Information and Articles for the Gold Wing

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How to tie down your Goldwing

This method is secure and puts no pressure on any delicate parts of the motorcycle. It is necessary to use two sets of Ancra soft ties and two sets of Ancra adjustable tie-downs. Here is the method.

1. Push or ride your goldwing to the front of a flatbed trailer. Park it temporarily on the sidestand. Put the transmission in gear to prevent forward or backward creep.
2. Loop one end of one soft tie around the left front fork and over the top of the lower triple tree. Slip one loop of the soft tie through the other, then snug it tight so the free loop is accessible.
3. Slip one adjustable tie-down hook through the free loop of the soft-tie, and connect the other end to the left front floor of the trailer.
4. Tighten the adjustable tie-down to compress the left front fork just halfway.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 on the right side of the machine, using a second soft tie around the right front fork, and a second adjustable tie-down connected to the right front floor of the trailer to compress the right front fork about halfway. (Note: Your goldwing should now be vertical, held in place by the combined tension of the two tie-downs. The front shocks should both have about one and a half inches of travel remaining.)
6. Raise the goldwing's sidestand.
7. Loop one end of a third soft tie through the left passanger hand grip, slip it through the other, then snug it tight so the free loop is accessible.
8. Slip the hook of the third adjustable tie-down hook through the free loop of the soft tie and connect its other end to the left side rail of the trailer, avoiding contact between the tie and the Wing's saddlebag.
9. Tighten to snug.
10. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 on the right side of the machine, using a forth soft tie through the right passenger hand grip, a fourth adjustable tie-down, and connecting to the right side rail of the trailer. (again avoiding contact between the tie and the Wing's saddlebag), then thighten to snug.

Note: The passanger hand grips are bolted directly into the motorcycle's frame, so are designed to take considerable stress. Do not attach tie-downs to either the front or rear safety ("crash") bars; they are not designed for downward forces which could cause frame damage. Do not connect tie-downs to handle-bars, as damage could occur to the bike's controls. Do not use the centerstand. Properly tied down, the bike needs no additional support to remain stationary, and the vibration of travel could cause damage to either the trailer of the centerstand.
11. As an extra precaution on long trips, loop a final soft tie through the front wheel and attache it to a vertical member of the trailer to assure that the front wheel does not turn to one side or the other.

Note: To prevent the free ends of the adjustable tie-downs from flapping in the wind against the bike's painted surfaces, secure them to themselves via a half hitch knot.

To release the motorcycle for unloading, reverse the entire process, remembering to lower the sidestand before releasing the tension on the right front tie-down. This allows the weight of the bike to settle onto the sidestand, keeping it from falling over.

This article was written by Dave Hewitt, GWRRA #8551 of Town & Country Motorsports, Chandler Arizona and was copied direct from the February 1996 issue of the Wing World magazine. The sender claims no responsibility for the procedure, use or misuse of this tie-dwon method.

Earl's added explanation

1. The Ancra strap is just a brand name. A 'soft-tie' is a nylon strap with a loop sewn on each end (no metal of any kind). You can find these at any automotive or motorcycle shop. It should be no longer than 12" to 18" at most. ($6/$7 pr)
2. Also in statement #2, the writer refers to the lower 'triple-tree'. The triple tree is a heavy casting that holds the two shock forks parallel and firm. These are the strength of the bike front. Take a flashlight and look up under the faring. You should see these two castings (black, I believe). One at the very top, in the area of the handle bars and the lower casting (triple-tree) just out of sight and under the faring. The soft-tie is looped over/around the lower triple-tree, feeding one end through the loop on the other end, pulling it firm and tight to one side. Do the same on the other side of the front fork. The hook of your regular tie-down goes into these dangling soft-tie. Having done this, you will notice, you have secured (Navy term) the front end of the goldwing at it's strongest point and with no damage to any finished parts. Note: When securing a bike in a trailer, always run the tie-downs to the sides and angle forward about 30 degrees. This method keeps the bike vertically stable with presure toward the front of the trailer (avoiding movement front/rear).

P.S. Be SURE to stop after the first half hour of travel and check the tie-downs to be sure they are still tight. On my way to Wing-Ding this year, I hit a good size bump with the trailer. I stopped immediately and discovered that one of the straps holding my Wing had come loose. I went to the nearest cycle shop and bought another set of straps. I now use DOUBLE straps on the front end.

CAUTION! DO NOT USE CHEAP STRAPS !!!! Unless you don't value your GW.

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