Loading a GSA onto a Trailer - Any Advice

[flytoolow]

Well I think the title says it all really.

I have to trailer my 1150GSA back to Blightly for the first time and I don`t want the damn thing to fall off half way and go skidding past me on a french autoroute...

So Im looking for advice (and piccies if possible ) to show me what points to attach to the trailer, and where, and how.. should it be on the centre stand or not ? What are the best straps to use etc etc. :

Anyone ?

Cheers

John

 

[taminator]

Two people to guide it on, straps on the bars, pull it down so the suspension loads, rear end the same, put in gear, tie wrap the front brake lever so the front brake is on, and extra strap on the seat , put a towel on the seat to save it marking it, use ratchet straps, cheers tam.

 

[Paul Young]

Wot he said ^^^^^

 

[Grizzly]

Hi John,
I had to trailer my GS down to Gravesend last year for shipping out to New Zealand. I've attached a couple of pics of bike loaded ready to go.

It's not a bike trailer, so I screwed 4 batons of wood to floor to make sure it stayed central. As mentioned above, pull the bike down to part-compress the suspension

Must have been OK - it was a trip of over 500 miles - with no problems


Cheers...................Grizzly

 

[oblertone]

First ensure that the straps you are using have had the hooks replaced by carabiners, otherwise you run the risk of the hooks jumping out when you hit a bump. Proff (RIP) always insisted that loading the front suspension and chocking the front wheel was the 'proper' way of doing things, and it's always worked for me. I suppose it all depends on what you're strapping it to !?

 

[flatdog]

Hopefully Bear will be along to share his vast wisdom with you. He's pretty shy so don't do anything rash before he posts.


http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/365892-Fastening-GSA-onto-bike-trailer?highlight=Trailer

 

[Gargy]

I've always used a 'Bikegrab' on my trailer. You just push the bike in to it, and the bike stands up on it's own.

Strap down and compress the front forks, and the same for the rear end. Jobs a good un..... Hundreds of miles with no issues at all.

Don't know where you are, but your welcome to borrow my Bikegrab. I'm in Gloucester.

 

[boatman]

Not an 1150, but here's one I had on the trailer.
Put it on trailer, leave on side stand to start with , put ratchets on Side stand side first. Tighten till slack only is taken up, go to the high side , fit rackets ,and start to pull bike up level. Finish with machine straight up and no stand down .

Ps it was not upside down when I started

 

[Oldrat]

First ensure that the straps you are using have had the hooks replaced by carabiners, otherwise you run the risk of the hooks jumping out when you hit a bump. Proff (RIP) always insisted that loading the front suspension and chocking the front wheel was the 'proper' way of doing things, and it's always worked for me. I suppose it all depends on what you're strapping it to !?

Agreed. I've had hooks jump so now I always use carabiners.

 

[garry a]

When I put a bike in my van I put front wheel in to the front corner put it on sidestand strap it so it pulls down and forward.ive been doing same for 20 years I don't bother to strap the back but I Would on a trailer

 

[dr nosh]

Hi John,
I had to trailer my GS down to Gravesend last year for shipping out to New Zealand. I've attached a couple of pics of bike loaded ready to go.

It's not a bike trailer, so I screwed 4 batons of wood to floor to make sure it stayed central. As mentioned above, pull the bike down to part-compress the suspension

Must have been OK - it was a trip of over 500 miles - with no problems


Cheers...................Grizzly

Those strap hooks on the trailer hooks look like candidates ready to unhook too easily

 

[Grizzly]

Those strap hooks on the trailer hooks look like candidates ready to unhook too easily

I've never had an issue with them - but it's easy enough to fit a cable-tie diagonally over both hooks where they engage with each other to make sure they can't move?
It's worth bearing on mind that fitting carabiners makes no no difference if the trailer is fitted with open hooks!


Cheers...................Grizzly

 

[tanneman]

One more tip. After you have strapped the bike down and set off, give it a few miles and pull over. Check your straps are tight and everything is as it should be. If it is then no worries till you unload it.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Contrary to previous advice, you do not need to strap across the seat.

Lift the seat and run a strap across the frame under the seat.

 

[Littledumptruck]

Personally I don't like tieing handlebars down. I always tie the front axle each side, keeping clear of the discs. Then at the back I tie the pillion footrest hangers. Towed all over Europe and to Scotland and back with no issues.

 

[Nick591]

I used to tow a motocross bike on a flatbed trailer. One strap on each handlebar pulled down so the suspension is compressed to the point where the straps will stay tight whatever the trailer does. One strap tying the front wheel to the front board of the trailer to stop the bars twisting. And finally one or two straps at the back to stop the back end moving sideways. Have since done the same with my GS in a van. No issues ever.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[duckspeed]

I have seen broken bars from rock apes over tightening them. They were never designed for that sort of loading.

 

[flytoolow]

Thanks!

Just thought I'd say "Thanks" to all.

I just got myself some ratchet straps and carabiners.


The trailer is being booked as well as the ferry to Dover.

Thanks again for the "Confidence" that all will be well.


John

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Mr Bear is the expert when it comes to strapping a bike down,his was never going to escape

 

[MarkShelley]

The GS s are safer than most because of the front suspension design. Their forks hardly compress at all when you hit a bump.