Tips for transporting your dirtbikes

Howdy,

I wanted to share a tip: If you are transporting two bikes, use an extra strap to tie the two bikes together at the bars / grips. If you have full wrap hand guards (aka: Bark-Busters), that makes it very easy. If you don't, then just wrap the strap several times around one grip then over to the next, then back. Doing this will keep the bikes from leaning to the outside when turning.... which will happen no matter which "motorcycle bed bar" you use. See the pics below.... yellow strap on the bars.
Another tip: I always run a strap over the back tire(s) using the rear D-rings (near the tail gate). Very simple for one bike; If you have two bikes in the bed, put a cooler between the rear wheels to keep them from sliding inward, towards eachother.
Both of these tips help keep the bike(s) firmly in place while you travel to your destination.

I hope this helps.....

Jesse

 

nice

 

Another quick tip for the rear that I've found helpful is to wrap the strap around the tire. That way the rear can't bounce or move side to side. It would work with 2 bikes as well.

 

Exactly what I do.... That wrap around the tire "locks" it in position.

Thanks, as I left that out, thought it might be confusing to some without a picture.

Jesse

 

When I haul just my bike I put the front tire in the front left corner then move the rear tire in the right rear corner. Its diagnalled and doesn't budge on turns or bumps. Tailgate closes too. Simple and effective

 

Works great for one bike in a long bed Tacoma.

 

I replaced the hooks on the ends of my straps with mountain climbing grade carabiners. That way if you go on a bumpy road out to where you are going ride, the straps can't fall off and cause your bike to fall over. My riding buddie liked it so much that they all did the same.

 

That's a good idea! When I only have one bike on the diagonal in the bed (and having it fall over in the bed once due to bouncing) I now use a four point system for the forks. I have small soft straps to the handebars, and then I have two hooks go to the front bed loops, and then on the left side I take a strap and anchor it from the left handlebar soft loop to the rear bed d-ring. and then since the bike is on the diagonal I use one of the stock bed rail things to snug up the right side in a similar fashion (since the rear tire of the bike is blocking the rear right d-ring). I find this is very secure as in any direction there's one or more straps stabilizing the bike. I can rail around curvy mountain roads and the bike is extremely stable. I also find that it keeps the bike from pressuring the front of the bed a lot since each strap kind of counteracts the others; not that it matters that much.

You can see it here:

 

Did that in my Trailer. The other benefit is you won't need to cinch them down as much. The straps won't let loose and the bike and flex a little. Not too loose though, just don't need to get a lot of tension on the strap.

 

Another thing that a lot of people suggest is to stack a set of 2x4 blocks (glued together) under the frame of the bike, and cinch down the straps so the bike presses against your blocks. This prevents the suspension from bouncing, which is easier on the suspension of the bike and increases the security while hauling.

 

This...