Ships sink, airplanes crash, and handlebars will slip. When they do, you have an 800+ lb. weight slamming back and forth in the trailer. My neighbor argued the point with me a couple years back, said he had tied his HD down for years using the handlebars with nary a problem. I told him that's fine, but it only takes one time(and a lot of money) to make a believer out of a person. He is now a believer. He was headed north to visit some family and had it tied down in his nice three yr. old GMC. Hit some road repair that was rough somewhere in N. Carolina and the bars slipped down less than a half inch at the grips. Tore up the bike real good, also messed up the sides of his p/u pretty good as well. We don't talk about it now, but he was one meek dude for a couple months.

[hubcapsc]

Just don't tie it down in front using the handlebars. Ships sink, airplanes crash, and handlebars will slip. When they do, you have an 800+ lb. weight slamming back and forth in the trailer. My neighbor argued the point with me a couple years back, said he had tied his HD down for years using the handlebars with nary a problem. I told him that's fine, but it only takes one time(and a lot of money) to make a believer out of a person. He is now a believer. He was headed north to visit some family and had it tied down in his nice three yr. old GMC. Hit some road repair that was rough somewhere in N. Carolina and the bars slipped down less than a half inch at the grips. Tore up the bike real good, also messed up the sides of his p/u pretty good as well. We don't talk about it now, but he was one meek dude for a couple months.

Hi John... you don't know where he attached the hook to the handlebar, do you? There would
be a lot of leverage to make the bars slip unless you put the hooks right on each side
of the risers, there's no leverage there...

Sometimes it is hard to find a "not the handlebars" place to hook on the tie downs... Ancra
makes these things to help... strong, and no metal hook to touch your bike..



-Mike

[Momz]

I also use those straps, but I loop them around the fork tubes at the lower triple tree.
 
I do not like ratchet tie-down straps. I've used "ANCRA"tie-down straps for years, but I have been using the "Bike Master" HD tie-downs lately.

I also use a pair of those staps doubled up and through the rear wheel with a set of older ANCRAs on either side.

[sheets]

The way I do it . . . compress the forks an inch or two -- secure the front wheel -- sidestand up -- gas valve off.

Check all connections each time you stop between point A and point B.

[John Schmidt]

Hubcapsc, you're right on that, it's just I've seen so many that hang a strap just forward of the switch box. My neighbor is an example of that. I use a strap around the lower tree, not the fork tube itself, compress it slightly and check it at each stop. Since I have a fairing it's nearly impossible to tie down to the bars anyway. I won't use the rear shock as a tie down however, I remove the side covers and attach a strap directly to the frame.

[R J]

Here are my tie down points.    Bike and trailer ride/bounce as ONE unit.

Front engine guards.



Different angle on the front.:



Rear:  Saddlebag, guards under the bag.



Ya notice the kickstand is up and the gas is off.

PS:   When you shake the bike, if it moves before the trailer does, it needs some more snugging on the strap.

Buddy of  mine borrowed the trailer to go to Eastern PA to retrieve his Harley.   He tied his bike down  like this and took off.   He got here and said that was the easiest he had ever tied one down and it rode like a dream.     Oh, he also wants to buy the trailer if I ever decide to sell it.   LOL.

http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/

Then click the products.    Look at the bike haulers.  They are all Air-Ride.

However, I don't go along with Jims handle bar strap mounting.  I have also told him so, he said he'd try it sometime.