jkwalker

[jkwalker]

Hi ya all! I'm new to the site and sure hope we can get some good participation. I would definitely like to see it succeed.

I ride a Pearl Orange 2002 Honda with a 2006 CSC conversion. I also tow a Escapade trailer. I rode a two wheeler for several years until a gal ran a red light and took me broad side on a 1500 intruder. That necessitated a move to a trike which I have not regretted in anyway. As a matter of fact I wish I had made the move earlier. Finished a 6000 mile trip last summer - all back roads from Georgia to Oregon. What a way to see this beautiful USA.

Anyway, I have a question for you. In the unlikely event that my trustworthy and reliable Honda should every need to be towed and here is the key question. What is the best anchor points to attach your straps so the bike can be moved on to a flat bed wrecker. The only thing I can figure would be as close to the motor as possible using the highway bars. You folks have any addition thoughts?

 

[Trike Man]

Hi ya all! I'm new to the site and sure hope we can get some good participation. I would definitely like to see it succeed.

I ride a Pearl Orange 2002 Honda with a 2006 CSC conversion. I also tow a Escapade trailer. I rode a two wheeler for several years until a gal ran a red light and took me broad side on a 1500 intruder. That necessitated a move to a trike which I have not regretted in anyway. As a matter of fact I wish I had made the move earlier. Finished a 6000 mile trip last summer - all back roads from Georgia to Oregon. What a way to see this beautiful USA.

Anyway, I have a question for you. In the unlikely event that my trustworthy and reliable Honda should every need to be towed and here is the key question. What is the best anchor points to attach your straps so the bike can be moved on to a flat bed wrecker. The only thing I can figure would be as close to the motor as possible using the highway bars. You folks have any addition thoughts?

Welcome to TrikeTalk jkwalker. The Pearl Orange is one of my favorite colors on the Gold Wing. Sorry to hear about you accident and hope all is well with you now.

IMO, the best anchor points on a GL-1500 or 1800 trike are:
Front- one strap per side looped over each lower triple tree and back to a secure point inline with the leading edge of front wheel and to the side as far as space permits.

Rear- One strap per side secured to the lower frame rail or rear end itself and crossing to the opposite side of the trailer to a secure point, making an X configuration.

ALWAYS use a good quality ratchet type strap and check it several times along the trip. This makes for a totally secure tie-down and insures that the trike will not move around on the trailer when the inevitable bumps and potholes are encountered. I have seen quite a few trikes arrive at their destination with damaged rear fenders due to improper tie-down on a narrow trailer. It doesn't take much movement to damage a beautiful paint job. Also make sure the excess length of strap is coiled up and either taped or tie-wrapped to itself to insure it doesn't flap in the wind. This can damage paint as well.

-Trike Man

 

[jkwalker]

Loading a Trike onto a wreaker Flatbed

Thank you for your reply. I want to make sure I understood your comments. You are suggesting that I put my straps on the triple tree and then use this to haul the trike up the ramp onto the flatbed wreaker. Wouldn't this put a lot of pressure on the triple tree given the angle of the wreaker bed. I agree if I want to secure the trike to my trailer the best way is the way you outlined. However is it the best way to load it on a wreaker?

 

[Trike Man]

Think about this - if you want to pull a trike up the ramp, why not put two pull cables under the bike - one on each side of the front tire, and hook them around the rear axle? Then they would be low to the ground, not rubbing the bottom or front of the bike, and on a solid hookup point.

When its loaded, if you run your tie downs to the trailer hitch and out each side, you will never have the bike slide from side to side. And, with the front wheel in the trucks wheel chock, front will not go side to side either.

Even though I have used them, I am not a real fan of soft ties around the forks. It preloads the shock system, and I prefer to let the bike or trike ride on its own suspension, just keeping it in one place. And those engine guards will bend if pulled on.

Harry is right. After re-reading the question I would agree. I was thinking of hauling the trike after it was loaded, not the actual pull to get it on the trailer.I would not hook to the front forks to load it.

As far as hauling it after it is loaded, if a trailer hitch is installed on the trike, that is a good tie-off point for the rear of the trike, though not every trike has a trailer hitch. I personally still like the lower triple tree as a front tie point, as long as you don't over torque the straps down, just a good snug pull. This being a trike and not a bike, it can not tip and thus does not need a great deal of pressure. A front wheel chock is still the best solution for securing the front. A 40 year Honda dealer recommended the lower triple trees as a front tie point on the Gold Wing trikes and I figured he knew what he was talking about. If the loading of the forks concerns you, then the front engine guards might be a good choice as a tie point. I would not necessarily recommend this if it were a two-wheeled Gold Wing however, as I have seen a couple of instances of broken bolts.