Loading on a trailer

[PhilSB]

I have just bought a collapsible (not while the bike is on it I hope) bike trailer. It's a Motolug - http://www.bikelug.myzen.co.uk/erol.html
Has anyone any advice/experience to offer? I have loaded the bike on it to try it out and I'm quite happy that it will do the job. It's a hefty piece of work! I should have taken a photo but didn't think about it.
The front wheel is held in a shoe/chock thingy and will just hold the bike upright while ratchet tie down straps are attached. I attached a strap round the fork leg above where the cross support/suspension mount is. Does this seem OK to you guys? I've heard tell using the handlebars isn't recommended.
For the rear, a strap round the tube frame near pillion footpegs or there abouts I think would do. I will tie/strap the bottom of the wheel to the chassis/bike holder so it doesn't bounce upwards.
The only slight concern is that the straps fix down to the axle tube/wheel mount which is in line with the middle of the bike. So front strap goes slightly towards rearward and the rear strap goes forward, if you can picture this. I would prefer the straps down at a right angle to the bike but this can't be done without making a cross strut fixed to the longtitudinal chassis/bike holder.
I think belt and braces are called for here or I will have even more grey hairs than I already have. I'm taking the bike up to County Durham and the north Pennines where there are some beautiful biking roads. I will have my touring caravan up there which makes it difficult to get the bike there at the same time.

Any advice would be appreciated.

regards
Phil

[websterize]

Check out page 75 of the owner's manual. BMW says handlebars are OK to use. And they say to compress equally the fore and aft springs as much as possible.

[Chop96]

I'll be loading my bike onto a trailer later this week for the trip to D.C. I've read p. 75 and still have a question that's not addressed in the owner's manual. It says to attach the front tiedowns to the handlebars but to thread them along the fork legs then through the forward part of the telelever arm then forward diagonally to the tiedown points in the trailer. Got it.

My question: That routing looks great on the right side of the bike, but on the left it looks like the steering dampener will be in the way where the tiedown would bend/damage the dampener as tension is applied. Anyone have any experience running tiedowns per the owner's manual in a way that doesn't damage the steering dampener? If not in a way per the manual, how did you do it?

[Faylo]

For the type of trailer Phil has I would want to attach the rear straps up high on the bike down to the outriggers. These straps would then compress the rear suspension as tight as can be. The front wheel is then strapped securly to the rail. Make sure and compress the rear suspension fully! Otherwise, road bumps will bounce the bike and the straps may come loose or disconnect completely.
Hope this helps!
- Jim

[redwing]

Hey All... I have little experience putting a bike on a trailer or in the bed of a pickup. So... the trailer seems to have the ties almost at the wheels and I thought the ties should be a foot or two to the side of the bike at the front and rear. Is this trailer stable for carrying the bike??

Robert

[Faylo]

From what I can see on the trailer's web page, there are outriggers to the rear and it is out on these that I believe the tie down is connected. Opposite what is done on a standard motorcycle trailer where the bike is secured from the front compressing the front suspension and lashing the rear wheel. With this one, you would compress the rear suspension and lash the front wheel.
-Jim

[Chop96]

I'll be loading my bike onto a trailer later this week for the trip to D.C. I've read p. 75 and still have a question that's not addressed in the owner's manual. It says to attach the front tiedowns to the handlebars but to thread them along the fork legs then through the forward part of the telelever arm then forward diagonally to the tiedown points in the trailer. Got it.

My question: That routing looks great on the right side of the bike, but on the left it looks like the steering dampener will be in the way where the tiedown would bend/damage the dampener as tension is applied. Anyone have any experience running tiedowns per the owner's manual in a way that doesn't damage the steering dampener? If not in a way per the manual, how did you do it?

I think I may need to clarify my question. I'm going to be loading my bike on a standard trailer, not the collapsable single-tray kind the OP is using. So, in my case, front tiedowns will route forward as "normal" for a motorcycle trailer and need enough tension to compress the front suspension.

For those that have trailered your bike using a trailer with standard tiedown points (front ones go forward) how did you route the front tiedowns?

[Faylo]

Greg,
I haven't loaded an R on a trailer, but over the years, I have loaded most everything else. I wouldn't hesitate to go direct from the handlebar to the tie down points on a standard rail type motorcycle trailer. Just make sure the straps don't contact the gas tank. It is quite wide at front and that is the only reason I can see why BMW would say to route down the fork legs. Once you have the front suspension fully compressed, the bike isn't going anywhere. If you are ever going to leave a bike on a trailer overnight or for an extended period of time, loosen up the front straps until you are ready to move again. I would also lash the rear wheel to the trailer rail to keep it from bouncing out on a big bump.
Hope this helps.
-Jim

[Chop96]

Jim - Thanks, I was probably going to end up doing exactly that, but after reading the manual I figured I'd ask how to actually do it the 'correct' German way first.

[Chop96]

And for others, here's a thread I found when searching for something else completely unrelated... though the title refers to chocks, there's a lot about tiedowns with some pictures too.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13498

I think I need to refine my searching skills...

[Chop96]

Move complete, and bike successfully transported with no issues. Because the owner's manual seems to conflict with the design of the bike (steering dampener in the way), I decided to post some pics of how I tied the bike down onto the trailer.

I used the handlebars up front and the area just above the passenger footpegs in the rear with soft-ties and racheting tie downs on all four corners. Since I don't have my own trailer, this is the U-haul 5x9 open trailer.

One bit of caution if you think you want to rent one of these: the U-Haul website states this trailer has a built-in motorcycle chock and it has replaced the 'motorcycle trailer' in their inventory. Ummm, well, not quite. My 5x9 didn't have a built-in chock and needless to say I was a just a bit unhappy when I found that. The trailer guy tried to find one of the 'new' ones (have a 'K' suffix on the trailer number) only to be told by the 'trailer dispatcher' that there were none of those in the area and they would only allow the old motorcycle trailers to be used on 'local moves.' Well, I decided to make lemonade with those lemons and after a quick stop at the local motorcycle shop for an "item," Home Depot for a few small "items," and about 10 minutes of labor I had a trailer I was comfortable using.

Front: soft ties around inside bend of handlebars, tiedown forward and out. The tiedown points were positioned so I didn't have to worry about any contact with the tank; plenty of clearance.






Rear:

[Faylo]

Good work Greg. Did you make some sort of chock for front wheel?
-Jim

[PhilSB]

I have made my first journey with my trailer without any problems. I used three ratchet strapdowns on each side, one fixed around the front fork tube, one around the centre of the handlebars near the clamps and the rear one to the frame above the pillion peg frame , near the seat. I compressed the suspension quite a bit. It seemed to ride well so I am pleased with everything.
Sorry I didn't take pictures and it was dark when I arrived at my destination. I'll take some piccies next week when I return it home.

Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated.

[redwing]

PhilSB... How far did you trailer your bike and were the roads smooth or bumpy??? How long was the suspension compressed?

Robert