I'm going over Memorial weekend to Kansas to pick up my '77 HD Superglide. I'll be using my neighbor's motorcycle trailer. It's an open trailer with braces for the wheels on it. I know to make sure the straps are secure when I put the bike on it and to make sure the trailer is properly hooked up to the truck, but are there other things that I should watch out for or do to make sure the bike is secure? I want to do everything in my power to make sure the bike will make it back to Indianapolis safely, seeing as I've waited 20 years to get it and the time is finally here.

So, anyone have some advice for me before I head out next weekend?

 

when you ride it on to the trailer, roll forward againt the front wheel chock.... slowly let the clutch out until it kills the engine and leave it in gear. that way it's secure againt the chock. tie down the front using the triple tree and compress the front shocks about 1/4 or 1/3 of their travel. make sure the bike is standing straight up (not leaning over). recheck the straps after 5 or 10 miles.

enjoy the "new" bike.

 

congratulations! I was going to say the same thing avator said though i dont have a bike myself this is what my supervisor does with his HD. worst case, just hook the trailer to the bike and tow the truck home LOL

 

BE VERY CAREFULL "when you ride it on to the trailer" have the person you're getting it from help!

IT REALLY will mess up your "NEW" 77 when your about half way up the ramp and need to put a foot down, OOPPSS it's a long way down (and yes been there done that)

ENJOY and keep your speed down on the way back

 

I have a freind who races motor-cross. He puts a block between the front tie and the bottom of the fender / triple tree. This keeps the forks from being bottomed out. I would tie it down both front and back pulling off to a 45 degree angle on both sides of the bike. Just be sure to stop and check your straps.

 

I use 3 ramps, 1 in the middle for the tires and 2 on each side for my feet to help steady myself.... I almost "lost" mine by being frugal and not wanting to spend a little more for the other two ramps.... after that, I figured a few dollars for more ramps wasn't much to spend compared to a dented gas tank or scratched chrome or worse!!

I ride it on and just coast back off.... riding the brake.....

 

Thanks for the input guys! Much appreciated. Looking at my neighbor's trailer, it sits relatively low and has a ramp so that'll definitely help.

 

Fly out ride back is what I would do.

Check the straps often, they will loosen up on you.

 

i never trailered a bike, i always put them in the bed of the truck. just tie it down tight on the 4 corners and it will ride, in the truck i just tie it down tight on front and it never budges, but i would use 4 pts on a trailer
matt z

 

I would love to ride it back but there are two reasons why I can't. First off I don't have my license yet, which I'm testing for my permit this Saturday. Secondly the plates are Kansas plates and are expired. So it'd be pointless and a waste of money to renew the plates in Kansas just to turn around and register/title the bike in Indiana.

 

register it in in before ya pick it up,

 

I thought about that until I talked to the BMV. I need the title and they need to see the bike and verify the VIN. So my only option is to go there and bring it back with my truck. Which is fine because on my way back my truck will officially have over 100,000 miles.

 

Munky - enjoy your "new" bike!!!!

hope you have a safe tow.

 

use "soft ties" for the mounting points. These are nylon straps that have loops in both ends. They will wrap around the handle bar, or fork, and lace back through itself providing a mounting point to attatch the hook. Never attatch the strap to the handle bar directly. It will scratch, and when the fork compresses it may pop off. With the
"Soft strap' it will eliminate the scratch potential, and provide a positive and secure mounting point.
The reason some dirt bike guys use a stop under the front fender is to take the load off of the forks, and to prevent the bike from coming loose. The dirt bikes have a bunch of travel, and if you hit a bump, and compress the forks more than they are at the time yo tied it down, it could come off. The same is true for the HD, except that the HD does not have the same amount of travel. Damage can result if you compress the forks too much. They are under a bunch of pressure when they are strapped down for transportation.
Any bike shop will have the soft style ties for you.

 

Munky,

The others have covered most of what I do, but let me emphasise the ones that I think are most important and add a few.

Tie down both ends with a minimum of four straps.

Use soft ties where the straps attach to your bike.

Attach the front straps to the lower triple tree.

Be careful riding on the loading ramp. If the PO has many years of experience riding this bike don't feel like a wuss asking him to ride it up. If there is any point on the ramp that both feet will not touch the ground, get help and push it up. Don't ask how I know this.

If you are using cam lock tie downs (no ratchet) loop the free end of the strap around the loaded end of the strap and put a half hitch in it. In other words, tie a knot in the strap behind the buckle so that it can't loosen and move down the strap. Also, pull up on the buckle tab that you would normally press down on the release the strap. This will help it bite into the webbing and hold firmly.

If you use ratchet straps, be careful not to over tighten them. No more than half travel on the front forks or you will probably be replacing fork seals when you get home.

No mater which type of strap you choose, take a roll of Duck tape with you and put it on each of the straps hooks on both ends of the strap. This will prevent them from hopping off of there attachment points when you hit a bump and the suspension compresses. Stop after a mile or so to check your tie downs and frequently there after to make sure nothing id moving around. Also attach all of the straps first, then take most of the slack out of all of them, and finally stand the bike up straight and begin to tighten them. This will keep you from turning the bike over while tying it down.

Take a short piece of rope or nylon webbing and use it to tie the front wheel to the trailer chock. Some people tow with there bike in gear but there is a potential for transmission damage when you do this. When you hit a bump and the suspension compresses it causes the wheels to try to rotate. That rotation it transmitted to the drive line which can't move so the transmission gears absorb the shock. Your choice, I don't tow in gear.

If the trailer has a wooden floor you can nail down a 2X4 on either side of the rear wheel after the bike is loaded and remove them before the bike is unloaded. They will keep the bike from hopping side to side.

You want your tie down system to work even if one of the straps fails. Redundancy is a good thing when towing your pride and joy.

Make sure the trailer is serviced before you leave home. Good tires, aired up properly, bearings recently serviced, all lights working and a current tag. You need to carry the trailers documents with you just like you carry for your truck.

Each time you stop to check the bike or to rest or fuel up etc be sure to feel of the trailer's tires and hubs and check the hich and safety chains. Warm is OK on the tires and hubs but hot means you have problems that need to be addressed before proceeding.

You mentioned that the bike didn't have a current tag. In my state they will make the new buyer pay the taxes for all of the years that the vehicle didn't have a tag, even if it was bought out of state. They used to accept a notarized affidavit from the previous owner stating that it wasn't used on the road during that period. If that is your case you should check with your DMV for their rules and be prepared to get the statement from the previous owner if that will help.

Have a safe tow and enjoy your new bike!

Gene