Handlebar straps

[SVboy]

I am looking to buy a set of those straps that fit over each handlebar, and have a loop on each end to attach a tiedown. Are they good for clipon bars such as on my gsxr? Are they secure enough for securing a bike on a trailer. Any experiences, comments and reccommendations would be appreciated.

[neels]

My duc came back from culverden on a trailer with pretty much this arrangement, they were motorbike tiedowns with the handlebar straps built onto the ends to get the hooks away from the bars. Sat there happy as all the way home.

[SVboy]

Cheers for that. The ST Duc has higher style bars vs clipons. Does this make a difference?

[bogan]

I have those type for my dirtbike, they don't work with the clipons on my kr1 though. Nowhere solid to loop round, and fairings get in the way.

[awa355]

What ever you do, dont use those tie downs that rely on spring loaded aligator clip type clamps. They rely on serrated teeth gripping the strap. These slowly work loose with constant whipping as happens when a trailer bounces around.

[SVboy]

I have those type for my dirtbike, they don't work with the clipons on my kr1 though. Nowhere solid to loop round, and fairings get in the way.

Thanks-this is what I thought could be the issue.

[Crisis management]

I just hook onto the lower triple clamp if fairings and other stuff gets in the way, you don't have to fix about the bars...it's just happens to be the best option.

To the guy talking about slipping clamps, a half hitch after the clamp works.....the dirt bike and trailer get airborne reasonably regularly on gravel roads and I've never had a tie down slip.

[Reckless]

Agree with the comments here we dirt boys travel hundreds of K's with these often with multiple bikes on our ute's and trailers.

Tie down point of choice for my dirt and road bike is over the lower triple clamp
Second choice is over the bars behind the clutch and brake lever mount clamps

Crisis is correct use a half hitch or two with the waiste under the alligator clamp after you pull the bike down!

You don't need to pull the shit out of them till the oil is squirting out of the forks firm is good enough!

If you don't have front wheel chock uprights put another across here to stop the front wheel turning (or put the bike into the corner of the trailer). Same around the rear wheel it doesn't matter if the tail bounces a bit on the rear shock.

good luck!

[NinjaBoy]

I used Oxford handlebar tie downs on the GSXR for 6 hour trip from Auckland to Manfeild. Did this for two Winter series seasons. For a sportsbike I think they are the best option to keep the straps from rubbing against the fairings.

The Oxford ones have the Alligator teeth clamps but as mentioned above a half hitch is all that is needed to stop them slipping.

The tie downs do rely on the front wheel remaining straight. A wheel chock helps and I also had another tie down around the front wheel and trailer to keep it in place.

If you are doing this often then regularly check the tie downs for wear as they will often rub somewhere on the trailer. I've heard stories of tie downs snapping and bikes making spectacular exits off the back of the trailer

[SVboy]

I used Oxford handlebar tie downs on the GSXR for 6 hour trip from Auckland to Manfeild. Did this for two Winter series seasons. For a sportsbike I think they are the best option to keep the straps from rubbing against the fairings.

The Oxford ones have the Alligator teeth clamps but as mentioned above a half hitch is all that is needed to stop them slipping.

The tie downs do rely on the front wheel remaining straight. A wheel chock helps and I also had another tie down around the front wheel and trailer to keep it in place.

If you are doing this often then regularly check the tie downs for wear as they will often rub somewhere on the trailer. I've heard stories of tie downs snapping and bikes making spectacular exits off the back of the trailer

Thanks, this is good advice for my situation.

[bert_is_evil]

I have a set I got in the UK to use on the R6, they fit over the handlebars then have loops you attach your own tie downs to and they're great for keeping the pressure of the fairings and stop rubbing on the paintwork

[avgas]

The good ones I have used are like a normal tie down that has a sliding 'bra' type arrangement so it could go around fairings etc and would pull the whole frond down evenly using only 1 tie down.

[Mort]

Used them for years... they work well. The best set I have I bought from Cycletreads.