Need help with MotoTote

[Mapoipoi]

I bought a MotoTote in order to be able to transport the bike to the track. However, I am very unsure about:
-how many tie downs I need
-what type/brand
-how to use them on the bike without damaging it

Thank you in advance for the feedback!

[Mapoipoi]

Anybody know?
These guys have a great product, but provide very little instructions.
Here is a link to the product page:
MTX Sport Motorcycle Carrier

I'm thinking I should need 6 tie downs? Canyon dancer seems good, is Ancra a good brand? what do people use?

Does anybody know a good site where it is shown how to tie down a bike properly? The results could be catastrophic if I don't...

[RRrider]

So, no, I don't know. It does look cool. Given I have no knowledge, I am willing to share my uneducated opinion: I personally like to use 4 ratchet tie downs whenever I tow my bike...just don't like the idea of my bike rolling off and bouncing down the freeway. So I do 2 at the front pulling the suspension down 75% (which I think is all you really need) and then I do two at the back just for good measure (engineering principle of redundancy). I do this no matter what type of "trailer" I'm using...so I would probably try the same for your "bike rack". In your case however, being secured at front and back seems more important than on a normal trailer. And i know when my bike is tied down it feels quite stable (I can shake it and it isn't in any risk of falling over), but then again on my trailer, it's not being yanked sideways the way yours will be upon acceleration and braking. You may need to do some sort of attachment to the back top corners of your truck as well to provide vertical stabilisation...that would get you to 6.

[1000RR]

Prior to buying PitBull Trailer Restraints (the bomb!), I would tie down with straps and have a wheel chock similar to what's used in the mototote.

Here's my suggestion. If you want to tie down from your clip-ons, use this or something like it --> Cycle Cynch Straps... Some folks don't like to tie down on the clip-ons for risks of cinching too tight and causing your fork seals to fail... I never had a problem with that personally. However, I did stop using them just out of concern and went to one strap on the front and ran it through right behind the brake calipers, through the wheel and rotors and then would tie it forward (maybe around the chock on the mototote). Then I would usually use the rearsets and ratchet strap on each side to tie it forward and down. After this you would want to check the stability of it...

That's my $.02

[Mack]

Fwiw, I bought a set of the "Canyon Dancer" things prior to getting mine. The owner came out to approve the tie-down his shop guys did when I bought mine. He told me to never attach to the cast handlebars (as the "Canon Dancer" does) as they've had them snap. He said they work fine for tubular steel ones like the dirt bikes, but cast ones can have issues. There was some Youtube video of a guy on some sportbike (not a BMW) that did a stoppie and one side busted off and he crashed in some group ride.

They tied using 4 ratchets: two to the upper front caliper area on the fork and the other two to rear foot peg bracket and it went for a 500 mile trip without an issue in a drop-tail low-side U-haul trailer (not their motorcycle one as it was "In town/local use only.").


Mack

[bananaman]

Can you ever have too many? I might go overboard but i havnt lost one yet For the sake of a few extra tie downs and some extra time it gives me piece of mind .

[RC51Player]

Well since I had to forgo my Sato tiedown hooks for my luggage rack and exhaust hanger I've only used 3. 2 up front and 1 through the rear wheel pulling backwards. I've taken the bike from Phoenix to Laguna to Washington state with no issues. As long as the bike is secure you are fine.

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