How to Tie Down a Motorcycle on a Trailer

Riding may seem easy for someone who has never ridden a motorcycle. However, when it comes to transporting the motorcycle, it is actually really tough even for an experienced rider. Even the toughest riders feel stressed when tying down a motorcycle on a trailer or in a truck. All it takes to make your day bad is one wrong move. The motorcycle can easily fall off or flip from the trailer or truck and get damaged if you commit a mistake while tying down the motorcycle.

Therefore, if you love traveling to places where you need to carry your motorcycle in a trailer or are just looking to buy a new motorbike and transport it to your home, you must know how to tie down a motorcycle. Only knowing how to tie down a motorbike is not enough; you must learn how to do it properly.

This guide will show you how to tie down a motorcycle on a trailer. We will also explain how to transport your motorcycle and tie it down in a truck bed, in an enclosed trailer, or on a jack. Knowing what tools you will require to tie down the motorcycle securely is crucial. Continue to read this article to learn how to transport your motorcycle properly and securely.

Getting into a motorcycle crash is another thing. Most of the time, you may not be at fault if you meet with an accident. It may hurt a bone if you get involved in a crash. However, it will hurt you if your motorcycle flips or drops down and gets damaged as a result while tied down on the trailer. It may hurt you more because you were not riding your motorcycle.

Motorbikes are quite heavy. If it falls down while you are carrying it on a trailer, it may cause a scene on the road. It can cause huge damage to other road users as well.

Learning how to tie down a motorcycle properly is quite a useful skill. If you tie your motorcycle down the right way, it will stay planted in place, and you can carry it anywhere safely on long rides, rough roads, or even in bad weather.

Whether you are required to transport your motorcycle to a rally, shop, or a track day, the article will help you tie down your motorcycle safely.

To tie down your motorbike on the trailer or in a truck bed for transportation properly, you will require the following tools/equipment:

• A durable ramp to haul/load the motorcycle on the trailer/truck.

• Anchor points on the trailer/truck bed to tie your motorcycle down.

• Ratchet Straps [4] (2 for the front and 2 for the rear).

• Soft loops.

• A Wheel Chock [Optional] (Very helpful in keeping the motorcycle upright and locked)

• A friend to help you haul/load the motorcycle and tie it down.

If you plan to tie down your motorbike using ratchet straps, these tools are the key to keeping the motorcycle firmly attached to the trailer.

A motorcycle trailer is among the most preferred choices for riders to transport their motorcycle. Let’s learn how to tie a motorcycle down to a trailer :

This is among the most daunting tasks for motorcyclers. It doesn’t matter whether you are experienced or a bodybuilder; if you don’t use the right technique, you can likely damage your motorcycle. Hauling the motorcycle on the trailer requires power, focus, and technique.

• Having a friend’s assistance can help you load the motorcycle safely on a trailer or in a truck bed.

• You must load the motorcycle with extreme care.

• Ensure the trailer, along with the ramp you are using, is stable and strong enough to bear the load of the motorcycle.

• The ramp should not be too inclined to make things extra difficult for you.

• Ensure it has a strong base to handle the weight of the motorcycle effectively.

• Do not lose track while you are in the middle of hauling your motorcycle on the trailer.

Though it is optional, having a wheel chock is highly recommended. Place it right at the top center on the base of the trailer or the truck. As you load your motorcycle on the trailer using the ramp, push the front wheel into the wheel chock. This will keep the motorcycle upfront and will make the process of tying down the motorcycle easy.

First of all, we will be tying down the front-end side of the motorcycle. The first thing to do is to keep the motorcycle straight or upright as much as possible. Take the help of your friend and ask him/her to sit down on the motorcycle with both feet down.

• As the motorcycle is straight, use the soft loops and tie them down on both ends of your motorcycle’s front fork or to the triple clamp.

• Make sure that the soft loops are securely mounted to the front-end of the motorcycle.

• Now it is time to attach a ratchet strap to one of the loops and anchor the other end of the strap securely to the hook on the trailer’s wall or floor.

• After you are done attaching both ends of the ratchet strap, tighten up the strap. However, don’t tighten it up too hard until the ratchet strap is attached on the other side as well.

• Use another ratchet strap and repeat the same procedure to tie the other side of the motorcycle down to the trailer.

• Now, tighten up both the ratchet straps until the motorcycle gets totally straight/upright. If the motorcycle is leaning to one side or is moving even an inch, your motorcycle tie-down straps are likely not tightened up correctly.

• Tighten the ratchet straps up only a little by little to ensure the balance on both sides.

• Make sure the motorcycle is upright and is not moving to one side.

• Use a ratchet strap and pass it through the rear tire from the back.

• Loop it up at least three times to ensure a strong attachment.

• Attach both ends of the ratchet strap to both sides of the trailer’s walls or hooks on the floor.

• Tighten up the ratchet strap for a secure tie-down.

• After you have tied down the rear side of the motorcycle, make sure the motorcycle doesn’t move at all.

• Check if it is sliding down to one side.

• Double-check all the hooks and attachment points that keep the straps and motorcycle in place.

• Ensure they are tight enough not to make the motorcycle move, slide, or fall.

• Ensure the strap doesn’t touch or pass through any sharp objects or exhaust.

• To double-check, try to move your motorcycle a little bit and see if it has any room left for even small movements.

• If the forces acting on all the sides aren’t equal, the motorcycle is likely not securely tied down.

This is how you can securely mount or tie down a motorcycle on a trailer. You can comfortably transport your motorcycle now.

It is okay if you can’t arrange a trailer to transport your motorcycle. You can tie your motorbike down in a truck bed. The process is almost the same as tying down the motorcycle on a trailer. However, there are just a few different things to know.

Loading the motorcycle on a truck to tie it down is difficult than loading it on a trailer. Trailers are usually low to the ground and have their own ramp. Meanwhile, a truck bed is quite high. You may require greater force and a large ramp to haul/load the motorcycle onto the truck. There are high chances of dropping the motorcycle and damaging it while loading it onto a truck.

You must take the help of a skilled friend to ensure you have double the force and to keep the motorcycle balanced while walking up the ramp.

The rest of the process to tie down a motorcycle in the truck bed is almost the same as mentioned above.

• Lock the front wheel in the wheel chock to keep the motorcycle straight.

• Keep the motorcycle upright and tie the front end down using soft loops and ratchet straps.

• On the truck bed, the difference you may find is the position of the hooks where you can attach the straps.

• Tighten the ratchet straps attached to the motorcycle’s front forks and the points/hooks on the truck’s bed.

• Make sure the motorcycle is straight.

• Now, move to the rear side and use the ratchet strap to loop around the rear tire from the back side.

• Attach the ends of the ratchet straps to the points on the truck’s bed on either side. Then tighten them up.

• If your motorbike is big enough, you may not be able to close the tailgate of the truck. In such a case, leave the tailgate open.

• However, make sure that the motorcycle is securely mounted by double-checking all the connections.

This is how to tie down a motorcycle with ratchet straps. However, you must ensure a few things to ensure safe motorbike transport on the trailer or the truck.

As you can see, ratchet straps are among the most essential tools to tie your motorcycle down. It is the main anchor that keeps your motorcycle planted and secure in one place. However, there are a few useful tips on how to pick and use the ratchet straps to securely tie your motorcycle down. These are:

When choosing the ratchet straps to tie down your motorcycle on a trailer or a truck, make sure they are of good quality. You must not compromise on their quality and strength if you want to securely transport your motorcycle.

The ratchet straps must be capable and rated for heavy loads and untracking high tension. It must also be at least 1 inch wide for stable mounts.

Having solid and closed hooks or attachment points on the trailer or truck’s bed is very crucial if you want to transport your motorcycle safely. Do not attach the ratchet straps to open or weak hooks that can either break or cause the belt to slip off. 

Motorcycle paint is quite sensitive. Make sure to use soft and smooth straps and loops that do not scratch the motorbike’s paint. While tying down your motorcycle on a trailer or in a truck, ensure the sensitive parts do not come in contact with the straps. You can use the front fork, motorcycle frame, triple clamp, seat, grab rails, and wheels to tie down a motorcycle.

For securely mounting or tying your motorcycle down on a trailer or in a truck bed, you must ensure that the straps are flat everywhere. Avoid knots or twists in the straps or loops to ensure the motorcycle is firmly attached. Otherwise, it will likely have room for movement and can fall off during transportation.

It is a must to tighten up the ratchet straps to ensure the motorcycle is securely mounted and tied down to the trailer or the truck. However, it doesn’t mean you should put immense pressure on the motorcycle and straps by making them too tight. It must not be so tight that it bends or breaks the motorcycle parts.

This is how you can safely tie down a motorcycle with ratchet straps.

Tying down a motorcycle in an enclosed trailer is not different than tying a motorcycle down in an open trailer or a truck. The process is the same as mentioned above (How to Tie Down a Motorcycle on a Trailer).

However, tying down a motorcycle in an enclosed trailer is safer and secure than in an open one.

To transport a motorcycle safely is more than just throwing a few straps over it and hoping that it will work out. There are usually fatal mistakes that riders commit during motorcycle transport on a trailer that may cause damage, instability, or even accidents. These are some of the most common mistakes not to make when tying down your motorcycle on a trailer.

Handlebars may appear to be an easy place to hang on to, yet they are not intended to support the weight of a motorcycle when transported. Too much pressure may bend them, especially the sports motorcycles or those with clip-on bars. Never tie down your motorcycle on a trailer by strapping the handlebars alone.

Two straps may support the motorcycle in an upright position, but they will not keep it in place when passing over bumps, corners, or during emergency braking. It should have at least four straps, two in front and two in the back, to keep the motorcycle steady and prevent toppling.

Do not anchor in parts such as side mirrors, fenders, or plastic fairings. These are not constructed to withstand strain and may break or crack easily. Rather, use solid and rigid parts such as the motorcycle frame, foot pegs, or lower fork tubes. Soft loops can assist you in mounting straps without scratching the finish on the motorcycle.

Loose straps cause the motorcycle to wobble, shift, or even fall over when transported on a trailer. This may result in scratches, damage, or even cause an accident. Don’t keep the slack in the straps when tying the motorcycle down to a trailer or in a truck’s bed.

Tightening a screw too much is potentially destructive, as well. It can also overcompress the suspension, possibly breaking seals or shocks. The idea is to slightly compress the suspension to avoid bounding, but not to the extent that it strains the mechanism.

Cheap, low-quality straps may save you a few dollars, but they usually can’t take the load of your heavy motorbike. They are also not durable. “You must not rely on these cheap straps to transport your motorcycle safely over a distance on a trailer. They can break under stress or slide out of tie-off points. Purchase quality ratchet straps that have sturdy hooks and reinforced sewing. It may cost a few dollars more, but you will have the peace of mind.

You can transport your motorcycle in the same condition if you avoid these pitfalls. You can now safely tie your motorcycle down and transport it. Whether you are hauling a motorcycle across the country or across town, you need the right tie-down technique.

With this knowledge on how to tie down a motorcycle the smart and safe way, you are now prepared to transport your motorcycle with confidence. The process is the same regardless of whether you are using a trailer or a truck.

A brief summary of best practices to tie down your motorcycle on a trailer or in a truck:

• Use Strong, High-Quality Straps: Your best bet is ratchet straps with a high-load rating. Do not use elastic straps or women's ones that may break.

• Use Soft Loops and Straps to Avoid Scratching the motorcycle’s Paint: Soft loops will not scratch the paint or other delicate motorcycle parts.

• Position the motorcycle in the Center Using a Wheel Chock and Tie It Down Firmly: The motorcycle must be in the middle and balanced. Apply a wheel chock if possible and load the suspension only a bit so that it does not move.

• Never Start the Journey Without Double-Checking: Recheck the straps, tension, anchor points, and motorcycle stability. A simple walk-around will save hours of remorse in the future.

Whether you are an experienced rider or a first-time hauler, these steps, tips, and tools will ensure you get it right each and every time. Travel safely and have fun riding!