Bar harness vs. Soft straps?

Which do you guys prefer for strapping down the handlebars to a truck?

I prefer the Canyon Dancer harness for trailer use... Don't have experience with using them in the back of a pick-up though. The length of your tie-downs may come into play as the harness loops do extend down from the clip-ons a good bit. I have found that when using the harness on my trailer some ratchet straps will not work.

BTW... Just as a warning, you will probably get as many opinions on this subject as you would a steering damper or motor oil thread.

pvc over the grips to prevent grips from tearing and sliding?

next time i trailer i am going to try softstrapping the lower triple.

Yup, you'll likely get many different opinions! I like soft ties around the lower triple tree (I think that's what you'd call it...not the top one by the clip ons, but the one below it). This may not work in a truck, depending on where the tie down points are, as the ties may rub the bodywork. The Canyon Dancer will probably work best, but they do mess up the grips. If you use it, just make sure that it's positioned in a way that doesn't press on your turn signal button, horn, or starter button. I've never tried wrapping soft ties around the grips. If you're going to wrap something around the grips, go with the Canyon Dancer.

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Yup, you'll likely get many different opinions! I like soft ties around the lower triple tree (I think that's what you'd call it...not the top one by the clip ons, but the one below it). This may not work in a truck, depending on where the tie down points are, as the ties may rub the bodywork. The Canyon Dancer will probably work best, but they do mess up the grips. If you use it, just make sure that it's positioned in a way that doesn't press on your turn signal button, horn, or starter button. I've never tried wrapping soft ties around the grips. If you're going to wrap something around the grips, go with the Canyon Dancer.

That sounds so dirty when you say it.

Originally Posted by GhostRider

That sounds so dirty when you say it.

[ConqSoft]

I used the Canyon Dancer and it did fine. But, I switched to the lower triple method:


(Near the bottom)
http://www.cbrxx.org/gallery/events_dealsgap_040203

[luvtolean]

I hate canyon dancers, but they work for some, and if the need arose, I'd use mine again.

I recently got some "D-Straps" from a friend recently. They're pretty trick, caribiners on the ends instead of hooks. The end that attaches to the bike has a length of strap (with a loop on the end) you wrap around the bars, triples, whatever and then click the caribiner in the loop. It's like a built in soft strap. I really like them. I couldn't find a link.

http://www.cbrxx.org/albums/events_d...dium.thumb.jpg

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

I used the Canyon Dancer and it did fine. But, I switched to the lower triple method:

I set my ties like you, all pulling forward into the chock.

I'm kinda wondering if my accident last fall may have been prevented by adding a third set of ties to pull backwards so that the tension on the forward pulling ties could have been more constant...

Canyon Dancer didn't damage my grips but it did pull them up so that my throttle wouldn't close on its own once when getting ready for a track day. Had to pull the grip back down away from the switch gear. Although the Canyon Dancer is really easy I think I'd use soft straps if possible.

Thanks for the advise. I think I'll do the setup as such:
Install an anchor in the center of the bed toward the cab, and one in the center close to the tailgate. (because I want to haul 2 sportbikes in my Dodge Ram)
I'll use 4 straps per motorcycle. I'll try soft-ties to the lower triple clamps, and soft-ties where the passanger pegs are.
I'll not be using any chocks in the truck.

if the soft-ties rub the bodywork where the triple clamps are, I'll try the canyon bar straps.

I've talked to some other friends, and they think that would work.

Let me know what you think.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by figment

I'm kinda wondering if my accident last fall may have been prevented by adding a third set of ties to pull backwards so that the tension on the forward pulling ties could have been more constant...

Everything I ever read or listened to said to use the forward points on all four, like Conq illustrates, and that's what I have always done. But the issue of Sport Rider that had the tie-down comparo said to go rearward with the rear straps.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by benchj

Thanks for the advise. I think I'll do the setup as such:
Install an anchor in the center of the bed toward the cab, and one in the center close to the tailgate. (because I want to haul 2 sportbikes in my Dodge Ram)
I'll use 4 straps per motorcycle. I'll try soft-ties to the lower triple clamps, and soft-ties where the passanger pegs are.
I'll not be using any chocks in the truck.

if the soft-ties rub the bodywork where the triple clamps are, I'll try the canyon bar straps.

I've talked to some other friends, and they think that would work.

Let me know what you think.

So the outside straps would go to the bedrails? You may run into trouble using the soft-ties up front if that's the case, but the Canyon Dancer will work. Make sure those anchor bolts in the bed floor are hell-for-stout, and backed with more than just a flimsy washer under the nut. I'd use a small plate of aluminum under the bed to reinforce it.

There's a thread around here somewhere where I posted a link to a product that you mount on the front edge of your truck's bed, that has tie-down points and grooves for your front tire. You might want to try a search for it. If you can't find the post and are interested in it, let me know, I'll find it for you.

Originally Posted by Pete

Everything I ever read or listened to said to use the forward points on all four, like Conq illustrates, and that's what I have always done. But the issue of Sport Rider that had the tie-down comparo said to go rearward with the rear straps.

I'm thinking about it this way: Since all the force is forward, when the bike moves due to a bit of suspension compression/etc, the ties could be slaked and the bike jerked forward. This forward motion and tension release could be enough to release the friction-hold of the tie. With a bit of constant rearward pull by a rear-ward tie, the forward compression could not happen...or would be greatly reduced.

Originally Posted by figment

I'm thinking about it this way: Since all the force is forward, when the bike moves due to a bit of suspension compression/etc, the ties could be slaked and the bike jerked forward. This forward motion and tension release could be enough to release the friction-hold of the tie. With a bit of constant rearward pull by a rear-ward tie, the forward compression could not happen...or would be greatly reduced.

Umm, no. Thats not how it works. All straps should pull into the chock. They should have about the same angle as the forks with some compression of the suspension, moreso in the front but by no means anywhere near bottomed out. If you pull to the back, the bike will roll back and possibly hop up out of the chock...

I have seen so many Canyon Dancers screw up grips that I would never use them. Good idea, just dosent work so well.

Check this out...
http://www.fireblades.org/photopost/...cat=500&page=1

Originally Posted by CBRBob

Umm, no. Thats not how it works. All straps should pull into the chock. They should have about the same angle as the forks with some compression of the suspension, moreso in the front but by no means anywhere near bottomed out. If you pull to the back, the bike will roll back and possibly hop up out of the chock...

I have seen so many Canyon Dancers screw up grips that I would never use them. Good idea, just dosent work so well.

Check this out...
http://www.fireblades.org/photopost/...cat=500&page=1

are you drunk?

Originally Posted by figment

are you drunk?

No. If you have all the ties pulling forward into the chock and all the force is forward, if there is any motion such as suspension compression etc. it would still be in a forward motion, making the bike push HARDER into the chock. It wouldnt loosen the pressure. Besides, good tie downs dont hold just by tesnion on the strap, the cam buckle has knurles and is spring loaded. The tension just makes it even tighter. If you loosen the tension it dosent let go.

[Pete]

You're both wrong.

I tie down my bike with just two tiedown straps. Woiks like a charm.

[Red Rider]

Being somewhat A-R when it comes to trailering my bike, I use six straps. Two straps pulling forward from the Canyon Dancer, two more straps pulling forward from the engine mounts (great idea, HG/HG2!), and a third set of straps around the rear wheel pulling rearward. The straps on the rear wheel help keep the back end of the bike from sliding around and it lets me take some of the load off the forward pulling straps.

Works for me...