Tie downs?

**speedfish** · 12th April 2011, 19:56

These new tie downs that go over the handle bars with a sleeve are they any good need to get some new ones as my old ones are close to 20yrs old and wonder if these are the better option instead of pissing around going up the fairings to lower triple clamp

**YellowDog** · 12th April 2011, 20:13

You got a photo?

Don't really know what you mean.

**MaxCannon** · 12th April 2011, 20:22

I think you mean a bar harness.

Up until last week I'd recommend them unreservedly.
BUT, on the way back from New Plymouth I looked back and noticed the bars were moving quite a bit.
Pulled over and found that one side of the bar harness had come off and the tie down was dragging along the road.

Bike was still in place becuase I'd tied it down with four tiedowns (two to the pillion footpegs).

So - although it made securing the bike much easier (especially since the BMW doesn't have conventional forks) I won't be replacing it. Back to trying to thread tie downs through the fairing for me.

**Gremlin** · 12th April 2011, 20:52

My beemer held up on the ferry crossings, tying around the forks, under the front fairing/tank. Not quite as stable, but still good enough.

I wouldn't bother with a harness, but that's me.

**trumpy** · 12th April 2011, 21:12

I have a set of these, used them on the ferry and when I have trailered my bike. Never had a problem with them and the keep the straps away from my plastics (and in my case away from those stupid "snorkel" air intakes) just make sure your tie downs have caribiner type fittings on BOTH ends.

**SVboy** · 14th April 2011, 10:32

I just got a product called the CANYON DANCER 2 from the States. As a bar harness, it has plastic cups that fit over the grips. Seems to work very well at this early stage.

**NinjaBoy** · 14th April 2011, 12:00

I've used them on several sportsbikes without issue. They are the easiest for keeping the straps away from the plastic fairings.

A key point is that they rely on the front wheel staying straight, hence I also had an additional strap tying the front wheel down to the trailer.

**speedfish** · 17th April 2011, 20:00

cheers guys for the feedback

**nadroj** · 17th April 2011, 21:23

Picture...

**Devil** · 20th April 2011, 15:15

Originally Posted by Gremlin

My beemer held up on the ferry crossings, tying around the forks, under the front fairing/tank. Not quite as stable, but still good enough.

I wouldn't bother with a harness, but that's me.

Wtf. Tie using the crash bars, very stable.

**Gremlin** · 20th April 2011, 17:32

Originally Posted by Devil

Wtf. Tie using the crash bars, very stable.

Experience BMW told me forks... but good point I guess... I already know they are quite strong

**speedfish** · 26th April 2011, 08:29

hey thanks guys we ended up getting aerofast tiedowns the normal style but a wider version with the caribener fitting on the lower end and the extensions that allow the hook to sit lower out of the way of the fairing etc got them at boyds sharp price as always and got their logo stiched in to them cheers

**SVboy** · 26th April 2011, 11:17

Originally Posted by nadroj

Picture...

Not quite-my version has plastic cups, so the grips never get "rolled' off. VERY easy to use-loving them, despite the hassle of importing them.

**Harvd** · 29th April 2011, 17:46

Originally Posted by MaxCannon

So - although it made securing the bike much easier (especially since the BMW doesn't have conventional forks) I won't be replacing it. Back to trying to thread tie downs through the fairing for me.

Talking of trying to tie down a bike with unconventional forks how do you think i felt about tying this one down!