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Sorry, Tim, but it's not about any of the things you mentioned. If you can't do anything about it, then you can't. But, the problem is not the rope strength or the tie points. The problem is that the ropes are not attached securely to the bike. Although they are wrapped around the bike in a lot of places, that does not immobilize the bike since the bike can shift around in the "tie" points where the rope wraps around the frame instead of being tied to the frame. Basically, if those ropes hold the bike up, then there will have been very little need for the ropes at all. We (you) are just going to have to hope that the fork lift is gentle on both the loading and unloading ends.

Hopefully all will be well.

Rear wheel off the surface? One never ever transports a bike that way. The bike must be tied down just as it rides down the road, which is a straight line and not on a stand. Never tie one down with the wheel turned if the forks are telescopic.

Basically, you want the bike to encounter the exact same forces (bumps) as if it is riding down the road.

Never mind Tim, I don't give a fuck either.

ME 109 wrote:Never mind Tim, I don't give a fuck either.

I don't think Tim was saying he doesn't give a fuck. He just can't do anything about it now.

Do they teach Eagle Scouts how to tie down motorcycles? My son is a scout (not an Eagle Scout though) and I don't recall a "tying down motorcycles" merit badge.

OK, here's question for the curmudgeonly collective: The bike in question has no side stand. What's the best way to secure it? I just called the shipping company and they said I can redo the tie down.

Steve in Golden wrote:

ME 109 wrote:Never mind Tim, I don't give a fuck either.

I don't think Tim was saying he doesn't give a fuck. He just can't do anything about it now.

Do they teach Eagle Scouts how to tie down motorcycles? My son is a scout (not an Eagle Scout though) and I don't recall a "tying down motorcycles" merit badge.

Thanks Steve, when I mentioned the Eagle Scouts, "tying down motorcycles" was knot my in tension. I assumed they would know how to do some of the knots others have mentioned

Tim Shepherd wrote:OK, here's question for the curmudgeonly collective: The bike in question has no side stand. What's the best way to secure it? I just called the shipping company and they said I can redo the tie down.

Immobilize the wheels on the floor by tying clove hitches (Google it) around the wheel/tire at floor level with tails long enough to reach the anchor points on either side. Cinch these up as tight as you can. This is where the bowline (Google it) halfway from anchor to bike helps increase your mechanical advantage. Now you need to secure the head stock in a similar manner with bowlines, clove hitches, etc. I would lead these lines aft (rear) to anchors either side of the bike. Ditto for the seat area with the lines led forward. Now the bike should be immobile side to side and fore/aft. You might have to balance the bike with the head stock lines first, rig up the other lines and cinch them up together. I hope I remembered accurately your picture that used to be in this post, but this procedure I have used for trailering (I can hear you) is basically the same for all bikes.

curmudgeon

I know what a cur is, but what is a mudgeon?

Native /5 wrote:
I know what a cur is, but what is a mudgeon?

It's a knot.

Native /5 wrote: I know what a cur is, but what is a mudgeon?

It's the thing the cur is afraid to bite cause it's meaner than him.


Tim, Native's info is all great, but the most idiot proof solution (no insult intended) is to use nylon strap tiedowns, and only run from tie-point to bike, not tie-point to bike to another tie-point as you did. This demands no Scout-like knot-tying skills. You put the bike on the sidestand as you start, but eventually you get to the point where the bike is held up entirely by the tie-downs (combined with the fact that they are shoving the front wheel into that corner), and you put the stand up.

Major Softie wrote:

Native /5 wrote: I know what a cur is, but what is a mudgeon?

It's the thing the cur is afraid to bite cause it's meaner than him.

Tim, Native's info is all great, but the most idiot proof solution (no insult intended) is to use nylon strap tiedowns, and only run from tie-point to bike, not tie-point to bike to another tie-point as you did. This demands no Scout-like knot-tying skills. You put the bike on the sidestand as you start, but eventually you get to the point where the bike is held up entirely by the tie-downs (combined with the fact that they are shoving the front wheel into that corner), and you put the stand up.

He said he doesn't have a sidestand on that bike. So he might need someone to hold it up while it is being tied down.