Tie Downs

IDTWIKA · 1 Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 2:53 pm

IDTWIKA

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Number of posts : 16

I will be trailering my 1991 k100lt to New Mexico this summer. Two questions, suggested capacity of tie down straps and how to best tie down the K100lt to a trailer.
Thanks for everyone help
Stephen

Two Wheels Better · 2 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:43 pm

Two Wheels Better

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Go to your local motorcycle shop and request to have a squiz at the Canyon Dancer cup-type hold down strap. This device is indispensible for tying down bikes with acres of plastic such as RT/LT, and even the RS. Plastic 'cups' over each handgrip and webbing extends beyond the 'bar ends which allows attachment of your tiedowns outside the fairing plastic. A soft cover over the webbing protects the 'dash' area from scratches. I much prefer the easy-to-use Ancra tiedowns over the ratcheting type you see on over the road trucks and in the backs of utes hauling motocross bikes but that's personal preference.

I use a pair of Ancras at the front and a second pair off the footrest area to stabilise the back end of the bike, but the back sets are not required unless you're planning on getting airborn, sideways or upside down. Any quality tiedown will suffice for the load.

Shep · 3 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:55 pm

Shep

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Number of posts : 335

I don't feel confident enough to give you any advice on the proper way to tie down your bike but I can suggest that you use a "Bar Harness". My spares bike was hauled up by a friend from southern B.C. on a trailer using this device. It is a tie down that you slip over/insert your handlebars into and helps to keep the remaining tie down straps from having to be pinched against the side of the bike or fairing. In my opinion I find it difficult to find a good clear point on the front of the K100 RS bike for hold down straps.
An initial website for the company is http://www.canyondancer.com/. I purchased the "Bar Harness II", not their original product.
Shep

duck · 4 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:26 pm

duck

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Canyon Dancers put the forks under pressure. If overtightened they can blow a fork seal. I run a tie-down on each side of the fork brace in order to let the front of the bike ride on its suspension.

For the rear, a tie-down on each side wrapped around the rear frame rails. No need to crank these down too hard, just enough to compress the shock a little and hold the bike in place.

Also, be sure to use ratcheted tie-downs. The ones is post 2 above are not as reliable.

For capacity, use can just use the bottom of the line ones from Walmart - but I usually get the next step up as they are only a couple of bucks more for a set of 4.

Tie Downs 89rsse10

duck · 5 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:38 pm

duck

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Probably not a bad idea to take the mirrors and battery covers off so they don't inadvertently fly off.

Holister · 6 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:36 pm

Holister

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.... and as the timber rails in your photo shows, duck, its important to secure both wheels from slipping out.

Rick G · 7 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:11 pm

Rick G

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Why not ride it to NM? More fun.

IDTWIKA · 8 Tie down Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:14 pm

IDTWIKA

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Number of posts : 16

Thanks to everyone for their help.
I would ride to NM but I will be there all summer and will at time need my truck. The mountain highways of MN and Colorado await

Two Wheels Better · 9 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:14 pm

Two Wheels Better

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BMW use grip-type tiedowns in all of their crates and on all of their bikes, even the mighty K16, coming from Germany to the rest of the world. They are reliable and sturdy, a simple version on the standard Ancra, but without hook loops sewn into them. I carry a set of four rolled up and rubber banded (very compact, easy to stow) in my panniers on long roadtrips in case of emergency. I had to use them on one Outback ride on an Airhead I own about ten years ago. BMW dealers often sell them for a buck or two. I've been using the grip-type, non-ratcheting straps for twenty five years or more now with nary a loosening or slip. When I lived in Albuquerque I'd transport a bike on a trailer or into the back of my ute to rallies for my company, Filterwerks, round the US and Canada, and cross-country. I've never had a fork seal leak due to being tied down as I never compress them more than sufficient to simply locate the bike, and I don't pull too hard on the rubber-mouned 'bars to avoid damage to the mount system. At the front wheel I use a block of wood or specific wheel chock to keep things aligned. It's an easy job.

White strap is BMW's version. Black's an Ancra.

sidecar paul · 10 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 1:45 pm

sidecar paul

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Number of posts : 1589

Customised (by me) stainless steel ratchet handle.

Well, you wouldn't expect me to use cheap mild steel ones, would you? Tie Downs 652573

Paul.

Shep · 11 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:32 pm

Shep

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Number of posts : 335

Please define "ute" for me as described by Two Wheels Better "into the back of my ute"
Thanks
Shep

Inge K. · 12 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:51 pm

Inge K.

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Shep wrote:Please define "ute" for me

Dai · 13 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:49 pm

Dai

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Utelity Vehicle. The Ozzies can't spell.

beanoldboy · 14 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:23 pm

beanoldboy

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Dai wrote:Utelity Vehicle. The Ozzies can't spell.

the assemblage of letters represents as "utility" in my word-book , 'Aussie' version though it may be , perchance I have it upside down?
Rolling Eyes

duck · 15 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:37 pm

duck

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Number of posts : 4445

Two Wheels Better wrote:BMW use grip-type tiedowns in all of their crates and on all of their bikes, even the mighty K16, coming from Germany to the rest of the world. They are reliable and sturdy, a simple version on the standard Ancra, but without hook loops sewn into them. I carry a set of four rolled up and rubber banded (very compact, easy to stow) in my panniers on long roadtrips in case of emergency. I had to use them on one Outback ride on an Airhead I own about ten years ago. BMW dealers often sell them for a buck or two. I've been using the grip-type, non-ratcheting straps for twenty five years or more now with nary a loosening or slip. When I lived in Albuquerque I'd transport a bike on a trailer or into the back of my ute to rallies for my company, Filterwerks, round the US and Canada, and cross-country. I've never had a fork seal leak due to being tied down as I never compress them more than sufficient to simply locate the bike, and I don't pull too hard on the rubber-mouned 'bars to avoid damage to the mount system. At the front wheel I use a block of wood or specific wheel chock to keep things aligned. It's an easy job.

White strap is BMW's version. Black's an Ancra.

Not arguing with you or asserting that your method is necessarily wrong. Just sharing what works best for me and gives me the highest level of confidence when trailering. I've found that doing an eight point tie-down with ratcheted tie-downs is extremely solid - and for about $20 from Walmart. Is it overkill? Yeah, maybe. But it's what I am comfortable with.

And, as a rider, I'm embarrassed to be participating in a trailering thread at all. Embarassed

duck · 16 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:11 pm

duck

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BTW, it's not a bad idea to put the bike in 1st gear.

Shouldn't be necessary for a well tied-down bike but can't hurt.

Holister · 17 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:32 pm

Holister

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Inge K. wrote:

Shep wrote:Please define "ute" for me

We would call that a truck, pick-up or 2-tonner in Oz. A ute is a utility vehicle styled on a sedan car with a tray or open compartment at the back instead of rear seating. We shorten a lot of our words here because it gets so hot and shorter words take less energy Laughing

.... except for "maaaaaate". We lengthen that word to extend friendship Tie Downs 112350

.... and also, it so hot we can't remember everyone's name. Embarassed

so we just say maaaaate... Very Happy

These are Utes.
Its actually an Ozzie design concept introduced by Holden in the late 50's.

Nowadays, the design has been bastardised into 4x4s and traytops.

Cheers

Beamer_Bill · 18 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:59 pm

Beamer_Bill

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Number of posts : 28

We had them in the early 60s as 'El Camino' Chevrolet and 'Ranchero' Ford. Gentlemens pickup where the box is part of the body not a separate structure.

Rick G · 19 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:00 pm

Rick G

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I don't want to be fussy or picky but I'm gonna be
"Its actually an Ozzie design concept introduced by Holden in the late 50's."

I believe the 1934 ford which were assembled from parts from Canada (The British commonwealth being the reason for Canada and not USA) were modified to make the first really commercial Aussie Ute but there is a forerunner for that as well. In 1917 the Model T Ford was bought into Australia as a chassis only and Peels of Brisbane made a body of a roadster and instead of the dicky seat arrangement they put a wooden tray and sides on them. I have no idea how many were made and the reason I know is that one of them was my first car and I restored it to original condition when I was 17 years old and it was then 50 years old and is now near 100 years old

Old fart jokes are not required but will be tolerated.

Holister · 20 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:12 pm

Holister

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I bow to your venerable experience in this matter Rick.

Two Wheels Better · 21 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:29 pm

Two Wheels Better

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Let's not get 'em started on you beaut utes!

WoodyAUK75 · 22 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:33 am

WoodyAUK75

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Maybe it's an Aussie thing TWB. I looked at Duck's setup and thought " There's no way I would trust that." Without the front suspension compressed, the front end would bob up and down, loosening the rear straps, if not causing the ratchet mechanisms to fly apart. Not having a headboard on the trailer would mean it would walk forward under braking. Duck is obviously an intelligent man and has used that method many times, so it has to work, but it's still not my choice. I always wondered about the fork seals thing too, I mean- that's their job. I am picking up a KTM 400sc tomorrow and it will be ratcheted down in the back of my ute only because I got 750kg ratchet straps at a great price, usually I use the cam locks but they disappeared when the kids moved out. I'm going to Brisbane for the weekend, any bikes you need started and ridden whilst I'm there?

Dai · 23 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:41 am

Dai

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beanoldboy wrote:

Dai wrote:Utelity Vehicle. The Ozzies can't spell.

the assemblage of letters represents as "utility" in my word-book , 'Aussie' version though it may be , perchance I have it upside down?

Nah - it was just a poor joke Very Happy

duck · 24 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:23 pm

duck

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Looks like this thread has fallen off its trailer. Laughing

IDTWIKA · 25 Tie down Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:06 pm

IDTWIKA

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Number of posts : 16

Thanks for all the comments. I agree, I would rather ride than trailer, but the footlocker and tent and sleeping bag and back pack will not all fit in the saddle bags and luggage carrier.
Stephen

beanoldboy · 26 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:38 pm

beanoldboy

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when i was younger and with less responsibility and no money , i took a working holiday around australia , drove a thirty year old station wagon and trailered an old 500 single cylinder yamaha , across all terrain and road surfaces , i must have been too poor for ratcheting straps because only ever used ropes and truckies knots.
the bike trailer was built by me and was very simple just some chanel for the tyres to sit in and some chainlinks as anchor points.
i found that any tie down configuration using the suspenion under compression would undo eventually , the best way was to secure the front wheel down and forward , this in itself was enough , then strapping the rear wheel down and a tie off to the foot peg or frame area - obviously a k bike has a hundred extra kilos on my old thumper and having trailered a k bike it got tied off to the forks with a small amount of compression , but the front tyre still was the most secure point and rear wheel second .

Last edited by beanoldboy on Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:46 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : memory)

Rockman · 27 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:53 pm

Rockman

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Number of posts : 517

Agree with beanoldboy. If the wheels are secured it wont go anywhere and the tie downs are just to stop it falling over. I usually lash the front rim to the nearest secure structure and add tie downs as needed. Havent lost one yet.

Beamer_Bill · 28 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:49 pm

Beamer_Bill

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Number of posts : 28

IDTWIKA wrote:Thanks for all the comments. I agree, I would rather ride than trailer, but the footlocker and tent and sleeping bag and back pack will not all fit in the saddle bags and luggage carrier.
Stephen

Send what you can't carry by other means and pick it up later. Enjoy the ride Surprised

-o:

sidecar paul · 29 Re: Tie Downs Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:25 pm

sidecar paul

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Number of posts : 1589

I made this rear tyre strap today; 2 stainless D rings, some 50mm webbing, a strip of rubber matting and a bit of sewing.

This is made specifically for my Honda, but, just out of interest, I tried it on the rear wheel of my solo K and there is plenty of room to use such a device............not that I would want to put a road bike on a trailer. Evil or Very Mad

Paul.

IDTWIKA · 30 Tie down Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:40 pm

IDTWIKA

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Number of posts : 16

looks like it would work

duck · 31 Re: Tie Downs Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:43 pm

duck

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WoodyAUK75 wrote:Maybe it's an Aussie thing TWB. I looked at Duck's setup and thought " There's no way I would trust that." Without the front suspension compressed, the front end would bob up and down, loosening the rear straps, if not causing the ratchet mechanisms to fly apart. Not having a headboard on the trailer would mean it would walk forward under braking. Duck is obviously an intelligent man and has used that method many times, so it has to work, but it's still not my choice. I always wondered about the fork seals thing too, I mean- that's their job. I am picking up a KTM 400sc tomorrow and it will be ratcheted down in the back of my ute only because I got 750kg ratchet straps at a great price, usually I use the cam locks but they disappeared when the kids moved out. I'm going to Brisbane for the weekend, any bikes you need started and ridden whilst I'm there?

WTF? The bike is DESIGNED to ride on its suspension (with a rider/pillion/luggage no less) so letting an unloaded bike ride on its suspension is a non-issue.

And, by design, ratcheted tie-downs do not loosen. Which is why I prefer them over the other ones.

Rick G · 32 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 09, 2016 12:31 am

Rick G

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All the motorcycle transporters I know who send within Oz and overseas always tie down by a strap over both wheels and let the suspension work a bit and suspend the weight of the bike as it is intended to do.
I have usually tied bikes down by attaching the rope/tiedown of some sort around the lower triple clamp. However I dont tie down tightly or the fork seals will blow. I use the ratchet tie down and a short length of webbing with a loop at each end around the triple clamp and that hooks onto the tie down. Tying down a K with a fairing I cross the ties at the front as in the left side tie goes to the right side of the triple clamp and vise versa, that way the fairing doesn't get damaged. Trailered many a K and some Honda St1100s that way and never any damage except for once when things were too tight and a seal blew out.
Will also add that I have a piece of channel for the front wheel.

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1 Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 2:53 pm

IDTWIKA

2 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:43 pm

Two Wheels Better

3 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:55 pm

Shep

4 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:26 pm

duck

5 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:38 pm

duck

6 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:36 pm

Holister

7 Re: Tie Downs Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:11 pm

Rick G

8 Tie down Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:14 pm

IDTWIKA

9 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 12:14 pm

Two Wheels Better

10 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 1:45 pm

sidecar paul

11 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:32 pm

Shep

12 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:51 pm

Inge K.

13 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:49 pm

Dai

14 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:23 pm

beanoldboy

15 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:37 pm

duck

16 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:11 pm

duck

17 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:32 pm

Holister

18 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:59 pm

Beamer_Bill

19 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:00 pm

Rick G

20 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:12 pm

Holister

21 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:29 pm

Two Wheels Better

22 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:33 am

WoodyAUK75

23 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:41 am

Dai

24 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:23 pm

duck

25 Tie down Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:06 pm

IDTWIKA

26 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:38 pm

beanoldboy

27 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:53 pm

Rockman

28 Re: Tie Downs Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:49 pm

Beamer_Bill

29 Re: Tie Downs Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:25 pm

sidecar paul

30 Tie down Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:40 pm

IDTWIKA

31 Re: Tie Downs Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:43 pm

duck

32 Re: Tie Downs Wed Mar 09, 2016 12:31 am

Rick G

33 Re: Tie Downs

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