street motorcycle hauling

We used to have an HD Ultra and a Heritage Softail that we hauled all over the place. Just bought some very good ratchets and straps rated for 3k. Tied the front of the bikes to the D-rings in the trailer floor and the back to the D-rings in the back. Also used the soft tie down straps HD sells and tied from the frame and engine guards in front pulling the bike to the front and compressing the forks. Put the straps through the rear wheels and pulled the bike to the rear. Tightening the straps was just tight at the rear and then the front alternating left and right in order to keep the bike sitting level. Once the front was tight only a little take up was possible at the rear. No chocks needed.

We hauled this way for thousands of miles on terrible roads in the northeast and nothing ever moved. We now have a trike and same method works perfectly.

Doughboy12 wrote:

nayther wrote:

LowRyter wrote:


I also compress the forks by strapping the bars with a canyon dancer.

Careful with the canyon dancer on some touring bikes (like goldwings) they don't work! Pulls the handle bars down; anyone want one cheap? Only used about 100 miles.

Tighten your bar clamp...and don't pull so hard on the strap...Wife's HD had the same problem...that solved it.

you could be right, just scared the******out of me when the bars were almost on the tank :h Also found out after the fact that Honda does not recommend using either the bars or the crash bars to tie down. I don't understand the crash bar restriction as they are designed to hold up the weight of the bike.

Doughboy12 wrote:
Seems like a waist to me...your truck box already had them built in.

Not a waste. Without the rack, the front of the truck bed can be bent when the tie-downs are cinched down. Also without the rack, there are no interior tie-down points. I no longer wanted to thread the tie-downs through the spokes as I have had to do previously when hauling two.

Seems like a waist to me...your truck box already had them built in.

I haven't tried it in the trailer yet. I mounted it in my truck without the legs, and it worked well.

atwowheelguy wrote:
http://beastracks.com/store/

How do you like this system? I have been planning on installing three Pitbull Trailer restraints but now after seeing this I am torn......

nayther wrote:

LowRyter wrote:


I also compress the forks by strapping the bars with a canyon dancer.

Careful with the canyon dancer on some touring bikes (like goldwings) they don't work! Pulls the handle bars down; anyone want one cheap? Only used about 100 miles.

Tighten your bar clamp...and don't pull so hard on the strap...Wife's HD had the same problem...that solved it.

LowRyter wrote:


I also compress the forks by strapping the bars with a canyon dancer.

Careful with the canyon dancer on some touring bikes (like goldwings) they don't work! Pulls the handle bars down; anyone want one cheap? Only used about 100 miles.

As I reported over the years, I also use a rubber mat and Harbor Freight chock (not the model with free standing support that you have). But I strap the chock front and rear. Didn't have the courage to ride on to an unsecured chock.

I also compress the forks by strapping the bars with a canyon dancer.