Strapping it down

[SanMan]

I want to set up my 1200LT to pull behind my motorhome. I have a trailer but am not sure of the best places to strap down the bike. Anyone have any experience with this? I have a chock and the trailer has a back gate but I am still going to need to do some securing with straps and don't want to damage the bike. Any help would be appreciated.

Thx,
Scott

[tsBMWminer]

Scott check this thread out

http://tinyurl.com/lr44w

[Hog]

Scott: Check this out www.wheeldock.com best trailer investment i ever made. Makes loading and un-loading the LT a snap.

[oknplm]

I want to set up my 1200LT to pull behind my motorhome. I have a trailer but am not sure of the best places to strap down the bike. Anyone have any experience with this? I have a chock and the trailer has a back gate but I am still going to need to do some securing with straps and don't want to damage the bike. Any help would be appreciated.

Thx,
Scott

There is not a lot of places to safely connect to. Here is the official BMW information.

May we never find the end of the road!

oknplm

Perry Ridgway

[hschisler]

There is not a lot of places to safely connect to. Here is the official BMW information.This is excellent info. Thank you. Where can I find the procedure doc referred to in this PDF? The time for me to trailer my LT will be here soon some day and I'd like to do it right.

[SanMan]

Thank everyone very much. Very helpful. I love this site. It has some of the most helpful people I have seen anywhere on the internet.

Did a search but came up empty so I called a dealer and he told me to get the Canyon Dancer. After further review I see you do not want to strap to the handlebars. Some people might use this method but after looking at the set up I would not feel comfortable doing so. I wonder now if I should let him do the next service on my bike. That is a fairly important fact in my mind.
Thanks again.

Scott

[SanMan]

Hog,

I ordered that wheeldock. That is a sweet looking item. I will feel 100% better with that on my trailer. Thanks a lot.

Scott

[oknplm]

[QUOTE=oknplm]There is not a lot of places to safely connect to. Here is the official BMW information.{/QUOTE]This is excellent info. Thank you. Where can I find the procedure doc referred to in this PDF? The time for me to trailer my LT will be here soon some day and I'd like to do it right.

I originally received this information from my dealer, and it has been posted on this board a number of times. I keep a copy with me in the event I need road assistance from an unfamiliar towing vendor. I have no idea where the other referred to document is? I will tell you that it is important to not over compress your shocks for extended periods. Tighten straps enough to stop excessive movement but not to the point you over compress your shock. If you have never trailered a m/c before, and each setup is usually different, check it frequently till you get comfortable. The wheel choke will be a major plus in securing the LT

May we never find the end of the road!

oknplm

Perry Ridgway

[wilbar00c]

I will tell you that it is important to not over compress your shocks for extended periods. Tighten straps enough to stop excessive movement but not to the point you over compress your shock. If you have never trailered a m/c before, and each setup is usually different, check it frequently till you get comfortable. The wheel choke will be a major plus in securing the LT

Perry Ridgway

Perry, just want to point out that we do not compress the front shock on the LT, and maybe just a tad on the rear since we only tie down from the rear tube area, and the front struts by the top of the fender. My .02 on the chock systems is that the straps should hold the 850# beast from side to side movement. The chock is to stop forward motion. The front wheel bearings will be in the load path if one uses a wheel chock that grabs both sides of the tire and holds if firm. Fine in the garage but questionable rocking and bouncing down the road, since the bearings are not rotating.

[oknplm]

Perry, just want to point out that we do not compress the front shock on the LT, and maybe just a tad on the rear since we only tie down from the rear tube area, and the front struts by the top of the fender. My .02 on the chock systems is that the straps should hold the 850# beast from side to side movement. The chock is to stop forward motion. The front wheel bearings will be in the load path if one uses a wheel chock that grabs both sides of the tire and holds if firm. Fine in the garage but questionable rocking and bouncing down the road, since the bearings are not rotating.

I fully agree with what you are saying. My comment about over compressing shocks while transporting was a generic comment. I have trailered both dirt and street m/c's and own a three rail m/c trailer. I have seen many situations were shocks have been damaged because individuals have strapped their m/c too tight. I have even seen one time where a LT was secured by the handlebars (big mistake). Prolonged heavy compress can result in damaging a shock or frame component. Straps should be just tight enough to restrict movement and not to the point it can damage your m/c. The person who was asking for information appeared to have no experience on trailering m/c's so I was sharing some common mistakes people make securing any m/c for transport. This is my second LT and I am fully aware of the front paralever suspension. The main concern on securing the front end is not damaging the fender or brake line and as you stated restricting side to side movement.

May we never find the end of the road!

oknplm

Perry Ridgway