securing a bike to a trailer!

[russellbarr]

Hi, this is my first post so be gentle with me!
I've recently bought a single motorcycle trailer and I need to collect a Suzuki 125 from about 35 miles away, can someone tell me ( in laymans terms) how to secure the bike to the trailer for the journey, I have bought two ratchet straps with hooks on and one continuous loop ratchet strap. I run a Honda VT500 that I tried to practice with but it was too heavy to even get it on the trailer single handed.
Any advise would be very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[Bendy]

Assuming the trailer has all the requisite tiedown points, you want 2 straps at the front, pulling forward and compressing the front suspension - so get a strap around each handlebar or round the top yoke and get a friend to push the front of the bike down while you tighten it.

Then you want similar at the back, pulling back and compressing the rear suspension - I'd go for 2 straps pulling on the pillion peg hangers generally.

Basically what you're going for is the bike being totally vertical on the trailer with some suspension compression and the straps evenly strained. Get it roughly secure then go round and even it all up. Give it a good wiggle, as long as it doesn't move much you're all good. Be very careful when you come to unload, as undoing one side can see it ping off the other way, again get a mate to help hold it in place.

You're not driving very far by the sounds of it, but if you were it would be worth stopping along the way for a check as things can loosen up (especially with new straps or if it rains and they get all wet).

[MarkJ]

I have four "Motorcycle Tie Down" straps, not ratchet but you can only pull the cord tighter when the teeth are down. At the front I attach two where the handlebars swoop upwards and hook the other end to the trailer. I then hook the other two onto the footpeg bracket and to the trailer. I then use a long ratchet strap over the seat to compress the rear suspension.

This is what the straps looks like, only picture I could find (except mine have hooks on both ends):
https://www.bargaincovers.co.uk/uploadedFiles/1167759308707-9449.jpg

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Bendy's pretty much got it, but........

Make sure you put it in gear before you put it on. Stops it moving backwards and forwards under the straps.

I use 4 of the hook type ratchets. One each round the bottom yoke, and one each around each side of the subframe.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

As above, although the bar straps can be useful 9R&G ones here).

One thing not to do is to just run a strap from one side, over the seat and down to the other side. While it holds the bike down it does next to nothing to locate it from sideways forces.

All the best

Keith
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[russellbarr]

WOW! what a great response, THANKYOU VERY MUCH.
I think I've got the general idea now, wish me luck, and hope the bl##dy thing doesn't fall off!

[McJamweasel]

[Ariel Badger]