just put on sm2 bars. I'm taking the bike with me home this weekend and want to know the best way to tie down the front end in the back of my truck. I used to just chock the handlebars but not sure i want to do that and risk bending. by the way its faired so that plays into effect. If it weren't supposed to rain on and off sunday I would just ride. I don't like riding in the rain so please don't say it.
Still use the bars. One strap from truck bed rail to left bar and back and the other from right side. I tried using the frame and teh bike slid over onto its side -- now I'm in deep doo-doo when my daughter comes home and sees the smudge on her tank and creased side cover. :oops: I knew it wrong when I did it! :icon_rolleyes:
prs
i have an 05 and when i trailer it i strap around the lower half of the triple tree down to the trailer to get the suspension to compress as much as possible then using 2 more strapes i go around the frame by the rear set to keep the back of the bike from bouncing.
put the front wheel in a corner of the bed, then one tie down for either handle bar to the tie down points in the bed.
one additional tie down cinched through AND around the rear wheel to the rear most tie down points in the bed.
use racheting tie down straps. if you have one or two left (this is for E models) you can put them on the front frame gussets just for kicks.
the bike will be solid, provided you don't wreck. if you do wreck , a bike in the corner is less likely to enter the passenger compartment.
2 cents and a nickel :)
I only attach to the lower triple using soft-ties, never the handlebar or clipons. Too easy to bend.
On the rear, any hard point on the sub-frame. Soft-ties help with accessing a good point.
I prefer pull straps over ratchet straps. Easy to over tighten with ratchet straps.
Use minimal pressure on the front suspension. Too much continuous pressure may damage the seals and cause them to leak. I may only pull them down about 1".
I have lost a trailer before with bikes tied down this way, totalled 2 bikes. The straps never came loose and the hooks broke on impact. The main reason I only use Ancra straps now, instead on the generic straps back then. Plus I only use the Ancra straps to tie down motorcycles, never for anything else.