How to secure a bike on bike a trailer

[GB145]

I've got myself a bike trailer and was just wondering if anyone had any tips on the best way to tie the bike down. I've got some handlebar ratchet straps and some just normal ratchet straps but where is the best place to attach the normal ratchet straps to the bike and how tight should should I pull them down so I don't damage anything. The bike is a GSXR 600 in case this helps.

Any pics would be helpful, just want to make sure its properly secured as the roads around here are a bit rough.

Grant

[Nickccc]

Try to attach the main strap over the seat sideways then to your trailer frame.
Compress the front suspension as you tighten down then it can’t loosen off as the bike should not be able to move up and down.
Also get the front brake on somehow a bit of Velcro round the grip activating the brake.
Always use some sort of protection for the bike to stop chaffing.
The handle bar straps work well, the frame of the trailer should have some lugs or eyelets for attaching the straps.
Nick.

[black-k1]

A few years ago a group of us shipped 5 bikes on a trailer down to the South of France for a few days hooning. I did a bit of investigation into how to strap the bikes down and was advised that you are best off with 4 tie down points.

Run one strap from each of the handlebars out and backwards (stops bike moving forwards). We used what I think are called scooter straps on the handlebars to ensure that there was a good anchor point that didn’t attempt to pull the grips off the bars.
Run a strap each side from where the rear sub frame meets the main frame out and forwards (stops the bike moving backwards).
Ensure any body work is protected and tighten straps so that the suspension is compressed to about the same position as when you sit on it.
If the wheels are not in a deep well, thus risk some possibility of moving sideways, then you may also want the secure them.

Hope that helps.

Edited by black-k1 on Wednesday 14th June 10:36

[GB145]

Thanks for the responces I had a quick play at putting it on and securing it last night and did it similar to BlackK1 apart form Handle bar straps to the front and back straps to the back as doing it this way the straps missed the bodywork. It seems reasonably secure but was unsure of how tight to pull the straps down. I presume the back straps can be wound down a bit more.

Grant

[black-k1]

We set the straps by putting them on initially with just enough weight to secure the bike, then sitting on the bike to compress the suspension. We then did the straps up to the point where they had just started to take a little suspension extra load. The bikes did then bounce a little when the trailer was moving but they didn’t move from their allocated position. (Just as well as with 5 bikes on one flat bed trailer there was not a lot of space between them.)

Edited by black-k1 on Wednesday 14th June 11:31

[fergus]

Nickccc said:

Try to attach the main strap over the seat sideways then to your trailer frame.
Compress the front suspension as you tighten down then it can’t loosen off as the bike should not be able to move up and down.
Also get the front brake on somehow a bit of Velcro round the grip activating the brake.
Always use some sort of protection for the bike to stop chaffing.
The handle bar straps work well, the frame of the trailer should have some lugs or eyelets for attaching the straps.
Nick.

Do not tie down your bike by running a strap over the seat. The bike can move sideways under load if you do this. Also it is best to secure via points on the frame to the trailer (e.g. rear subframe, rear sets, etc). Placing a lot of load on the front (i.e. tied down off the handlebars) can pop your fork seals as the bike is either tied down so tight the forks are very compressed, or it then bounces down when the trailer goes over a bump.....

Make sure that the anchor points aren't directly below the bike but are off to the side to give some support.

[chrissarjeant]

Cable ties are good for the front brake and just gives a bit more security as your not depending on the straps entirely when you are braking etc.Also its meant to help the brakes as it gets rid of the small air bubbles ,Don't know if this is true though

[s2ooz]

I put one strap along the front forks, and over the yoke, and back down. the rear I do one from each rear foot peg Y's but with enough spare strap to go across the footpegs over the wheel. I strap diagonally to avoid side shift.