| Author | Message | ||
     Milo_h |
I tried the search functions, came up empty. Going to trailer our bikes 450 miles south. So we can ride. Bikes will be in enclosed trailer with front wheel chocks. Question is: whats the proper amount of suspension compression? Rule of thumb? Advice? Thanks Milo, (25F and still snowing Kalamazoo, Michigan) | ||
| Ducxl |
I use the "Baxley" sport chock and light tension on the tie downs just to steady my bikes. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I usually tie them down until they don't move on the trailer. | ||
| No_rice |
i end up with maybe a little more than two inches of travel left on the front forks when its tightened down through the bottom triple tree clamp and a strap through the back rim. have never had any problems and we even had to avoid an accident by jumping one of those big road construction barrels on the way to daytona this year. trailer wheels were about two foot off the ground from what our friends behind us said and nothing moved. always said we could lay the trailer on its top and my bike would just be hanging there from it, lol | ||
| Slaughter |
I haven't read a specific guideline but an unloaded bike should NEVER hit the bottom if you've left an inch or two of travel to go. If it "feels OK" with a couple inches left, it's probably OK. That's about where I trailer mine (just looked in the garage) - I never check - I just ratchet until it "feels right" | ||
| Rubberdown |
Use soft ties around lower triple and hook to ratcheting ties. I'd tighten up leaving about 3". additional ties lightly securing bars and rear. The chock holds them pretty well. I've always heard you don;t want to compress the forks too much. Have a nice ride. | ||
| 2hogs |
I trailered the XB12X ~35 miles when I took it in for the 1K service. I just looped a couple soft ties around the cross bar on the handle bars and slid them out til they touched the handlebar then put 2 ratchet straps to them and tightened them to steady the bike (so it's straight up), then looped a soft tie thru those triangular openings behind the rider foot pegs and did same ratchet strap process. Then gently tighten all straps til I compressed frt suspension ~ 3". Didn't move a bit, yea it was only a short distance. Oh yea if you can, check out the Harley Hog Ties. One end is a regular loop the other is different like they flipped the webbing over. It didn't make sense until I looped it around the bar and then the different end made sense. A picture would show better than words. Probably on the HD website This works on the 815lb FLTRI also, just less suspension compression (try to only compress frt ~50% of total travel) Cheers (Message edited by 2hogs+ on November 17, 2005) | ||
| Coolice |
I have trailered many bikes and will share my method. 1st- front wheel in chock (I make my own)and I run a strap around the wheel and chock so the bike can't rock forward/back as the trailer moves. 2nd- Canyon Dancer (handlebar harness) over the handlebars and ties downs(2) to the floor from it. This balances the bike and keeps it from rocking side to side. 3rd- Soft straps over the lower triple clamp with ratchet tiedowns on each side, I use this to compress the forks a little and pull the bike forward into the wheel chock as well. 4th- I tie either to the passenger peg mounts with soft straps or around the rear wheel and use a ratchet strap(s) and pull back against the front strap. Or if the bike has a rear rack that is strong I tie to it to give better upright stability. Total of 6 tiedowns. I carry 6 bikes in a 7x14 trailer every year to Daytona this way and had 9 H-D in a 8x24 trailer last year. Baggers too.   | ||
| Milo_h |
Thanks, everyone for all of the suggestions. I'll be loading the bikes this weekend. Peace Milo |
