Loading Bike on trailer

[Robbie8666]

I've got to take my bike home to Cornwall from Portsmout area on a trailer, some freinds of ours are kindly lending me a 3 bike trailer so i'll put it in the middle slot.
 
the question is, after hearing on here about damage caused when recovery people have fastened bikes down and bee a total novice, any advice of where to attach the straps to will be very gratefully recieved.
 
thanks
 
Robbie

[Looney tune]

I have moved a few bikes using a bike specific trailer and one thing I will say is don't use cheap ratchet straps, they break. Fortunately for me no damage   
to the bike (twice). I now have the motad handlebar straps which are superb.
Put straps on both ends of your handle bars, securing to the trailer on the hooks that are almost below your grips and slightly forward. For extra piece of mind remove your seat and put a strap over the back with the straps over the frame, this way your seat won't get damaged.
Don't crank the front end right down, leave a little 'give' in your suspension. I always stop after a few miles just to check for movement, good luck and take it easy.
I am assuming you have a friend to help you.


The usual disclaimer applies to this post as I will not be liable for anything that could or may happen during loading or transportation.

[popeye72]

im in southampton and have proper straps if you need buddy

[red98]

have my own trailer and use it a fair bit.i use four straps ,i find if you just use two the bike still moves a bit from side to side even if you double loop it round the frame,using four and they work against each other,as already said if you need to buy straps dont go for the cheap ones,the ratchets will twist and fail.......use the bottom yoke on the front and lift the seat and use the frame on the rear.......hope this helps 

[red98]

oh.........one other thing,speed limit for towing 60mph.....one limit i agree with 

[noggythenog]

I have moved a few bikes using a bike specific trailer and one thing I will say is don't use cheap ratchet straps, they break. Fortunately for me no damage   
to the bike (twice). I now have the motad handlebar straps which are superb.
Put straps on both ends of your handle bars, securing to the trailer on the hooks that are almost below your grips and slightly forward. For extra piece of mind remove your seat and put a strap over the back with the straps over the frame, this way your seat won't get damaged.
Don't crank the front end right down, leave a little 'give' in your suspension. I always stop after a few miles just to check for movement, good luck and take it easy.
I am assuming you have a friend to help you.


The usual disclaimer applies to this post as I will not be liable for anything that could or may happen during loading or transportation.

i like the sound of this taking the seat off idea.
 
i've also got some handlebar straps which are excellent, mine are Oxford,i just slip the cuffs over the handlebar grips then clip on the carabiners to the trailer and hey presto.got a Dave Cooper single bike collapsible trailer and my wheels sit quite tightly inside the channel, i've been tempted to just use the handlebar straps alone but overkill always gets the better of me so i'll try that under the seat idea next time

[BBROWN1664]

I always try to use straps as close to the handle bar risers as possible rather then the end as the bending potential of the bars is much lowere there. Also, I try to strap over the seat (keeps straps away from painted bits) just behind the tank.

3 straps minimum but if you have more it doesn't hurt. Stick to 60 and don't use the outside lane ( on 3 pr more lane) of the motorway.

Another limit to remember that most forget is on a 60 mph NSL road, you are limited to 40mph when towing.

[Dead Eye]

I thought you were limited to 50mph on NSL when towing?

[Robbie8666]

thanks for all the advice, I knew about 60 on dual carriage ways wasn't aware of 40 on singles!
 
thanks for offer of straps Popeye the peeps lending me trailer use it for their Moto-X bikes so lending me some! i'll borrow al of them lol,
 
bit nervous bout trailing my baby
 
I'm loading it solo looney tunes but gonna take it steady as got to drive up from cornwall then back but allowing the whole day to complete the evelolusion lol

[BBROWN1664]

Oops yep. 50mph in nsl

I was thinking of trucks

[imax]

Without knowing how old you are, just check that you are entitled to tow a trailer with your licence. It used to be that when you passed your test, you automatically got the B+E category added, but now (can't remember offhand when it changed), you have to pass an additional test before you are allowed to tow.

Edit: Linky to current regs. It appears they changed again at the start of this year.

[BBROWN1664]

IMAX the rules do allow it but only upto a plated GTW of 3500kg or 4250kg if the max weight of the trailer is under 750kg.

If not, you do need B+E on your licence.

[Robbie8666]

yeah I'm all licencesed up! (passed me cage test in '85) so got all the additional bits on it 
 

[mustardbufc]

Won't affect you Robbie, but the other thing to consider if towing and you don't have b+e on a post '96 licence is that the permissable gross laden weight of the trailer must not exceed the kerbweight of the tow vehicle

[jon]

Cable tie the front brake lever on

[red98]

Oops yep. 50mph in nsl

I was thinking of trucks

i was doing a theory practice test with my daughter last weekend and a towing question came up,a bit odd as when she passes she wont be able to tow with a standard license  ......question was about speed limit,and answer was 60mph,was 50 mph for many years 

[Dead Eye]

Are you saying its 60mph on NSL when not on a Motorway or Dual Carriageway?

I always thought it was basically 10mph slower when towing and that was it for NSL

[red98]

Are you saying its 60mph on NSL when not on a Motorway or Dual Carriageway?

I always thought it was basically 10mph slower when towing and that was it for NSL

 
10 mph slower for 3.5 ton and upwards.large vans and hgv....but i think the 60 for trailers is for all roads..i`ll have to check   

[Raymy]

I always find the straps fiddly and ultimately tossed to the side cos I find its generally much less hassle getting the bike up onto the shoulder and just carrying the fuckin thing where it needs to go

[imax]

50 on single carriageway, 60 on dual carriageways and motorways
Linky

[Dead Eye]

Awesome, thanks for that imax

[red98]

good linky IMAX......thanks for sharing 

[imax]

The main limit that catches people out is the van limits, especially 'car-derived' vans as they still have the 50mph limit on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.

[red98]

thats interesting.....i have a car-derived pick-up  ...thought it only applied to 3.5 ton upwards 

[Robbie8666]

I always find the straps fiddly and ultimately tossed to the side cos I find its generally much less hassle getting the bike up onto the shoulder and just carrying the fuckin thing where it needs to go

you must be built like Ogri if you can carry a fazer 600 on your shoulder from Portsmouth to redruth