Topic: Best way to tie up a four

[Clasico]

On tuesday i'm picking up my new baby, a sparking black CB500/4 K1 beauty. (Yes she is a K1  in black with the same lines of a 550 or a 750 k3!)

The bike is some 300 miles away and the weather is forecasted soaking wet so i've decided, much against my initial intention, to strap her on a bikecart and bring her home.
How should i strap her, from the bars or from the lower tree?
I think that one strap per front side plus securing the back wheel to the platform should be enough, shouldnt be?

Have little experience on strapping bikes and wouldnt like to loose my little four on the way home, so give me some advice please

[WhyNot2]

Those three points should work......bars and one at the rear wheel.

[754]

What is a bikecart?...and where are you from?

[kghost]

I always use 4 but I'm pedantic

[Clasico]

I'm from Madrid, Spain.
A motorbike trailer!

[Jayelwin]

I load my bikes onto a trailer and into a wheel chock. Than i only tie down the bars til the front shocks are compressed about 2/3 to bottom.

[martin99]

Yep, definitely compress the forks and I use two at the back also. I also secure both wheels to the ramp. I also pull the brake lever tight and tie it around the grip. If I was trailering it that far I'd use straps everywhere to be honest - if one of your three fails you will have a very unstable load and might be a tad upset when you see it bouncing down the road in your rear view mirror...

[Clasico]

... you see it bouncing down the road in your rear view mirror...

Good Lord, just mentioning it send me scares all over, i'll make sure i'll tie her up safely

[TwoTired]

I always do the "what if a tie down breaks or slips off" analysis.  I like back ups.  Tie downs are cheaper than repairs and regret.

So, I use at least four, usually six.  300 miles is a lot of jostling, imo.

I tie to bars (closer to center the better) and the rear grab rail near shock mounts, if not the frame.

[754]

If you have three and back one brakes, probably nothing will happen.
 
 Important to consider, will the bike be straight, and is front wheel up hard against something, and unable to move sideways... Those are huge consideration.. Also bike should be upright.

[kghost]

If you have three and back one brakes, probably nothing will happen.
 
 Important to consider, will the bike be straight, and is front wheel up hard against something, and unable to move sideways... Those are huge consideration.. Also bike should be upright.

One of the often overlooked issues is the front wheel turning......

If you are strapped to the bars there is a chance that the wheel will turn if not hard up against something. Its preferred that the wheel on the front be in some sort of chock parallel to the wheel to keep it from happening.

I use 4 straps.....two pulling forward and two pulling aft.

I turn the fuel off and leave it in gear.

Don't forget to take the key out.....they have been known to vibrate out lol

[jukku]

Use 4 straps and as 754 says 
 Important to consider, will the bike be straight, and is front wheel up hard against something, and unable to move sideways... Those are huge consideration.. Also bike should be upright.
Then it is a seaworthy transport. ;-)

[Clasico]

The trailer has a long u shaped bar upfront where the front wheel of the bike rests, so it can be safely tied up there.
After all your comments I'll have to check if i have enough straps!!!

Thank you very much for your help

[becken]

I always do the "what if a tie down breaks or slips off" analysis.  I like back ups.  Tie downs are cheaper than repairs and regret.

So, I use at least four, usually six.  300 miles is a lot of jostling, imo.

I tie to bars (closer to center the better) and the rear grab rail near shock mounts, if not the frame.

A big + 1 on that! Even if you never use them again it's worth having plenty of tie-downs.

[Carver]

With my twin I did two straps on the bar, and two straps around the back of it (luggage rack and seat.). Just make sure its tight enough that it doesn't constantly bounce around or it could loosen up the straps and you could be out a lot of cash right out the door. I did it on a little uhual trailer with all shocks compressed. Check on it often as well as I noticed that the straps got a little loose after about an hour of driving.

[Dimitri13]

I transported bikes for a local shop for a bit.

Always used 5 straps. One tying the front wheel to something to keep it from moving laterally, two on the front, and two on the back.

Compressed the forks about 2/3 of the way. Too much and you can damage something. On the rear, ideally strapping to the frame, making sure to compress the shocks.

I never recommend having the front wheel turned or the bike diagonally in the bed/trailer.

Never had a single issue even with the biggest of bikes.

[Don R]

I like ratchet straps better than the friction style.

[acollin]

I, too, usually err on the side of protecting the vehicle. If you value the tank and side covers--both easily damaged in a minor slip and slide-- remove them and set them on the floor in the vehicle you are driving. The last bike I towed was a cb 750 in perfect orange metallic original paint. It took seconds to remove the tank and side covers. Removing them from the bike  really put my mind at ease.

Good luck

[kghost]

I like ratchet straps better than the friction style.

+1 I guess the freight pilot in me likes them secure enough to barrel roll.........

[754]

  I absolutely hate it when people suck the forks down as far as they can... No shock absorbtion left...
 And i freaking hate ratchet straps. Overkill in a lot of cases
 Side note i used to sell CIRCLE INDUSTRIES straps and sprockets, gotb a set of straps from them in the 80,s. They have NEVER SLIPPED and or wore out.. Fabulous product that was. Never tied the back down either, even on dirt roads they stayed put pretty good.

 But hey they are cheap now so double or quad up if you must.
 But I will say this, if flying with KtownGhost, suck er down good he will probably put a Convair through a barrel roll, just to check the tiedowns...... ...

[Clasico]

I've 5 ratchet straps plus 2 friction ones together with all your expert advice, the bike should be safely here tomorrow midday.
I'll let you know for peace of mind!!

[Schnell]

Here is how I brought my baby home.

[Stev-o]

I always use five, two in front to the bars, but not on clubmans and three in the back.

[Clasico]

The bike is at home now.
I put two ratchet straps each side of the the bar and two in the back plus front wheel tied on the u-front of the trailer.

Everything has gone fine and i've already clean up all the salt gathered on the road.
There was only one little incident, when everything was tie down the seller noticed that there was a flat tyre in the trailer!! Thanks God we were still at his garage.

I've just returned from a quick ride with the bike, i'll open a thread on newbie first experience...

[martin99]

Yay!