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Strapping Down a C650 GT for Towing

Delray

Delray

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Delray Beach, Florida
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This summer I will tow my 2015 GT up I-95 from Florida to upstate New York and back.

I'm picking up a Kendon single-rail, fold up trailer tonight ($1,200 including spare tire). That's it in the photo.

For tying down the front of the bike, I see two slots on top of the frame that sits on the forks that look ideal for front straps.

Not sure about tyng down the rear. I've heard yes and no about using the passenger rails. Anyone have experience or ideas?

Thanks.
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When my scoot was shipped to me the transport guy had one strap through the rear wheel with a kind of sleeve around the strap so it didn't muck up the finish. Between that and the 2 straps up at the tree it was very secure.
 
This is how we brought the bike home. Sales guy used the hook end by creating a loop and wrapping it around each grip. Other end of the strap was secured to a D ring. Rear wheel had the strap go through and tie off to D rings on either side. Front tire was pretty much locked in by the roll on chock, but that chock was only braced against the front. Bike rode fine didnt move at all. About a 4 hour ride home.

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"Sales guy used the hook end by creating a loop and wrapping it around each grip."

Maybe the sales guy knows something I don't, but I wouldn't touch the grips to tie-down a GT. I've seen that advice on a couple BMW bike threads. Worse, I had a terrible personal experience with a similar bike.

Couple Thanksgivings ago, I left my inlaws house to ride home only to discover my Burgman 650 had a flat rear tire. Picked up a nasty screw and even though I had a fix-a-flat kit, the tire had de-beaded. Called a tow truck and it shows up three hours later (due to the holiday). I politely explained to the tow truck guy that a lot of Burgman riders say NEVER use the grips to tie-down. Tow guy gets a chip on his shoulder and says, "Who has towed more bikes, you or me?" and, "You can always call another tow truck if you don't like the way I do things."

Not wanting to wait another three hours, I gave it the go-ahead and hoped for the best. But first, to emphasize my point and protect my ass(et), I took cell phone pics of the handlebars. Sure enough, twenty miles later when he unloads the bike at my house, the handlebars are twisted straight down pointing at the ground. To the guy's credit, he owned his mistake immediately, called his supervisor, and was told to order me new handlebars on the spot using his phone.

"Nice trailer BTW."

Thanks. I wish it were enclosed but my Prius isn't exactly a Ford F250. I can pull 1,500 to 2,000 lbs. The bike is 575 lbs. and the trailer is 275 so that works nicely. The trailer folds in half like a taco AND stands up and rolls on casters, so it's very garage-friendly. I've never towed anything but these little Kendons are supposed to be a breeze to load and pull (rolling the front tire into the chock holds the bike up so you can strap it down). For such a long trip, I love having two vehicles as a safety net in case one breaks down.
 
With that trailer, as long as you get the front wheel secured in the chock and get some straps on it to keep it tight, then putting some straps on the bars or somewhere on the fork, I doubt it will move. I know that when we brought mine home, we did not put that much tension on either side. Enough to keep the bike from wanting to rock to one side or the other. I think it brought the front down maybe an inch.

Interesting that you can tow with a Prius. I had an Avalon hybrid and I could not tow anything, 0 tow rating. I really like that car but I ended up trading it on a Ridgeline so I could tow stuff and haul crap from the big box stores.
 
I've heard it's important to make sure the forks can move, so the bike can bounce up and down. I agree with the front tire in the chock it will be fine.

Re: hybrids, my 2011 Prius has a 0 tow rating (2016+ models are rated to tow up to 1,500 lbs). My confidence in towing comes from an active Prius forum where lots of owners tell stories about towing successfully (with 0 tow ratings). But I can relate to your Ridgeline.

Just before Covid hit in early 2020, I sold my previous Prius and bought a big ol' Ford F-250 for towing (2002, 84k miles, $8,000 ... CREAMPUFF). I was about to close on a toy hauler RV to drive around America with the bike for a year. Instead I watched the whole country shut down. Getting 10 mpg with a V10 got old REAL FAST, so I sold it for $10k and got another Prius (2011, 106k miles, $5,700). The thing gets better mileage than my C650 GT -- 52 to 47 mpg's.

Also LOVE when I'm at a red light and the engine shuts down, I just push the Park button and relax for a few minutes, no foot tensed on the brake waiting for the light to change. I enjoy those little serenity breaks while driving.
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EvilTwin said:
This is how we brought the bike home. Sales guy used the hook end by creating a loop and wrapping it around each grip. Other end of the strap was secured to a D ring. Rear wheel had the strap go through and tie off to D rings on either side. Front tire was pretty much locked in by the roll on chock, but that chock was only braced against the front. Bike rode fine didnt move at all. About a 4 hour ride home.



View attachment 3274
Click to expand...

NO! NO! NO! NO!
Do NOT use the grips!
 
"The CORRECT way."

Where is that diagram from? Below are the instructions in the owner's manual (duh, I should have looked there first). Front tie-down looks the same but rear is different.

The facing (right) page of the owner's manual is not shown. For the final instruction at the bottom, here are the words on the right page: "Tension all straps evenly; the motorcycle should be pulled down against its springs with the suspension compressed as much as possible."

Semi-colons in an owner's manual. Impressive!

Tie-down GT.jpg
 
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Bought the trailer. Set it up and rode up the ramp for the first and last time. Not comfortable at all with a single ramp a bit wider than the tires. There is a no man's land where you power up the ramp, or push yourself back down it, where your feet leave the earth, dangling in the air, while you hope (can't see) that your tires are lined up. Nope. Won't be doing that a second time.

Trailer is up for sale. It's a solid unit, just not for me. Kendon makes trailers with 3 ramps, basically one giant ramp where your feet are in contact at all times. That would work, but they're expensive. Plan B is to ship the bike up to New York State, fly there to meet it, and probably ride home to Florida in September in 150-mile increments (if anyone knows a great motorcycle shipper, please share).

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What about modding the ramp so that it is wider and you have somewhere for your feet to land on the trip up and down? Either some type of wood or ready made ramp that can parallel the main one on either side.

Alternatively instead of powering up the ramp, the bike get's pushed up the ramp. Most likely not a one person job, but probably not a problem with two, one on either side.
 
I have loaded heavier bikes into pick ups and vans using a ramp barely wider than the tires. Instead of riding it up use the bikes power to essentially walk it up. If you need a step stool or something to step up on as it goes up the ramp makes it much easier. If not I wish you were closer...I'd take that trailer in a hot second.
 
Good thoughts, guys. Thanks.

Walking it up isn't doable because my arms would be nearly vertical, and that feels dangerously close to being out of control. I have a step ladder I could carry in the car. That would work, it's just not something I want to haul around on a two-month trip.

Modding is intriguing. The photo examples are perfect except I can tell those trailers would be too heavy for my car. My Prius has a payload of 937 lbs. Add the bike at 560 + trailer 280 + me 180 + 80 lbs. of clothes, tools, etc and I'm already over at 1,100. Certainly doable but I wouldn't want to add more weight.

Gut feeling ... shipping the bike to New York and flying up to meet it sounds perfect. Riding home in 150-mile increments sounds exciting. I have a first-cousin in Pennsylvania I've never met, old stomping grounds in Virginia Beach I'd love to see, and my grade school BFF lives nearby in North Carolina. I have another first cousin in South Carolina.

Cheap airbnb's on a two week road trip in September taking my sweet time sounds right. Definitely better than legs dangling in the air off a trailer while my thought bubble says, "Holy sh#t!"
 
When I bought my C650 Sport, I had it shipped from Texas to NJ. Here’s the shipper I used. He has an enclosed trailer and was spot on time with delivery and kept in touch with me during the trip.

Doug Stevens
[email protected]
(919) 434-1352

Good luck with the trip and ride safe!
 
Last
Delray said:
This summer I will tow my 2015 GT up I-95 from Florida to upstate New York and back.

I'm picking up a Kendon single-rail, fold up trailer tonight ($1,200 including spare tire). That's it in the photo.

For tying down the front of the bike, I see two slots on top of the frame that sits on the forks that look ideal for front straps.

Not sure about tyng down the rear. I've heard yes and no about using the passenger rails. Anyone have experience or ideas?

Thanks.
View attachment 3270
Click to expand...
Time I had my scooter towed, I removed the front fender(60 second job).
 
"Time I had my scooter towed, I removed the front fender(60 second job)."

Great idea, thanks. I will do that. Sold the trailer yesterday so I am shipping and flying, and likely riding 1,300 miles home to complete the trip.
 
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