I may have found a GS500F about an hour from me.  It's my first bike, I have no gear, and the bike wouldn't be registered.  I have a friend with a truck who MIGHT be able to go with me, but what's the way to secure a bike down in the bed of a truck?  No front or rear stands either.

Tie downs. Just ramp it up in there and use tie downs on the front and rear.

Where do you tie it down?  The back over the swingarm, the front behind the triple tree?

And the kickstand is up?  Wouldn't it make more sense to put it down?

Quote from: Altephor on June 24, 2006, 09:43:57 AM
Where do you tie it down?  The back over the swingarm, the front behind the triple tree?

In the first photos I had tie downs on the lower triples and on the bungee hooks (the rails above the swingarms on the subframe). However, that won't be very easy since you're blike will be plasticied (everything covered by plastic). So you're probably going to have to use tie downs on the passenger peg brackets (It makes a V, just stick the hook in there and ratchet down). For the front you might have to use the bars. I don't like to use the bars, but I have a lot more options. In the last photo you can see black straps coming down from the bars. You can get a pair of these at Cycle Gear for $7 or so. It loops around the bar and through itself to provide a non-stressed hook point. If you can't get those you might just have to hook it at the bars. If you keep it tight it won't go anywhere.

Tie down to the handlebars.  You generally don't need the rears for a light bike like the GS  Maybe for a big bore.  And contrary to what some people believe, you won't blow the fork seals when you tie down a bike.  If they start  to leak, they were on their way out anyway.  Kick stand up.

Ugh.. maybe the guy will deliver it.. just wish I could ride it home  .  Don't have much experience with bikes and even less with tie downs.. I would hate for my bike to slide off on the middle of the highway.  That would suck hardcore.

Quote from: corndog67 on June 24, 2006, 09:48:07 AM
Tie down to the handlebars.  You generally don't need the rears for a light bike like the GS  Maybe for a big bore.  And contrary to what some people believe, you won't blow the fork seals when you tie down a bike.  If they start  to leak, they were on their way out anyway. 

When we were going places the rears were DEFINITELY needed. The rear can bounce all over the place if you hit a bump and cause the bike to fall. We had the tail bounce on mine and had the tie downs come loose from the rear, so yes THEY ARE NEEDED.

Be careful how much pressure you put if you tie down to the bars, they CAN bend if you put too much.

It's very easy to do.  I rented a truck to pick up my GS and it was my first experience with ratcheting straps (tie-downs).  I hooked the front straps to the handlebars near the clamp and tightened them down until the forks were ~halfway compressed.  Then, I hooked up the rear straps to the frame near the passenger pegs and tightened them securely.  It was rock solid the whole 4 hour trip home.  The hardest part is getting the bike into / out of the truck bed.  If you can load it up with the front wheel facing backwards it makes it easier to get off.

-M

you could get a canyon dancer and tie it down using that...thats what i did to get my GS home in my truck. 

in the back i just ran a line from one side to the other through the back end somewhere.

canyon dancer: 

I use the slip over bar ends and use tie down pictured above.. only I have a ramp and put the bike in at an angle.. put the kick stand down and am able to close the tailgate(this is done on a '02 tacoma).  also put a tie down over the rear.  No problems so far, after 600 miles and 11 hours.