How to tie down and trailer your K9

Energy One

Ernie12

Active Member
I am sure lots of you guys have put your K9 on a trailer and had to tie it down. I have put mine on a trailer twice now once to get it home and then to a shop where it is now.

I have tried both ways to tie it down, from the top in the triple tree and down by the fender. I bought a pair of tankstraps.com and they are strong straps and they have a video when they tie all of their motorcycles down where the fender bolts on to the tubes.

When I bolted the K9 down from the top it compressed the tubes a few inches but still held ok the hour drive home and it did not hurt the tube seals this time.

When I took it to the shop I tied it down like the guys do in the video by where the fender bolts to the tubes and it held much tighter and was much stiffer. When I got it to the shop the mechanic said he would not tie it down by the where the fender bolts to the tube because the bolts are not very long.

So what are your experiences with trailering a K9?
 

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
I've been told, that regardless of where you use, all straps should pull down and forward into the chock point.
It provides safety when a strap breaks -- nothing is working against a strap.
So I usually use soft ties and strap to the triple tee's
Use the foot peg mounts in front as second set.
From the back I use pegs or frame (depends on size of hook on strap) and pull forward towards chock as well.

Everything I've towed strapped this way has always ridden well. Even when a strap let loose on a very bumpy road, bike simple leaned a hair to the one side till we could pull over and replace strap. (bad strap -- not one of mine!)
 

Ernie12

Active Member
Yikes I wouldn't use those bolts either just using the fender brackets to hold it down?

Lots of threads and pics on trailering these bikes on the forum. Here is two fairly recent ones, but a quick search will pull up a bunch!

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/threads/trailer-tie-down.81873/


http://www.bigdogbiker.com/threads/trailer-tie-down-points.77279/
Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
Wow there are so many different opinions. When I go to pic it up I will ask the mechanic to help me out since I am sure he has trailered 1000's of bikes and he is a certified BD mechanic.
 

TapioK

Well-Known Member

I just rode it up there, put 2 straps to pull the bike left and forward, off we took. It was only 120 miles though.... straps were on engine guard and swing arm. Was bit nervous...
 

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
You can use wooden blocks under the frame, I did it for years, but I just picked up a couple of these cheap jacks off of Amazon. Then I glued a 1/2'' thick piece of rubber to the top of it.
IMG_20190501_202852_resized_20190501_083124150.jpg
With the front wheel in a chock, and the jack under the rear of the frame, I put the straps around the frame at the battery box.
IMG_20190501_202838_resized_20190501_083126000.jpg
Mount your hooks in the floor slightly forward, but with more of a down pressure when tightening the straps.
Rock solid.
I have to load mine up tomorrow, I'll try to remember to take a picture.
 

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
You can use wooden blocks under the frame, I did it for years, but I just picked up a couple of these cheap jacks off of Amazon. Then I glued a 1/2'' thick piece of rubber to the top of it.
View attachment 64550
With the front wheel in a chock, and the jack under the rear of the frame, I put the straps around the frame at the battery box.
View attachment 64551
Mount your hooks in the floor slightly forward, but with more of a down pressure when tightening the straps.
Rock solid.
I have to load mine up tomorrow, I'll try to remember to take a picture.
Is that rubber or a chuck of eva foam (anti-fatigue floor mat)
 

knothead

Second Chance Customs
I do the same thing as shannon does....cheap little jacks....like 40 a piece on amazon or ebay... i put 1/8 rubbber on mine for clearance issues...i also use these on my lift table also and done away with the wheel chock....3 5/8 is my total height of my jacks with 1/8 rubber...20190502_092739.jpg Screenshot_20190502-092703_Gallery.jpg
 

knothead

Second Chance Customs
What i meant is i done away with the wheel chock on my lift table....i have wheel chocks in my trailer...thought i would clear that up incase someone was wondering
 

Badpit

Member
Never good to compress the front forks I believe there is another set up available but I can’t remember the name of it but it mounts to the frame of the motorcycle
 

Ernie12

Active Member
You should make a video putting that on your trailer and charge them. The problem is I don't have my own trailer yet. What kind of trailer do you have and what ramp do you use to put it on?

I forgot to add gorgeous bike.
 

Ernie12

Active Member
agreed they do work just need to lift the front tire a bit to help load it on. BikerBar is fucking bad ass

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
I wonder how it would hold up in a crash. I can see it now the trailer is upside down and the bike is still locked to the floor. LOL They would have a spike in sales.
 

bdm7250

Guru
Supporting Member
You should make a video putting that on your trailer and charge them. The problem is I don't have my own trailer yet. What kind of trailer do you have and what ramp do you use to put it on?

I forgot to add gorgeous bike.
Thanks, I try to keep it clean.. :oldlaugh:

It's actually my friends bike, and yes it really is a gorgeous bike, although it's just plain black... sorta gets lost in a sea of Hardley's.. :oldhardlaugh:
 
Top