Best way to tie her up...

[Groins_NZ]

and some handcuffs... but seriously folks...

I’m going down South in January for a ride down to Invercargill. Can anyone offer some tips for securing the bike for the ferry crossing.

I was thinking of three tie-downs – 2 for the front (left and right) off the handle bars secured near head stock and 1 over the rear. Will that do it?

Many thanks.

[James Deuce]

That's exactly how I do it. Take some rags to put under the tie down/rope to protect the paint.

[vifferman]

and some handcuffs... but seriously folks...

I’m going down South in January for a ride down to Invercargill. Can anyone offer some tips for securing the bike for the ferry crossing.

I was thinking of three tie-downs – 2 for the front (left and right) off the handle bars secured near head stock and 1 over the rear. Will that do it?

Many thanks.

Two on the rear would be more betterer, unless you tie it so it can't slip.
But the critical thing is the front end.

[crashe]

Use your own strops/ tie downs.... don't rely on the ferries stuff, as I have heard that in the past that theirs dont work and the bikes have fallen over...

Secure your baby well.... and if possible go down every so often to make sure it aint moved.... especially if its a choppy ride on the crossing over.

[duckman]

Nice and secure does it ....

1. Take at least three tie downs (two front, one rear -looped through the wheel)
2. Take rags to protect your fairing from the tie downs rubbing on them. (or you can use your gloves)
3. Put it in gear
4. Place wheel chucks under the front and rear wheels.

That should hold her.

[Ms Piggy]

I’m going down South in January for a ride down to Invercargill.

When are you going to be down South?
I'm crossing over on the 29th Jan and down there until the 14th.

[guzzi_nz]

Put 2 on front forks and one on back wheel to hold in place put bike on main strand if u still got one

also there is a good rally on in jan just outside queenstown

[Paul in NZ]

It depends on your bike....

Some bikes are are hard to secure due to fairings etc so the best bet is to figure out how you are going to do it before you get there!

I carry 2 of my own tie downs (bike type) that I loop up unter the fairing and through the bottom yokes. If you have good bar mounts that is better.

I do the Guzzi on it's main stand because I cannot get a wide enough fitment up front as described because of the clipons etc. The best is put it on the side stand.

Stop it moving forwards some how (depends on which ferry) Tighten the off side front strop to stand the bike up a little. Tighten the other until you compress the front suspension as much as you dare because that will keep them tight.

Sounds complicated but you will soon see how it works.

I add a couple of extra tie to the Guzzi head guard bars and it is steady as. I'd rather look like a dick tying my bike down than have a busted bike.

Paul N

[MD]

Three should do on a calm day (that's 6.4 days per year).
I got some tie-downs from the Warehouse for about $6 each that worked well. The ones they provide are just rope. They work OK but, not wanting to sound like a big blouse sheila, they are dirty. Your bike and hands end up black with oil, grease and crap.
My first solo ride over years ago I didn't realise bike owners had to secure their own vehicles. So I pull in, on to centre stand and off upstairs unawares. I got a shock on my return seeing all the other riders removing ropes from their bikes but my baby stood there proudly unmoved on its stand!
MD

[Hitcher]

I’m going down South in January for a ride down to Invercargill. Can anyone offer some tips for securing the bike for the ferry crossing.
I was thinking of three tie-downs – 2 for the front (left and right) off the handle bars secured near head stock and 1 over the rear. Will that do it?

That's how we do things. We have our own tie-downs (tried to buy them from Motomart, but that's another story...). The ones on the Interislander are soaked in shit (literally). The Bluebridge deck crew will help bikers rope their rides in place if the riders haven't got their own tie-downs. At least their ropes are clean. The Bluebridge rocks!

[Coyote]

Aerofast tie downs are brilliant. The ones from the warehouse we got, the metal clamp thingy broke, so you can't losen it properly. After a lot of fuss, you manage however. We have had no problems with our areofast tie downs, we got about 8 of them now

If you only need them for a while, the warehouse ones will work though

[Groins_NZ]

Thanks very much for all the useful comments - awesome!

Celtic Sea Lilly

When are you going to be down South?
I'm crossing over on the 29th Jan and down there until the 14th.

We’re going across the strait on the 8th of Jan, three days down to Invercargill for two days, and then 3 days back up, crossing the strait again on the 17th Jan. Can’t wait! I think we booked with the Interislander since we couldn’t get the right travel time on Bluebridge.

Ciao

[Wenier]

Ive down that trip a few times now. Have always used 4 tie downs that i took with me.

For your bike i think youd b best to slip 1 round each front fork and the other 2 at the rear can hook onto the pillion footrest structure.

Do them up nice and tight and ya wont need to check ya bike at all even if its rough (ive had a rough trip, everything was sweet, didnt check on it), park with the front wheel against a wheel chuck and stall it against it wit the front brake on! that way it cant really move forwards or backwards at all.

Heres some pics of the tiedowns.

Have a good trip.

[FlyingDutchMan]

Last time I was on the ferry some Girl dropped her bike while putting on the tie downs No real damage done though.

[Bonez]

Use your own strops/ tie downs.... don't rely on the ferries stuff, as I have heard that in the past that theirs dont work and the bikes have fallen over... .

I've used ferry tie downs on numerous rough crossings without issues at all. It's best to use your own, minimum of 3, if you have them though and double check the double check.