wheel chock advice

[jas123]

Looking to trailer a couple of bikes. Do you need to use tie downs when using a wheel chock? Are they secure for trailering? Anyone have experience with the chocks from harbor freight,or is there a better option.

[vwboomer]

you need tie downs. The pivot chock from harbor freight is a decent unit for the price, especially if you can get it on sale.

[MMMOTORCYCLE]

Asssuming dirt bikes with 21" front wheels...

http://www.discountramps.com/dirt-bike-wheel-shoe.htm

[nbsdave]

Originally Posted by vwboomer

you need tie downs. The pivot chock from harbor freight is a decent unit for the price, especially if you can get it on sale.

+1,
you will need to adjust the chock to fit your front wheel, and it seems it's on sale every other month-
tie down front and rear

[RSRennsport]

Wheel Chocks, are only there to stabilize the front wheel.
Tie downs are ALWAYS a must. Actually if you run into a hardass cop, he could ticket you for not securing your load.

[jas123]

The reason I ask is, with my dirt bikes I use tie downs(no wheel chock) and place a board between the front tire and the underside of the fender to keep from compressing the front fork springs and sacking out the springs. Now on my street bike (ktm superduke) there is a fender in the way preventing me from doing this. I was looking for a practical way of securing my bike , without putting undue stress on compressed front fork springs.

[MMMOTORCYCLE]

BMW has a service bulletin on how they recommend to tie down a bike.

You get the idea here http://www.metacafe.com/watch/597889...w_bike_safely/

They use Orange straps in the video so it should be good for KTM as well


Mike

[BCC]

Well, with dirt bikes, tire hitting the front of the bed or a board, tie downs, no chocks.

With track bikes, chocks, front tie downs, no rear.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by MMMOTORCYCLE

Asssuming dirt bikes with 21" front wheels...

http://www.discountramps.com/dirt-bike-wheel-shoe.htm

Good link, and covers the basics. However, this is designed for the BMW Telelever bikes, and wouldn't work well with many others where you want to tie down to the handlebars instead.

Jim

[Donkey Hotey]

Originally Posted by jas123

Anyone have experience with the chocks from harbor freight,or is there a better option.

Yes and yes.

Have two of these that I used once and HATED them. They're better than nothing:

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcy...ock-69026.html

I had one of these that I used for the center bike and the two Harbor Freight chocks on the sides. After that one experience, I went back and bought two more of these. They kick ass:

http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product...ock/web1007486

They're much more substantial than even the similar looking one at Harbor Freight. Easily worth the $70 price tag (get 'em now, while they're on sale)..

I had two Cagiva Elefants and one Buell on a 5x10 utility trailer, going to a bike show. Bikes banging together was simply not an option. The Harbor Freight chocks kept the tires from bouncing off-center but, that's about all I can say for them. The Cycle Gear chock was zero issue. I rolled the Buell into it and it was held solid. The other two? Not so much. Yes, you need to use tie-downs but, the Cycle Gear chock also includes handy loops for attaching the front ones.

Edit: hell, they WERE on sale when I posted. I guess they just expired. They'll go on sale again--$69.95. Worth the wait.

[JimVonBaden]

My only issue with the HF ones is that the tire can get a bit wedged in, but that makes them more stable.

Besides, for occasional use, for me a few times a month, the HF makes much better financial sense.

Jim

[Smoke Eater 3]

I have a sport chock. Its awesome. They often have blemished ones at a discount.

For dirt bikes in the truck bed, I have made a couple of chocks by cutting an old rear tire into thirds and screwing them to 2 pieces of plywood attached at a right angle. Push them up against the bed front, tie down the bars, and you are all set. Its cheap, looks native but it works.

[buls4evr]

Condors in my trailer. 4 strapped with MSR cam type/ with soft straps.

[bomber60015]

I've used a HF chock for a couple of years -- useful for keeping the bike upright while you strap it down, but it is ALWAYS strapped down.

[Donkey Hotey]

Originally Posted by Donkey Hotey

http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product...ock/web1007486

They're much more substantial than even the similar looking one at Harbor Freight. Easily worth the $70 price tag (get 'em now, while they're on sale).

They just went on sale again--$69.95. Helluva lot nicer than any of the others in the sub-$100 price range. You can also unbolt them from your trailer and use them for parking chocks to clean and service your bikes when they aren't being towed.