Tie-down questions

Malicious Logic · February 14th, 2012, 03:03 PM

Already did a search and found a few decent threads on how to tie down a bike, whether it's in the back of a pickup or a trailer. When I get back, I plan on having my buddy who currently rides an enduro style bike, help me. He said when he straps his down, he has something called a shock saver to protect the seals from breaking from being tied down with too much force. Is there anything like this for our bikes? What do you all who've transported your bikes before do?

Almost scared enough to just forget transporting it with a truck or trailer since apparently you can bust the seals and in another thread, I read about bikes with sticking throttles after being tied down with a canyon dancer bar holder.

Zombiphone · February 15th, 2012, 11:13 AM

First of all, don't use canyon dancers and you can instantly squash the worry of a stuck throttle. Just loop your tiedowns around the lower triple clamp as explained here:

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Hauling_on_a_trailer

Second of all, I've transported all over the place an absurd number of times by now for absurd distances and occasionally I've had the suspension borderline bottomed out from people tying it down a bit too tight when assisting me, and I've never blown a seal. And the trailer I tow it on has no form of suspension of its own (It relies on the bike's suspension to absorb bumps), so if blowing a seal was that easy, I'd have done it by now. Not saying it's impossible, but there's probably something wrong with the seals to begin if compressing the suspension is blowing them out.

Don't think so much on it. Just buy some good tie downs (I use Ancras), secure the front by the lower triple, secure the back by whatever you can grab on to, make sure it feels secure, then have at it. This is my shoddy rig:

It's a rail with an axle and some tie down points. If I can tow on THAT without an issue on rough freeways and on regular trips ranging from 80-350 miles each way, you should be able to tow just about anything.

Malicious Logic · February 15th, 2012, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the replies. Both make me feel better about strapping it down. Have no idea what the lower triple is but gonna try to look it up. From that link, I can make out that it's in the front and part of the forks but beyond that, I couldn't tell ya.

Zombiphone · February 15th, 2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malicious Logic

Have no idea what the lower triple is but gonna try to look it up. From that link, I can make out that it's in the front and part of the forks but beyond that, I couldn't tell ya.

It's the lower of the two clamps that clamp around the forks. One moment, I'll get you a picture right now:

And a close up:

You can't miss it

Malicious Logic · February 15th, 2012, 01:12 PM

Wow, thanks for the pics! Looks a lot more secure and less complicated than I thought. Definitely a lot more confident about it now.

akima · February 15th, 2012, 02:05 PM

You should've seen the bodge I used to get my ninjette home when I first bought it. I used a ford transit. There were very few points on the van I could tie the bike too, so I couldn't properly secure it. I ended up taking a bunch of used tyres from a garage and using them to cushion the bike. It worked out pretty well in the end.

ajcadoo · February 15th, 2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombiphone

It's a rail with an axle and some tie down points. If I can tow on THAT without an issue on rough freeways and on regular trips ranging from 80-350 miles each way, you should be able to tow just about anything.

I think this definitely beats out any vehicle on the road:

If you can tow two jet skis in the hot Nevada desert during the middle of August with a 1.4L 103HP Scion xB, I am sure you can tow ANYTHING.

ajcadoo · February 15th, 2012, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombiphone

It's the lower of the two clamps that clamp around the forks. One moment, I'll get you a picture right now:

You can't miss it

So this is the best place to hookup to the front? Right above the clamps there?

Will this do any fork damage?

Havok · February 16th, 2012, 12:08 PM

If you get the new style of canyon dancers the ones with the cups you don't have to worry about the throttle. I have transported my ninja quite a few times and have had no issues. The bar harness helps a ton, I use my s10 pick up and have transported two bikes in it on multiple occasions. It's not hard and easy to do.

"A" · February 16th, 2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Havok

If you get the new style of canyon dancers the ones with the cups you don't have to worry about the throttle. I have transported my ninja quite a few times and have had no issues. The bar harness helps a ton, I use my s10 pick up and have transported two bikes in it on multiple occasions. It's not hard and easy to do.

Canyon Dancers are poor products because they are attached to the handlebars.
Which are designted to be used with human strength to control the motorcycle while in motion.
Handlebars are not designed to be used for securing the motorcycle with forces that ratchet tie-downs can produce.

Just because you have no problem using them transporting your bike, doesn't mean that most people would have the common sense to stop ratcheting before they bend their handlebars or their suspension is compressed way too much.

IMO, best way to transport a moto is to secure the bike by the wheels/tire, without the compression of suspension parts.

choneofakind · February 16th, 2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombiphone

This is my shoddy rig:

Tiffani is now a badass in my books. Tiny little trailer. Tiny car. Motorcycle. Awesome Tiffani

Havok · February 18th, 2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "A"

Canyon Dancers are poor products because they are attached to the handlebars.
Which are designted to be used with human strength to control the motorcycle while in motion.
Handlebars are not designed to be used for securing the motorcycle with forces that ratchet tie-downs can produce.

Just because you have no problem using them transporting your bike, doesn't mean that most people would have the common sense to stop ratcheting before they bend their handlebars or their suspension is compressed way too much.

IMO, best way to transport a moto is to secure the bike by the wheels/tire, without the compression of suspension parts.

Not sure what harness you are using but mine pulls across the bike not straight down. It putts lateral pressureob the bars not downward pressure. To bend the bars you would have to ratchet them so tight and bottom your suspension so much to even attempt to bend your bars that you would have to be so stupid that I doubt you could even operate a bike at that point.

loz944 · February 18th, 2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Havok

Not sure what harness you are using but mine pulls across the bike not straight down. It putts lateral pressureob the bars not downward pressure. To bend the bars you would have to ratchet them so tight and bottom your suspension so much to even attempt to bend your bars that you would have to be so stupid that I doubt you could even operate a bike at that point.

ok stupid question what are canyon dancers ?

pics please

Skippii · February 18th, 2012, 11:49 PM

I believe Kawasaki ships our bikes from Thailand to the usa tied down in crates with the suspension compressed. Anyone ever buy a new bike with blown fork seals?
Posted via Mobile Device

"A" · February 19th, 2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loz944

ok stupid question what are canyon dancers ?

pics please

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippii

I believe Kawasaki ships our bikes from Thailand to the usa tied down in crates with the suspension compressed. Anyone ever buy a new bike with blown fork seals?

Why don't we all compress the front suspension when our bikes are not being ridden, over time that might increase enough preload to get rid of that annoying front end dive when front brake is appied?

Think about it, just because it's ok to do, doesn't make it a good idea.

February 14th, 2012, 03:03 PM	#1
Malicious Logic hates stupid people Name: Mark Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ZX6R Posts: 860	Tie-down questions Already did a search and found a few decent threads on how to tie down a bike, whether it's in the back of a pickup or a trailer. When I get back, I plan on having my buddy who currently rides an enduro style bike, help me. He said when he straps his down, he has something called a shock saver to protect the seals from breaking from being tied down with too much force. Is there anything like this for our bikes? What do you all who've transported your bikes before do? Almost scared enough to just forget transporting it with a truck or trailer since apparently you can bust the seals and in another thread, I read about bikes with sticking throttles after being tied down with a canyon dancer bar holder. __________________________________________________ My vlogging channel: Ma1iciousLogic

February 15th, 2012, 11:48 AM	#3
Malicious Logic hates stupid people Name: Mark Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ZX6R Posts: 860	Thanks for the replies. Both make me feel better about strapping it down. Have no idea what the lower triple is but gonna try to look it up. From that link, I can make out that it's in the front and part of the forks but beyond that, I couldn't tell ya. __________________________________________________ My vlogging channel: Ma1iciousLogic

February 15th, 2012, 01:12 PM	#5
Malicious Logic hates stupid people Name: Mark Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ZX6R Posts: 860	Wow, thanks for the pics! Looks a lot more secure and less complicated than I thought. Definitely a lot more confident about it now. __________________________________________________ My vlogging channel: Ma1iciousLogic

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February 15th, 2012, 11:13 AM	#2
Zombiphone CVMA/AFM #72 Name: Tiffani Location: Los Angeles, Ca Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Racebike), 2015 FZ-07(Tourer), 2001 KX65(LOL bike) Posts: A lot.	First of all, don't use canyon dancers and you can instantly squash the worry of a stuck throttle. Just loop your tiedowns around the lower triple clamp as explained here: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Hauling_on_a_trailer Second of all, I've transported all over the place an absurd number of times by now for absurd distances and occasionally I've had the suspension borderline bottomed out from people tying it down a bit too tight when assisting me, and I've never blown a seal. And the trailer I tow it on has no form of suspension of its own (It relies on the bike's suspension to absorb bumps), so if blowing a seal was that easy, I'd have done it by now. Not saying it's impossible, but there's probably something wrong with the seals to begin if compressing the suspension is blowing them out. Don't think so much on it. Just buy some good tie downs (I use Ancras), secure the front by the lower triple, secure the back by whatever you can grab on to, make sure it feels secure, then have at it. This is my shoddy rig: It's a rail with an axle and some tie down points. If I can tow on THAT without an issue on rough freeways and on regular trips ranging from 80-350 miles each way, you should be able to tow just about anything.

February 15th, 2012, 02:05 PM	#6
akima Nooblet Name: Akima Location: England Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '13	You should've seen the bodge I used to get my ninjette home when I first bought it. I used a ford transit. There were very few points on the van I could tie the bike too, so I couldn't properly secure it. I ended up taking a bunch of used tyres from a garage and using them to cushion the bike. It worked out pretty well in the end.

February 16th, 2012, 12:08 PM	#9
Havok Internet Slut Name: Jeff Location: L.A. Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 FZ1, 07 FZ6 Posts: A lot.	If you get the new style of canyon dancers the ones with the cups you don't have to worry about the throttle. I have transported my ninja quite a few times and have had no issues. The bar harness helps a ton, I use my s10 pick up and have transported two bikes in it on multiple occasions. It's not hard and easy to do.

February 18th, 2012, 11:49 PM	#14
Skippii Milkshake Drinker Name: Skippii Location: Richmond, Va Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Orange DRZ400-S, 2005 Ninja 250 & Custom Thundercunt Dirt Chopper Posts: A lot.	I believe Kawasaki ships our bikes from Thailand to the usa tied down in crates with the suspension compressed. Anyone ever buy a new bike with blown fork seals? Posted via Mobile Device