Trailering/strapping a bike on trailer

[amullo]

Disclaimer..
You drop it.. YOUR problem. I take absolutly NO responsibility whatsoever.

When doing trackdays or hauling a bike long distances, it´s advisable to use a trailer or pickup to do so.

But having the bike fall off isn´t real nice, so this is a short description on how to make sure your bike stays in place.

Some pointers.. If it´s your first time, try to get some help. It´s alot easier to load a bike when your 2 people. It doesn´t need to be your weightlifting bud, just someone that can keep it upright while you do the strapping in.

Load the bike on the trailer using a ramp. The ramp should be atleast 6 feet long to avoid scraping the underbelly/exhaust.

Then start by running ratchet tie-downs from the lower tripletree down and slightly forward. Compress the front forks about 1/2 way down. not to tight.





Running the straps over the lower triple



Make sure the bikes front wheel can´t turn to the side.
Use a piece of 2x4 or a "normal" tie-down



Use another ratchet tie-down to secure the bike from flying into the car if you have a collision. If your trailering ONE bike, then put one on each side. They should go back and out to the side at about a 45degree angle if possible
The blue one is the one I´m talking about.



And that´s about it..

Some things to think about..
If your trailering 2 bikes, It´s best to have one facing forward and one backward to get the best balance on the trailer. Most hitches have a max ball weight of ~60-75kg (120-160lbs).

If your transporting wheels/tires, make sure they are secure if you stop for gas/food.


Keep your speed within acceptable limits and make sure you correct your tirepressure on both car and trailer.

I hope this helps!

//amullo

[jwsparkes]

Good work, thank Amullo.

What is the idea with the tape around the rear tire of the red bike?

[zooom]

Originally Posted by jwsparkes

Good work, thank Amullo.

What is the idea with the tape around the rear tire of the red bike?

+1 on the work...the detailed pics and the question about the tape on your brother's tire....as well as the lil white caps on the axle nuts?!?!?!?

[BrutusTx]

Is there a reason you didn't use a Canyon Dancer or a similar setup to tie down? Cycle Cinch is another one that I use.
Just curious, I've hauled my other bikes using them without any issues but not my Ducati and I'm doing a trackday in 2 weeks.
Sorry, I should have looked 1st......these slip over the clip-ons, they may use a different name outside the USA.

[amullo]

Originally Posted by jwsparkes

Good work, thank Amullo.

What is the idea with the tape around the rear tire of the red bike?

Since his bike is towed backwards, we noticed that the rear hugger was vibrating alot inte the wind. Taping it down was the easiest solution.. First we simply ran gaffer from the hugger onto the tire, but that came loose, so we put some more tape aroundthat gaffer to keep it in place. (and my dear brother tends to overdo the taping on his bike.. since tape is cheaper then a new hugger)

VERY IMPORTANT: We also ran gaffertape from the windscreen to the steering damper so that the windshield would´nt be ripped of when going ~80 mph in the wrong direction. It happened to a friends bike that wasn´t taped.

Originally Posted by zooom

+1 on the work...the detailed pics and the question about the tape on your brother's tire....as well as the lil white caps on the axle nuts?!?!?!?

The white caps are axlesliders to protect the rims, forks and brakes from sliding on the asphalt if you do something stupid. Axlesliders are normally black, but these where white and made custom by a friend of ours that works with plastics/vinyls.

Originally Posted by BrutusTx

Is there a reason you didn't use a Canyon Dancer or a similar setup to tie down? Cycle Cinch is another one that I use.
Just curious, I've hauled my other bikes using them without any issues but not my Ducati and I'm doing a trackday in 2 weeks.
Sorry, I should have looked 1st......these slip over the clip-ons, they may use a different name outside the USA.

Canyon dancers are pretty good, but since the aluminium bars are not that strong, I´ve been hesitant about them. Doing the lower triple can handle alot more strain anyhow. This system works great and a haven´t felt the need to buy canyondancers, so it´s not that i don´t trust them.. I just don´t see the point.

I´ve trailerd like this in excess of 90MPH and also on unpaved gravelroads that where ROUGH, with ZERO issues.


One thing you should see is that the bikes are also tied together using a tie-down between the rear subframes.

We have also locked the front brake by putting a looped zip-tie around the brakehandle and handlebars. It´s also a good pressure test (Check the glare in pic 5)

//amullo

[Bravo51]

That looks way over kill, all you should really need is the Canyon Dancer and two good tie downs. If your system works, I guess thats all that counts. I've hauled my Ducs across the country (USA) more then once with just the Canyon Dancer strapping down the bars in both the back of fast trucks and in trailers. It's good to go. Having a friend help load it makes a big help though. The bars held up ok on my 748 no problems. Just had to have the front wheel up against something that wont give. I got a Pit Bull chock on the trailer for that, otherwise the front of the bed works great. The reason the bike doesn't move around is because the front fork is compressed a little bit (you can compress it a little too much). Strapping down from the lower triple is how the bikes are shippout out from the factory I think, and that is the most ideal spot to strap down from in the front, but like that Amullo dude had his set up, you will need aditional tie downs. You don't want to drop that shit.

[duc900rider]

I was taught to tie down at the axles, that way the suspension movement will not loosen or pop off the straps when you hit bumps. Then you tie down at the sides to keep it from falling over. I was also taught to cut a rubber band shape from an old inner tube and use it to clamp the front brake. This was for dirt bikes with a lot more suspension travel.

[ducati955]

good info! thanx

[hank]

Seems like some serious overkill but whatever makes you comfortable and works is the best method overall...

FWIW - I have a van and I simply use a Baxley Sport Chock with a soft tie around each side of the lower triple clamp and a snug (not tight)from each soft tie to a floor mounted hook. For the rear - I use a tie down on each side from the rearset (again, just snug - not tight) to another hook on the rear floor of the van... I have transported 2 bikes for countless miles for several years without even the slightest issue.

[amullo]

As for the overkill issues raised..

I´ve SEEN bikes crack their canyondancers this last summer.. The owners had definatly overdone the ratcheting job, almost compressing the front fork fully. That should NOT be able to happen, but it has.

I also view it as "better safe then sorry". This particular tie-down job was for a track that has 2 miles of unpaved gravelroads leading to it, so we kind of over did it due to the rough roades we KNEW we where going to travel on.

If you do have an van or such, it´s possible to do away with the rear tiedowns I´ve used. Ducati themselves also strap less then this when shipping bikes from the factory.

Doing tie downs, its importanat to remember WHY you do it.

1: Keeping the bike upright
2: Keeping the bike from killing you if you have a collision. 200kg/400lbs of coming to a complete stop in 3 feet from 90kph/60mph IS putting all your tie-downs in an enourmous amount of stress.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

//amullo