Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[hdnik]

Hello all. Looking for advice on the best location to tie down my SESG. It's a 10 (no lowers). I have a new set of HD soft straps, but I'm not quite sure of where to wrap them.

I'm towing from Niagara area to NJ (about 9 hour haul) to load her onto a cruise ship to Bermuda on an ETA motorcycle cruise. I have rented a 5 x 10 enclose trailer for the trip.

I've been told to avoid he handlebars but not sure why... other than straps may hit the fairing I suppose? It was recommended to wrap around the area where frame and engine guard meet. That may be fine for the front, but what about the rear?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[mark]

I have the same bike and have always tied down to the handlebars.  i have these fuzzy-soft wraps that go around the straps, so the strap doesn't actually touch anything - just the fuzzy-soft wrap.  I've tied down this way many times with no problems...and I'm extremely picky. Kuryakyn makes a tie-down point (part # 928) that you can bolt on to your front forks that doesn't look too bad (see pic).  I've been thinking about adding a set to my bike.

[hdnik]

I have the same bike and have always tied down to the handlebars.  i have these fuzzy-soft wraps that go around the straps, so the strap doesn't actually touch anything - just the fuzzy-soft wrap.  I've tied down this way many times with no problems...and I'm extremely picky. Kuryakyn makes a tie-down point (part # 928) that you can bolt on to your front forks that doesn't look too bad (see pic).  I've been thinking about adding a set to my bike.

How do you keep the back end secure? They said to hit the rear boads but I have pegs and strap slide off. Prefer not doing the wheel in case of scuffing. Swing arm seems too low. Bag support too weak. Not sure what to do

[Vyscera]

we covered this pretty well here

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=70133.msg976682#msg976682

[sawyerghost]

I just purchased the Tie Down Brackets from the new items introduced into HARLEY SPRING parts book.
These I thought would work well, with the varied towing options you may find out for this trip.
Sawyerghost

[Midnight Rider]

The main reason not to use the handlebars for a tie down point is that it can break them.  It has happened.

[hdnik]

we covered this pretty well here

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=70133.msg976682#msg976682

This is from that thread:

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.
Reply from other member:
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.

I think this is the way to go. This is the same way hotrods/racecars are towed now... by control arm or with tire cradles so that the suspension is un-compressed and the risk of accidentally loosening the tie downs under hard braking is avoided. Everything stays tight.

[Fxr4Rider]

This is from that thread:

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.
Reply from other member:
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.

I think this is the way to go. This is the same way hotrods/racecars are towed now... by control arm or with tire cradles so that the suspension is un-compressed and the risk of accidentally loosening the tie downs under hard braking is avoided. Everything stays tight.

I agree. Just above the the forks, between the forks and the fender and two at the back. i just brought mine 1000 miles like this and it did not budge an inch. As well i hit some nasty washboard roads and all was well.

Another bad thing about the handle bars is the fact they are not very strong and can snap off.

[Skillet]

I just purchased the Tie Down Brackets from the new items introduced into HARLEY SPRING parts book.
These I thought would work well, with the varied towing options you may find out for this trip.
Sawyerghost

Do you have a part number for those brackets?

[sawyerghost]

Part Number is 9350006.

[Skillet]

Part Number is 9350006.

Thanks

[WestCoastRuss]

A zero is missing.  93500006

[tazmun]

Please look at how the "factory" ties them down! Look at posts from SSB on his
new SERGC. My stealer always uses the crash bars, just like the factory!

We just brought back a new SERGU from NC, to WI the same way..........No problems!

Just saying!!!

Taz

[SBB]

Please look at how the "factory" ties them down! Look at posts from SSB on his
new SERGC. My stealer always uses the crash bars, just like the factory!

We just brought back a new SERGU from NC, to WI the same way..........No problems!

Just saying!!!

Taz

Just went back and looked at what my buddy Taz was speaking about.
Here's another picture showing where Harley ties their bikes down.
Thank Taz!

SBB

[mark]

How do you keep the back end secure? They said to hit the rear boads but I have pegs and strap slide off. Prefer not doing the wheel in case of scuffing. Swing arm seems too low. Bag support too weak. Not sure what to do

I have not found a perfect way to secure the rear on a SG.  Basically at the rear you just need something to keep the back end from moving left to right in the event you hit a bump hard enough to bounce the rear end up.  I didn't think this would be a problem on an 800+ lb. bike, but my buddy had this happen on his SG because the rear wasn't secured).  I have used the chrome bag supports, but depending on where your rear tie-down point is, you may run into the strap hitting the bag.  Option two is to run a strap thru the rear wheel.  If doing this, I'd heavily wrap the strap in a towel to ensure the strap didn't saw into the wheel.