Motorcycle

[KAMPURR]

Are multiple tie down straps adequate to hold a motorcycle firm in a carrier?

[bokobird]

You don't mention the type of carrier but I use four tie downs to secure my Street Glide on the Hydralift unit.

[DonDee]

Quality MC tie downs, not HF cheapies.

[Easyrider]

When I trailered a HD Road King I used 6 heavy ratchet straps. Some people thought it was overkill, and only 4 were needed, but I'd seen where some straps gave up and the motorcycle was laying down when they got to their destination. For me it was a lot easier putting a couple extra straps on than fixing up the bike later because I didn't use enough straps to secure the bike.

[caninecop]

Originally Posted by KAMPURR

Are multiple tie down straps adequate to hold a motorcycle firm in a carrier?

I use 4 heavy duty ratchet straps for my GL1800, this site has good information on tying down the Goldwing motorcycle. http://www.allamericanprod.com/tiedown.html

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by KAMPURR

Are multiple tie down straps adequate to hold a motorcycle firm in a carrier?

Well Sir,
You don't say what kind of motorcycle, how big, what kind of method, i.e. trailer, lift, hitch mount, etc. You also don't say if it's going on the back of a motorhome or, pickup or, what?

In cases where it's a smaller bike, like say a 250 or, 350 cc bike, two tie downs on the bars with the front wheel against a stop, usually a pickup bed front or, if on a rack on the back of a motor home, a chock of some type. But, if you're going larger, like a full sized Harley or, Goldwing or any other monster sized cruiser or touring machine, you want a minimum of four and, just like the protocol for wreckers, it's nice to have all four tie downs pulling in opposite directions.

In the case of our 2008 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing, we carry it on a Rampage Motorcycle lift, in the back of our 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Extended Cab. And, the primary ties are coupled to the "triple tree" just under the fairing. Two more are used in conjunction with "soft ties" at frame intersections, just under the side covers. And, as added security, two more are used to link the front crash bars to the bed lower corners. That bike is not going anywhere while in transit in the back of our truck.

Care must be taken to not compress the suspension too much. A little give is OK. It WILL NOT COME UN DONE during transit. The pictures you see below are when we used to carry the Wing on a Hydralift, on the back of our present coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT. It worked flawless. But, things changed and we now carry it in our GMC.

Hope this helps some. Good luck.
Scott

[KAMPURR]

Awesome feedback. My cycle is small but important to me. I will use more tie downs.

[Alan_Hepburn]

I tow my Ural on a Kendon dual rail trailer - put one strap on the front of the bike, and crank it down to compress the front suspension about 1/3 of its travel. Then another strap over the back of the bike and the sidecar - again tighten it down about 1/3 of its travel. I used to use 3 or 4 straps but found that two hold it adequately - but then with a sidecar it's not likely to fall over!

[Coma]

The manufacturer will have specific instructions about where to tie down. Mine does.

I use these. They ratchet and the hooks are less likely to fall of if they loosen.