Transporting a SH
 

I'm hauling my bike in the back of a truck from Michigan to North Carolina. Should I turn the gas off and run the fuel out of the carbs? Or just leave it as is?

and disconnect the battery.

Please -Please -Please use the correct straps, to properly secure the bike in the truck..
Hopefully NO rachet straps...

What are the correct straps? Any suggestions on how to properly strap it down?

Thanks
Cody

Canyon dancer harness or any of the copies is a good option to secure it... Then make sure to compress the fork a little when you tie it down, otherwise it will wiggle loose... And any variation on "soft" surface tiedowns for the rear end so you can tie without damaging the surface...

If you can, stabilise the rear end with two straps in the foot pegs, pulling
on each side. As for the front, once again, two straps are the best, through the tripple tree pulling on each side. You must remember one thing, DO NO OVER TIGHTEN THE FRONT END, the shocks must be free to move up/down just as if it was being ridden on the road. Failing to do this, you will blow the seals.

Some other suggestions will be offered, and some don't like this method, but I've done it this way all the time, problem free.

Agreed, straps to each side makes it less likely to move than one across... I usually add a strap looped around the wheel as well, to keep the wheel from sliding out under the bike...

And yes, the fork should not be fully compressed, somewhere in the middle, like it would with you sitting on the bike... To much, and you blow seals, to little and the bike will wiggle the straps of as it moves... Also, not that obvious, but doing it this way, make sure to have the stand up, as it will probably be bent otherwise, as the bike can and will move a little... And it doesn't really help in any way to have it down...

I always get a good fuzzy feeling when Tweety backs up what I say...

:cheers:

Do you have a wheel chock? This is a strong cheap option. Economy Motorcycle Wheel Chock

You can also go with soft ties on the lower triple. Way cheaper and avoids the fairing rub. I have 11 yrs of traveling to races using them and ratchet tie downs (some naysay them) but they make it way easier to sinch down.

I never touch the bike as far as carbs or battery. Sometimes I take trips in the van, then yank out the bike to ride it for a day then throw it back & continue on.

You should cover it and disc lock or padlock it to avoid being a victim of theft on the trip. If they cant see it they rarely want to steal it.

(I have had my whole van stolen with the bike in it and it sucks)

Ok thanks alot guys

If you're not using them, what do you use?

Me and everyone I know uses ratchet straps (for years...)?? I use the canyon dancer on the bars to ratchet straps on each end, compress forks a little then one on each passenger peg. Never had any issues, trips are over 4 hours long. And I leave gas/battery alone.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...7/DSC03572.jpg

Just like this:
Attachment 24089

Those are not ratchet straps mentioned earlier on the rear, hard to tell what you have up front. IMHO canyon dancers just mess up your grips. I use soft ties around lower Triple trees and then normal motorcycle (Ancra brand) straps. Two up front and two in the back.

Ratchet Straps ( not for me) http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratche...FQWonQodwDoArA

Motorcycle Tie-Down straps (what I use) with soft ties http://www.directcycleparts.com/tool...ue-p-3652.html


Best of both worlds Tie-Down style with soft-tie loop built in. http://www.motosport.com/dirtbike/BI...TED-SOFT-HOOKS

That 2nd pic was just a google search to show where and how....

To each his own I guess, whatever works for you. (I say po-tate-o BTW lol)

Canyon-Dancer-Bar-Harness-II

I hope this link works. It is to canyon dancer II at Motorcycle Superstore. Doesn't mess up grips.

Just put your bike in the truck. No need to disconnect battery or fuel. Lock it to the bed with a big chain or cable. Use the Canyon Dancer with tie downs to the corner of the bed. If you are worried about the front tire slipping side to side, block it in with a couple 2x4s from each side of the bed. Use tie downs, ratchet or not, doesn't matter. Use the passenger peg brackets to tie down the rear. Ratchets actually work well to load down the back.

Have fun on your trip.

I've trucked my bike WA to CA several times this way