Moving, tie-down question

Brother Michigan · August 11th, 2015, 06:47 PM

I'm moving my bike down to Atlanta with me tomorrow and I've just loaded my bike into the bed of my truck. I've never done this before, so I was curious if anyone had an opinion on how to tie the bike down so as to minimize the risk of damage.

I've got the bike in a wheel chock and I've got the straps wrapped around the bar risers and anchored to the sides of the bed to keep things straight, but the straps put quite a bit of pressure on the fairings around the triple when I do this and I don't want to run the risk of cracking them. Am I being paranoid or should I strap it down another way?

ForceofWill · August 11th, 2015, 07:06 PM

I always do 2 more on the rear frame also.

cbinker · August 11th, 2015, 07:35 PM

Ratchet straps are the best way to go. I also use a wheel lock/chock from harbor freight that works great.

Floki · August 11th, 2015, 07:39 PM

I looped mine around the lower triple, or use my hooks that go around the bars.

I also put one strap wrapped through the back wheel to keep it from moving side to side.

choneofakind · August 11th, 2015, 07:59 PM

I've got soft tie's that I use on the lower triple. No fairing contact. I also use one off each side of the tail with a little light tension to keep the rear from bouncing around.

VaFish · August 12th, 2015, 07:41 AM

Straps should not be going across plastic, it will break.

Angle the straps so they won't damage the bodywork or find different locations to tie it down.

adouglas · August 12th, 2015, 08:22 AM

Straps around the lower triple plus the chock is plenty to keep the bike from going anywhere. I also take the long tails of the straps and use them to tie the front wheel to the chock... gotta deal with the loose flappy bits anyway, and it offers a failsafe.

I used to strap the rear of the bike too, but it's overkill.

Put it this way... one of the most highly regarded restraint systems, the Pit Bull TRS, does nothing but capture the rear axle and tie it to your trailer. That's it. Nothing else.

One thing not yet mentioned is that you don't want to crank down hard on the suspension. If you do and hit a big bump, there's nothing to absorb the shock and you can cause a fork seal leak. Leave a couple of inches of travel to let the bike's suspension do its thing.

LittleRedNinjette · August 12th, 2015, 08:26 AM

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...dlebar-harness

Not exactly what we have but these are awesome!

adouglas · August 12th, 2015, 08:55 AM

I recently stopped using my bar harness because I found a method that works better for me. Will sell it for half what it costs new, plus postage. Call it $15 shipped USPS. PM if interested.

http://www.motodracing.com/motorcycl...rt-bar-harness

Brother Michigan · August 18th, 2015, 04:03 PM

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I eventually just strapped it down from the lower triple and threw an additional strap across the swingarm, worked like a charm.

If anyone is curious, the $60 Pittsburgh wheel chock from Harbor Freight does a pretty decent job at holding a Ninjette even without anchoring the chock itself.

cbinker · August 18th, 2015, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Michigan

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I eventually just strapped it down from the lower triple and threw an additional strap across the swingarm, worked like a charm.

If anyone is curious, the $60 Pittsburgh wheel chock from Harbor Freight does a pretty decent job at holding a Ninjette even without anchoring the chock itself.

its even more solid if you back the ninjette up into the chock.

August 11th, 2015, 06:47 PM	#1
Brother Michigan ninjette.org sage Name: Aaron Location: Winder, GA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718	Moving, tie-down question I'm moving my bike down to Atlanta with me tomorrow and I've just loaded my bike into the bed of my truck. I've never done this before, so I was curious if anyone had an opinion on how to tie the bike down so as to minimize the risk of damage. I've got the bike in a wheel chock and I've got the straps wrapped around the bar risers and anchored to the sides of the bed to keep things straight, but the straps put quite a bit of pressure on the fairings around the triple when I do this and I don't want to run the risk of cracking them. Am I being paranoid or should I strap it down another way? __________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: I generally have no idea what I'm talking about.

August 11th, 2015, 07:35 PM	#3
cbinker Track Clown Name: Chris Location: Kingman, AZ Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '15	Ratchet straps are the best way to go. I also use a wheel lock/chock from harbor freight that works great. __________________________________________________ TEAM ALFALFA www.apexassassins.com

August 12th, 2015, 08:22 AM	#7
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Straps around the lower triple plus the chock is plenty to keep the bike from going anywhere. I also take the long tails of the straps and use them to tie the front wheel to the chock... gotta deal with the loose flappy bits anyway, and it offers a failsafe. I used to strap the rear of the bike too, but it's overkill. Put it this way... one of the most highly regarded restraint systems, the Pit Bull TRS, does nothing but capture the rear axle and tie it to your trailer. That's it. Nothing else. One thing not yet mentioned is that you don't want to crank down hard on the suspension. If you do and hit a big bump, there's nothing to absorb the shock and you can cause a fork seal leak. Leave a couple of inches of travel to let the bike's suspension do its thing. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

August 12th, 2015, 08:26 AM	#8
LittleRedNinjette Certified Troublemaker Name: Teri Location: Hamilton, NJ Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250r "Pikachu", 2017 Ninja 650 "Epona" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Aug '13, Aug '14, Feb '17	http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...dlebar-harness Not exactly what we have but these are awesome! __________________________________________________ Raven's Rejuvenation A bruise is a lesson... and each lesson makes us better...

August 12th, 2015, 08:55 AM	#9
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	I recently stopped using my bar harness because I found a method that works better for me. Will sell it for half what it costs new, plus postage. Call it $15 shipped USPS. PM if interested. http://www.motodracing.com/motorcycl...rt-bar-harness __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

August 11th, 2015, 07:06 PM	#2
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	I always do 2 more on the rear frame also.

August 11th, 2015, 07:39 PM	#4
Floki Motorcycle Nurse? Name: Jacques Location: Gulf Coast Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R, 1998 Ducati 748L #77/100 Posts: 606	I looped mine around the lower triple, or use my hooks that go around the bars. I also put one strap wrapped through the back wheel to keep it from moving side to side.

August 11th, 2015, 07:59 PM	#5
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	I've got soft tie's that I use on the lower triple. No fairing contact. I also use one off each side of the tail with a little light tension to keep the rear from bouncing around.

August 12th, 2015, 07:41 AM	#6
VaFish ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Tom Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250, 2019 Harley Ultra Classic, 2001 Suzuki SV650 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '16	Straps should not be going across plastic, it will break. Angle the straps so they won't damage the bodywork or find different locations to tie it down.

August 18th, 2015, 04:03 PM	#10
Brother Michigan ninjette.org sage Name: Aaron Location: Winder, GA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718	Thanks for the replies, everyone. I eventually just strapped it down from the lower triple and threw an additional strap across the swingarm, worked like a charm. If anyone is curious, the $60 Pittsburgh wheel chock from Harbor Freight does a pretty decent job at holding a Ninjette even without anchoring the chock itself. __________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: I generally have no idea what I'm talking about.

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