[FIVEINCH]

I will be trailering my bike to Texas this summer. I just purchased a 5x10 fully enclosed Haulmark trailer. I would like to hear some recommendations on tie-down for the trip.

The rig I came up with is to use the passenger pegs as a hardpoint for tiedown forward of the bike. The rear wheel has a strap running through it and tied to the rear of the trailer to hold the rear of the bike down and keep it from fish-tailing. It seems pretty stable, and the suspension is not compressed. I will use a couple of straps to anchor from the top of the trailer as a safety measure in case a side strap lets loose.

Ideas are welcomed.

 

[Clint]

Keep in mind that the passenger pegs are designed to carry a few hundred pounds in a downward direction, not four hundred being tossed around by potholes. Make sure they're not cast aluminum or some other cheap metal that will give way.

I prefer to strap to handlebars and frame members, but I'm not really familiar with your bike.

 

[87gsxrnut]

Buy some wheel chocks and screw them into the front of the trailer. They are like $20 each or something like that. GET THEM. You'll be sorry if you don't. Try and use the triple tree as a tie down point. In lieu of that, get a canyon dancer for the front end. Always make your tie-down point as high as possible (i.e. the grab handle on the back of the bike). Otherwise, use the upper rear subframe of the bike.

COMPRESS BOTH FRONT AND REAR WHEN TYING DOWN.

- Nut

 

[Gixxerdale]

Hey Five Inch! Buy or borrow my Canyon Dancer. About $25.00 from Cycle Gear. It extends the tie downs away from the Body of the bike. It also places the load on the opposite clip on. Check the set up on my trailer. New tie downs are available with built in extensions to keep the stuff away from the bikes body work.

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/237709/

Now for the important qustion and you know it's coming! Why the h*ll aren't you riding there?

 

[stevie c]

I always pull the front brake on with a small strap too for a bit more stability.
But don't store the bike like this.

 

[FIVEINCH]

I've got the wheel chock bolted to the floor of the trailer. The picture of Dale's setup is NOTHING like mine. Looks like I've got some straps to buy.

As for the Canyon Dancer: does it spread the load across the triple tree, or does it apply the force to the clip-ons? I was trying to avoid any of the tiedown force being applied to the clip-ons directly. I just didn't feel it would be good for them.

I'll hit up Cycle Gear today.

 

[FIVEINCH]

Dale: why am I not riding there? I plan to ride there, just as soon as I arrive!

 

[Gixxerdale]

The canyon dancer is not meant to be set so tight that it bottoms out the suspension. It pulls on the opposing clip on at the mountinting point, but the force is directed at the triple tree.

You might have seen it in the previous picture, but for rear tie downs I prefer to secure the bike where the sub frame meets the main frame. A couple tie down extensions there or ones built in to the new tie downs and you're all set.

 

[mikesvsix50]

Dude, just use the kickstand...duh. hahah

 

[FIVEINCH]

Okay. I got a Canyon Dancer and a couple of nylon loops (for securing the rear via the subframe) and will load and tie my bike tomorrow night. The Canyon Dancer instructions say to compress the shocks no more than half. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[FIVEINCH]

Dude, just use the kickstand...duh. hahah

What kickstand?

 

[87gsxrnut]

Yeah, you shouldn't need more than half. We cinched our GSX-R racebikes down pretty tight, but it was for short periods of time usually. Few hours at most. Don't worry about compressing that shock. It can handle it.

You gonna have time to make the run down here?

- Nut

 

[FIVEINCH]

I hope so. I'm told homework's not too bad, and I don't foresee me being put into a duty rotation, so that may leave my weekends free. If I don't fly home for Labor Day weekend in September, then I'll ride out there for sure!

 

[axel_2078]

I don't remember what it's called, but stay away from the cloth thing that runs completely over your handlebars and hooks to the tie downs at the ends. I used one of those once and it pulled my right grip off. From then on, I just attached the straps to the frame.

 

[Gixxerdale]

I don't remember what it's called, but stay away from the cloth thing that runs completely over your handlebars and hooks to the tie downs at the ends. I used one of those once and it pulled my right grip off. From then on, I just attached the straps to the frame.

:?: Sounds like a Canyon Dancer? But how did it pull the grip off? I've used mine for years with no problem. Loose grip maybe?

 

[FIVEINCH]

Got it and I'm good to go! When all the tiedowns are in place, the setup looks funny as hell! The bar straps go down to a ratchet strap, which goes through an eye to provide down-force, and all the way to the back of the trailer for an anchor point. This is on both sides. A nylon loop is tied through the subframe at the mounting point on the main frame with a friction strap going forward. This is on both sides and pulls the bike into the wheel chock (bolted to the floor/frame of trailer) while at the same time eliminating any chance of fishtail.

 

[Gixxerdale]

OK, now that explanation requires a picture! As long as it keeps the bike upright and still that's all that matters.

I still think you should ride it to Texas :scooter:

 

[FIVEINCH]

Ooh! Ooh! I know, I know!! I'll setup the Jeep with a remote driver kit, place a few cameras around it, feed the video to a projector inside the trailer, and power it all off the Jeep. Then I can sit on the bike and ride/trailer/drive the Jeep all at the same time!!! I'm all over it...

 

[Gixxerdale]

Ooh! Ooh! I know, I know!! I'll setup the Jeep with a remote driver kit, place a few cameras around it, feed the video to a projector inside the trailer, and power it all off the Jeep. Then I can sit on the bike and ride/trailer/drive the Jeep all at the same time!!! I'm all over it...

Don't forget to pipe the air conditioning into the trailer too. It get s hot on the way to Texas!

Are you vacationing or moving?

 

[87gsxrnut]

Don't forget to pipe the air conditioning into the trailer too. It get s hot on the way to Texas!

You're kidding I hope.

- Nut