Getting ready to tow bike on a trailer (behind our minivan) about 20 hours each way. Last night I put the bike on the trailer and tied it down according to the instructions on the tie-down package and took a test drive to make sure it all tows correctly. I bought a set of straps from Home Depot that are made for bikes w/ the extra loops in them so chrome doesn't get scratched. They're also of the ratchet type. So.....Now I'm a little paranoid that maybe the handlebar is bent or something. Is that even possible? Wife says I'm imagining things. I wrapped the bars not at the ends but toward the risers. I also put a second set of straps around the risers for a precautionary measure. (as fyi, the second set is compression straps....but they're backup.)



Does anyone have any advice? I searched the forum archives and found where one guy strapped to the lower forks instead where the fender mounts so it wouldn't be compressing the shocks at all. Now that I think about it, this sounds like a good idea as I wouldn't have to worry about fork seals or the bike bouncing either. And of course I ran a single strap to the frame in the rear just for extra sake.

sounds like its on there good, but i've never had one on a trailer, maybe Gram will pitch in on this, seems like he said he uses like 146 straps

As a shop owner/operator I transport bikes all the time.I I put the strap on the handlebar just outside the riser and pull it down tight enough to flatten the struts. I put a second strap on for safty incase the first has a problem. My trailor has a channel that the wheels are in so the rear cannot move sideways. On a flat bed you need to tie the rear to either side so it can't slide sideways. I have never had a strut seal problem.

Clifford

awesome advice as usual Clifford! Thanks again for all your help with parts too!

I had mine on a Trailer before, I use two pull tight straps for the front and two ratchet straps for the rear and soft ties around the Bars and Rear Backrest to hook the straps through so not to scratch up anything. Never had a problem.

You should have no problems with the handlebar method. I do tighten mine till the forks are completly seated but not binding hard, make sure you bind each strap so the bike is level. If you have bounce in the frontend that means the straps are loosening and jaring on the handlebars. I also tie off the rear of my bike also.

Ok..

a flat bed or box trailer....buy a trailer bike kit...it bolts thru the floorboards of the trailer ..has a front wheel chock and a rear wheel v..platform

load the bike on the trailer...putting the front wheel into the chock...and the rear wheel on the v -plate

put down the side kickstand...tie down strap kit forward on each handle bar to the trailer rails or loops ...compress the forks..


loop thru the rear wheel with a single strap to keep the rear wheel from lifting..she will never slide sideways..because she is tied down to the v- notched back plate

The key here is get the tie down kit..money well spent

The bike rides like a rock.....

Trailer kit

The reason most bikes come loose on the trailer is the hook on the trailer comes loose when the towing vehicle swerves or turns real fast. The bike sways to one side and the hook on the trailer comes looses. When the bike straightens up from the sway the hook on that side is loose. To stop this from happening, use something to fasten around the hook on the trailer so it cannot come out of what it is hooked to. A rubber band, cable tie or tape is what I have seen used.

Pop Rivet wrote:
[quote]Trailer kit

For pop's link, it will ask you for the Postal Code ... use k2h0c0.

Doc