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HOW TO TOW A MOTORCYCLE

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The fact that you are a good motorcycle rider does not guarantee a safe and smooth ride all the time. At some point during a ride, you might be left stranded and need a road pick-up and tow.

The reason was that the motorcycle either developed some mechanical issues, or had flat tires, or possibly ran out of gas. Our terrain, not always promising to be friendly, can equally contribute to the breakdown of the motorcycle. In either case, the need for you to know how to navigate and tow your motorcycle safely and properly, not minding the distance, is important.

When considering towing your bike from one place to another for it to be safe and properly managed, the first thing to check is the availability of the right equipment. This equipment includes:

Towing straps

Towing straps help in safeguarding your motorcycle during transport. These straps have proven their quality and reliability when used for this function. It is advisable not to buy cheap straps as they can easily break and will not be able to secure the bike during hauling.

Chokes

This is one piece of equipment that is usually useful especially if you’re using a trailer to tow your motorcycle. Black Widow Removable Motorcycle Wheel Chock is the best kind of it when buying and not the mobile chocks which can easily get lost at high speed during transport. Make sure to fasten the chokes down using the hardware provided.

Hitch

This is essentially needed when towing anything. The hitch is a piece of metal that you can attach to a vehicle containing the ball mount.

how to tow a motorcycle

HOW TO TOW A MOTORCYCLE AS A WHEEL-LIFT

The use of a trailer is one of the great and safe ways of towing a motorbike. Several factors determine the kind of trailer to use in towing which include the type of bike you are using. The towing capacity as well is determined to know whether it can bear the weight of the bike or not. It is advisable to go for a trailer that can tow your particular motorcycle.

If considering a towing service, go for the one that has a flatbed, possibly one that is owned and managed by technicians with experience towing motorcycles and ATVs.

Loading Your Motorcycle

Because sometimes the company’s towing flatbeds do not extend very far and can as well leave you walking the bike up the deck. When pushing the bike up an incline, do well to have control of the front brake.

Make sure the bike is in the middle of the deck, and get it as close to the truck as possible. The next step is to use wheel chocks to fasten the motorcycle both in the back and as well as the front. This will keep the bike in one place as it is towed along.

Securing The Motorcycle To The Trailer Bed

Securing your bike can be done through a four-point or more tie-down. The bike needs to be secure with its weight evenly distributed to ensure it stands upright. If it isn’t secured correctly it can shift while being transported, or worse – it can plummet from the trailer. Use ratchet tie-down because it maximizes load distribution and minimizes risk to the bike. 

Make sure you don’t over-tighten tie-downs, especially if you are wrapping them through your wheels or using your forks as tie-down points. Make use of a part of the frame or you can choose the front/rear wheel, the base of your handlebars, or handles attached to the frame whenever possible. The straps should as well be snug and taught, able to resist a firm tug in any given direction.

Secure the Rear Wheel

Securing the rear wheel ensures that the bike doesn’t swivel while you’re on the move. You might as well want the straps tight but don’t over-tighten it.

Drive Safely

The fact that the bike has been fastened in such a state that it is unlikely to move away, does not make room for careless driving. Although the bike is securely tied down on the trailer, drive with the consciousness that the bike has two wheels and not four, making it much easier for the bike to fall off of the back of the towing truck. 

Adhere to all traffic rules while on transit and never be in a hurry. Gently accelerate the truck, adequately applying the amount of time when stopped so that the bike is not jerked around as it sits behind you.

Backing the bike down

When backing the bike down, carefully remove the tied straps and dismount the bike. Always be in your ready position when doing this. With the front brake applied, and your hands on both handlebars, be ready to take the bike’s weight. Note that your bike might want to roll back once the deck is lifted.

Towing a Motorcycle With Another Motorcycle

In towing a motorcycle with another motorcycle, there is a need to have a towing rope of about 12 to 20 feet and a bike. The following methods are used in bike-to-bike towing.

Footpeg to Footpeg Approach

This approach has proven perfect and has been used in the majority of towing situations. This method is an easy and stable lay down way to tow a bike. With this method, the bike is kept from moving around too much. When considering a terrain that is a bit more technical which requires moving both bikes around a bit, the footpeg to footpeg approach is the best.

In getting the towing done, we first start by getting a towing rope. Then choosing a footpeg or a load down a point from the towing bike, then to the opposite side of the bike to be towed. So if we start with a left-hand footpeg, we then tow with the right-hand footpeg on the broken bike.

In attaching the two bikes, make sure not to tie both bikes to the rope because the bike being towed needs to have some kind of release mechanism. Ensure you wrap the rope around the footpeg once only. Knowing that wrapping the rope too many times around the footpeg might cause too much friction between the footpeg and the towing rope, thereby making the release mechanism ineffective.

Ensures that the lead rider firmly holds the strap in place with his foot. The bike being towed holds as well the strap with the left footpeg so that if something goes wrong, they can easily let go.

While using the footpeg to footpeg, especially in cornering, make sure that the rope never crosses both the back and front wheel so that the rope will not cut.

The High Tow Point Approach

Another method of towing a bike with another is going from one high point to another high point. Tie the rope on the rear frame of the lead motorcycle or any place that allows the rope to have enough freedom. This method allows for you to choose your line because you are not limited by the tow rope crossing the wheel when the terrain goes a little bit technical. Another advantage of this method is that the towing bike has enough leverage over the lead bike. So the back bike can move along the way left and right.

In attaching both bikes, tie the rope on the rear frame of the leading bike and then try to get the rope between the hand of the clamps of the broken bike, this gives you a whole lot of control of the direction. Then finally create a release mechanism by wrapping the rope around the handlebar once or twice, and is held by the left clutch) hand. The rider on the towing bike should operate the front brake,  and if need be that he should let go, he can simply let go.

In conclusion, both methods demand the lead bike do the acceleration gently and equally keeping all the slack out of the line, while the person being towed controls the brake. The reason is to keep as much tension in the rope as possible. If the rope is left to let go slack, when it goes tight again, it tends to cut or create an imbalance, making the whole ride uncomfortable. Need motorcycle towing services in OKC? Contact us today!

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Ultimate Reflections Towing LLC
2217 SW 19th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
(405) 437 8200

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