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[Trapperdog]

Taking delivery of a 2012 SG this weekend and going to trailer it home on a 3 hour journey.

I plan on tying the front end down using the crash bars and not sure on the rear end, anybody trailered there street glide got some tips?

Do not use the crash bars as they bend! If you are using an enclosed trailer use extra tie downs as you can't see the bike while towing. Make sure the ratcheting mechanisms of the straps will not bang on any surfaces. If the trailer has no wheel chocks, bolt 2 4x4's to the floor along either side of the front wheel to hold it in place. (not the best method, but I've done it in a pinch)

[mark]

No one could be more picky than me regarding their paint and chrome...here's my setup..

Bike-Pro wheel chock

2 sets of HD straps (4 straps total)

2 sets of soft strap covers (fuzzy covers for straps so they don't saw into paint or chrome).

Put two straps on each handlebar and cinch down, but not gorilla tight

The soft strap will protect any paint and chrome.  Transported this way many times...never a bad trip.  There's really no good place on the rear of a SG to hook any straps.

[Vyscera]

Here are the Kuryakyn teardrops on my SESG

[Aussie]

Here are the Kuryakyn teardrops on my SESG

Where do you tie the rear of the bike to stop it from moving side ways.

[Vyscera]

From the front.
I havent had trouble with the rear moving around. I used to put a strap through the rear tire, or over the seat with a pad between the strap and seat.

[Ghost__Rider]

I simply use 2 soft HD hog ties to the front forks just above where the fender is attached. I then use 2 pull straps around the rear tire. One goes to the left and one to the right frame of the trailer. The rear ties are just there to keep the rear tire from bouncing left and right. I've gone many miles tied like this. Bike's front tire has to be resting tightly in a wheel chock to be secure with this approach.

Agreed, I own a towing company and we've hauled many harleys for road america. We use our enclosed and tie them down like you mentioned for years and never had a problem or a single scratch. Plus the bike rides on it's own suspension. Much better than pulling the shocks down tight.

[2k]

Been using a Condor chock for 12 years.......never pull my forks down. Soft ties off the bag guards at frame with ratchets pulling to the front. Have trailered 1000's of miles over good and bad roads, never a problem or scratch. I know many won't agree with no front ties, but not compressing forks is important to me.

[CVODON]

Partial compressing the forks will not hurt anything. Not sure why anyone thinks it would. Just don't pull them  down  to end of travel, leave a little room for them to move. Rear bag guards on the other hand are a very bad idea, regardless of how far you've already gone, or how long you been doing it. Just not safe, you can bend them a strong kick, the only reason you haven't experienced damage is you have not had a bad incident. I pull down on front using a KIWI Indian frt bike mounted bracket (google it) and from frame forwad adjacent to rear foot peg bracket and also use a Condor mount.
The next time you tie to those rear bag guards just think "are these strong enough to hold the bike if bike/trailer were on its side"? and the answer is no, they are not. You are correct in pulling forward, but there are other factors beside just holding it upright going down the road.

[2k]

WOW!! You are probably right. I had never looked at it from a worst case.....don''t know why I never thought about a wreck. Will revisit my tiedown methods before next haul. Thanks for an eyeopener!!!

[Heatwave]

Been using a Condor chock for 12 years.......never pull my forks down. Soft ties off the bag guards at frame with ratchets pulling to the front. Have trailered 1000's of miles over good and bad roads, never a problem or scratch. I know many won't agree with no front ties, but not compressing forks is important to me.

There's really no need to compress the forks, at least on heavier bikes. I've trailered many many miles and I've always used HD hog ties around each front fork where the fender attaches with a front chock. The rear is simply fastened through the wheel on each side to the frame of the trailer. That's it for trailering straps for my CVO Ultra.

For my dirt bikes I also use a chock but I do strap to the handlebars and compress the front forks because these bikes are much lighter. I then use the same tie down approach for the rear tires that I use on my Harley.

[Lever]

the only thing i do additional to the wheel chock and tie downs   is  for my convertible  i have a 4x4  block of wood i screwed a thick piece of rubber splash mat like the one you see off semi's
i place the block of wood rubber side facing up under the frame when i tighten the straps it will tighted against  the block of wood your bike is now 1 with your trailer

[dayne66]

 A few years ago I waved a guy over that was hauling a Wing on an open trailer.....the front tie downs had come un-hooked. He was using a wheel chock and the open style hooks all around and had the rear tire tied to each side of the trailer frame. He said he had to brake extremely hard to avoid a collision. The front suspension had compressed enough under the hard braking that the open hooks had drooped and come un-hooked.

Since then I have been using carribeaners or "add-a-links" screw on links to ensure that this cant happen. 

One of my next purchases will be a new set of tiedowns with "safety" hooks .

http://powertye.com/store/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=2

[RedDevil]

I have a set of the Power Ties and they are more than worth the money.  They come with the soft ties attached so don't have to add any and provide another potential weak spot. 

[Heatwave]

A few years ago I waved a guy over that was hauling a Wing on an open trailer.....the front tie downs had come un-hooked. He was using a wheel chock and the open style hooks all around and had the rear tire tied to each side of the trailer frame. He said he had to brake extremely hard to avoid a collision. The front suspension had compressed enough under the hard braking that the open hooks had drooped and come un-hooked.

Since then I have been using carribeaners or "add-a-links" screw on links to ensure that this cant happen. 

One of my next purchases will be a new set of tiedowns with "safety" hooks .

http://powertye.com/store/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=2

Another good reason to fasten straps to the front forks at the fender bracket. From this point there will never be any slack due to hard braking since it’s below the point where the shocks compress.

[charles05663]

Another good reason to fasten straps to the front forks at the fender bracket. From this point there will never be any slack due to hard braking since it’s below the point where the shocks compress.

When I bought my first Harley, this is how the dealership told me to tie down the bike.  They explained to me that if forks could compress if tied somewhere else and the front tire slip.  Also, it prevents over compression of the forks as there is no compression when tied this way.