how to tie down a bike (pics)

[sportrider]

for anyone who hasn't had to load a bike into a truck and secure it for the road. this can be done by yourself, but its a lot easier with someone to help!!!
Ideally you'll have a ramp made for a street bike, I use an aluminum folding dirtbike ramp.( they are NOT rated for the weight of a streetbike but I've never had a problem, so if you try one use at your own risk!!!) once the bike is in the truck, you'll need to secure it, the best way to do this is with a Canyon Dancer this will give you good tie down points on the bike, without damaging your fairing. here are some pictures showing my bike loaded in my truck.

[fz6xlr8r]

That Canyon Dancer is pretty cool. I's has to gets me one o dose.

[sportrider]

ya I though so, they cost $29.99 and I think its worth every penny!!!
look at it this way $29.99 is a lot cheaper then the cost of replacing a cracked fairing or the cost if the bike fell out of the truck!!

[besier]

FYI! I have a similar device, just make sure that the clamps holding the handle bar to the suspension are tight. I had to trailer my new bike from the dealer, and when I got home my handle bars were pulled right down to the tank and straps were loose. Origionally I thought the handle bars were bent, thankfully they just twisted in the clamp, and the straps didn't fall off during transport.

[bd43]

When I brought mine home from the dealership, this is how they tied it down. It must've worked cause I drove 300km without incident.

[wrightme43]

Sorry Danny, the red one has to slow your truck down. The blue one makes the truck faster. Its just common sense. LOL

[sportrider]

Originally Posted by wrightme43

Sorry Danny, the red one has to slow your truck down. The blue one makes the truck faster. Its just common sense. LOL

even if you were right about the color thing(which your not) now your starting the whole FORD thing???
my ford could have two blue bikes in it and still out pull your________(fill in the blank.)

[DefyInertia]

I have never sprung for the canyon dancer but most people recommend them.

I use my uncaged sliders up front and my passenger footpegs out back; I also lock the stearing column with the front tire against the front of the bed and kill the engine in 1st to lock the rear wheel. I've logged over 7,000 miles like this...I've even put two FZ6's in the back of my Tacoma!

Oh yeah, I use a ~3.5' wide alum. ramp supplimented by a 2x10x8.

Pics --

[gr8eyes]

The Canyon Dancer is great for our bikes because of the tubular steel bars. If you use it on a bike with cast bars you need to be careful not to cinch the straps down too hard. Cast bars have been known to break with the Canyon Dancer. What I do is put soft ties around the lower triple clamp and strap from ther on each side then use the C.D. more for stability. Not really pulling down hard on the CD.

Glenn

[DrBart2]

Originally Posted by sportrider_fz6

for anyone who hasn't had to load a bike into a truck and secure it for the road. this can be done by yourself, but its a lot easier with someone to help!!!
Ideally you'll have a ramp made for a street bike, I use an aluminum folding dirtbike ramp.( they are NOT rated for the weight of a streetbike but I've never had a problem, so if you try one use at your own risk!!!) once the bike is in the truck, you'll need to secure it, the best way to do this is with a Canyon Dancer this will give you good tie down points on the bike, without damaging your fairing. here are some pictures showing my bike loaded in my truck.

What bag is that on the back of your bike, and where did you get it? It looks good on there.