I was always told to merely strap down the front forks and winch them down well - and check their tension often and at every stop - of course without the use of ANY stand(s). The rear wheels were never off of the ground, but while trailering two bikes on the same trailer which was really a bit too tight for them, the only additional thing I recall doing was screwing a pair of small 2X4's or whatever wood I had around up against each side of each bike's rear wheels - I did this because the heads were so close and the bikes needed offset some in order for them not to bang each other up, it seemed a goad precaution to keep them from moving laterally any on the trailer and banging each other up.
I should have mentioned at the top, I am speaking of early SWB /5 bikes, not the earlier Earles forks on older bikes. I saw Duane mention the bike should essentially ride as it would with a rider on it when properly tethered. If I had to guess, while the rear wheel never left the trailer and the bike just stood there with stands up as if it were taking a ride on a straight road, I am wondering now, there likely is a limit to how tight one should/or need winch the forks down isn't there? This current bike with such low miles, obviously was put away for many years (likely after a front end crash as it had a metal generic fender up front...) I am wondering for future reference; compressing the forks say half way, is that adequate? Or should one pull them all the way down to rest on the rubber bumpers inside?
I'll wait for comments before I fess up to anything.
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Thanks everyone in advance.
dwire