Topic: lucky result of dumb accident

[Don R]

  This fits the pissed off and mixed blessings threads, so I'll post a different one.   

 I got my enclosed race trailer out of storage today, my pregnant driver and my surgery made me decide to leave in storage until now, but I'm allowed to lift again and I need to check tires and batteries. So, today out it came.
 What does this have to do with bikes you ask? About halfway home I hit a big bump and felt the trailer shake. I thought that felt like a bike falling over. It was.
  My Harbor freight tire chock folded up, let the blue green K0 bike of the month from Oct. a couple years ago go forward, loosening the tie downs and it laid over onto the dragster's front tire. The brake lever and throttle was on the tire, the only damage I can find is the turn signal is scuffed and a tiny scratch in the clearcoat of the tank paint.
  Pure luck, I had only intended the chock for the QT50 but took an unfortunate chance loading and storing the two bikes that aren't for sale.

[BenelliSEI]

Glad to hear that was the extent of the damage. Phew!

[Kelly E]

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. This being one of those times.

[Johnie]

The Honda gods have smiled on you Don. Glad it was not serious!

[Don R]

 I unloaded the 750's today and saw the cause of the problem. I had used an older tie down strap that was going from a D ring on the floor to the rear wheel to hold the rear end in line, and to keep the bike from pushing too much on the tire chock. The sewing on the ratchet strap failed and there was a loose hook laying behind the bike.
   I ripped the sewing off the opposite end by sticking it in a vise and pulling on the sewn end, so it was poor judgement on my part using both the cheap tire chock and the older than dirt tie down strap.
 
  Moral of the story, don't do that.

[seanbarney41]

I have seen those generic nylon ratchet straps just plain snap right in front of my eyes.  Fortunately, it was just my dirt bike which is used to regular crashes anyway and it was inside my van.

[HondaMan]

I actually held my breath as I read your first post...
It reminded me, though: I still have 3 of the tiedowns that BMW used (1972-74) to hold their bikes down to their wooden-floored crates (they also had wood sides and top, all Jap bikes had cardboard box tops over plastic or wood bases). I loaned the 4th one out once to someone who decided to keep it after he got to his 3-States-away destination, or I'd have all 4. These are every bit as good as the old nylon Cargo TY over-center straps I also have 3 of (same guy has the 4th one). These straps will hold even a G'Wing in place against a block with fully-compressed front forks, with the flick of a wrist, and never, ever loosen nor let go.

Thanks for reminding me how good they are, and how lucky I am to still have them!
In the meantime, I have also used. worn out, and pitched 3 pairs of HF similar straps...

[Don R]

 I had a cb900c on our trailer going to the Davenport Ia. swap meet. Part way there I noticed the 900 wasn't visible in the mirror any more. When we got pulled over I found that a brand-new farm store tie down strap had failed, and one end was gone. The bike was a similar deal, with little damage due to other straps and luck.
 The strap was in tension, not wrapped around any trailer or bike parts and was pulling hook to hook.