Concerned about shipping a bike with the suspension compressed.

[jbell]

I might be shipping a bike across several states, figure maybe three-four days on the road.  It will be tied down on an open pallet.  Any need to be concerned about the suspension being compressed for that period of time?

[Aaron D.]

Only if there is something wrong with it. My suspension is compressed every time I ride.

[RANDM]

It's supposed to be a no-no. Mates who race classics put
a wooden block between the bottom triple clamp and the
Fork brace they usually have installed. Not sure how you'd
set it up with a mudguard and no brace, maybe removed
the guard and put it between the bottom clamp and tire?

Maurie.

[Kev m]

Well, you're not going to compress it ALL the way right?

I've left a bike on the lift for a week or so with the suspension partially compressed.

[jbell]

This will be picked up and tied down by a moving company with motorcycle experience (Federal).  So I can't answer any questions as to how tight it will be cinched down.  I won't see the bike till it arrives. 

[Triple Jim]

I can't think of anything that could be damaged by it.  Spring creep happens over many years at elevated temperature, not in a few days.  I've measured 40 year old clutch springs that were still within spec.  I've tied down a motorcycle in the back of my van with ratchet straps, compressing the suspension more than half way, and left it there for a several weeks.  There was no lasting change to anything.  The only thing that would scare me about tying it down with the suspension fully compressed would be possible damage to parts of the bike the straps are attached to that aren't meant to take that much load, like if some clown ratchets down on the turn signals.

[Perazzimx14]

I like to watch people tie bikes down. Crank the two front ratchet straps until the forks are bottomed out. Then for good measure put two more ratchet straps on the back grab rails and bind them down tight until the bike becomes one with the tow vehicle. Or the put the side stand down and then use 4 straps to stress the suspension and the side stand.   

For a properly and sufficiently tied down bike all that is needed is a decent wheel chock and two straps to compress the front suspension about a 1/3 of the way. 

[skippy]

I like to watch people tie bikes down. Crank the two front ratchet straps until the forks are bottomed out. Then for good measure put two more ratchet straps on the back grab rails and bind them down tight until the bike becomes one with the tow vehicle. Or the put the side stand down and then use 4 straps to stress the suspension and the side stand.   

For a properly and sufficiently tied down bike all that is needed is a decent wheel chock and two straps to compress the front suspension about a 1/3 of the way.

 :1:

Skippy

[fotoguzzi]

I would be concerned if just any old truck driver was strapping  it down. you know they will ratchet it to the bottom..

[Moto]

1/3 down sounds right. I had the fork seals on a Yamaha give way on a cross country move when they were strapped right down.

P.S. They were air-charged forks, which likely accounts for the outcome. If yours are the same you might want to let off pressure after tightening your straps.

[Arizona Wayne]

Strap it down in front  towards the latter parts of the handlebar about 1/2 way or until it really feels solid.  On the back, assuming you have a mag rim, wrap your tie down 2 times around a horizontal spoke and cinch it down on the sides of base.  Done this many times successfully. Of course this is assuming the front wheel is put in a holding device.

[Scud]

I'll reinforce the wheel chock idea. I've taken my LeMans on two 1,000 mile road trips: one in my toy hauler, and one in my pickup truck bed. I used only the chock for the front wheel - no tie-downs. I compressed the rear a bit with two straps that also provided lateral resistance. So long as the bike can't move forward, backward, or laterally, the suspension doesn't need much (if any) compression.

FWIW - I've probably been tying my dirt bike down a bit too tight and I just had to replace the fork seals. I bought a special block to put between the front wheel (top ) and the lower triple clamp (bottom) for future tie downs.

[Bottler]

 I shipped two bikes, a Stevio and a Laverda Jota from South Africa to Australia early 2014. They took a couple of months by sea container. I sourced two BMW 1200 GS crates from the local BMW dealer and built them around the bikes. Front wheels removed front axle re-installed and one strap on each "corner" of the bike tight enough to prevent forward or lateral movement, so suspension was probably compressed about 1-2 inches. Nil damage to either bike when they got home.

Cheers

Bottler

[pikipiki]

If you can supervise the loading of the bike/s you should be OK.
If you cant just don't watch this program

[leafman60]

I might be shipping a bike across several states, figure maybe three-four days on the road.  It will be tied down on an open pallet.  Any need to be concerned about the suspension being compressed for that period of time?

You may be over-worrying.

I've shipped many a bike and carried them myself countless times. On occasion, I've been able to lash one without compressing the forks but most of the time my tie-downs have involved a degree of fork compression. No problems.

You'll be there when the carrier loads the bike.  Ask them about it. They do this all the time.  I highly doubt they will cinch the front down to fully compress the forks.

[Roebling3]

Be certain the transmission is in neutral.  R3~ 

[Sasquatch Jim]

 And the parking brake is engaged.  Oh, that's for Urals, and some large scooters.
  I like to have a wooden box sized to fit under the bike and turnbuckle down against it so that the suspension is not needlessly compressed.
  One of my dirt bikes hung from the ceiling of the shipping container and that worked very well for a 2400 mile ocean voyage.

[Ted N]

I have had three bikes shipped to me via commercial bike transporters, each time I have had to replace leaking fork seals shortly there after. Coincidence or not, I don't know. But as that was all that occurred I was happy overall. I was not there for the loading of any.

[canuguzzi]

Aside from all of the above, just make sure you take good video or pics of the process. Those things sometimes come in handy.

Your description of how it is going to be done is probably the way most bikes get hauled around. On weekends it seems nearly every other pickup truck has a bike in the back, lashed down as you describe.

Last time I did it was hauling a Yamaha Vision in the back of a Subaru BRAT back in 83. Bought a new 82 and two weeks later the sport fairing version with dual disks and better suspension came out. Had to have it. Wish I still had both.

[jbell]

Thanks for the replies.  Probably a moot point now as the bike I was interested in, Lodola on ebay, is at my spending limit including shipping with another day to go.  Damn, the good stuff is expensive.  Will keep in mind for future reference.

[Sasquatch Jim]

 

[jbell]

Not exactly what I was thinking, Jim, but quite innovative. 

[Sasquatch Jim]

  But you must admit that there is no compression of shocks or springs.

 And I was thinking inside the box.

[jbell]

Duly noted.

[PJPR01]

Last time I did it was hauling a Yamaha Vision in the back of a Subaru BRAT back in 83. Bought a new 82 and two weeks later the sport fairing version with dual disks and better suspension came out. Had to have it. Wish I still had both.

Well...I'll be damned.  This was my first bike...bought an 83 used in late 86/early 87...can't remember the exact month.  Black and gold with the fairing...loved that bike and used to ride it all over Skyline Blvd, old La Honda, down to Saratoga (Hwy 9), farther down the coast and back up again to Pacifica and back home to Palo Alto.  It was my commuter bike for about 2 years...loved it.

[Moto]

Well...I'll be damned.  This was my first bike...bought an 83 used in late 86/early 87...can't remember the exact month.  Black and gold with the fairing...loved that bike and used to ride it all over Skyline Blvd, old La Honda, down to Saratoga (Hwy 9), farther down the coast and back up again to Pacifica and back home to Palo Alto.  It was my commuter bike for about 2 years...loved it.

A thinking man's motorcycle, just like a Guzzi. My only long-distance pleasure-related haul was of my '83 Vision inside a Plymouth Voyager, from LA up to near Glacier Park. Great trip, too, except I neglected to put film in my camera, but didn't realize it until taking a whole "roll" of great shots.

[PJPR01]

A thinking man's motorcycle, just like a Guzzi. My only long-distance pleasure-related haul was of my '83 Vision inside a Plymouth Voyager, from LA up to near Glacier Park. Great trip, too, except I neglected to put film in my camera, but didn't realize it until taking a whole "roll" of great shots.

Indeed!!  Oh no!!  What a great trip that must have been, you would have had some excellent pics of the Glaciers to compare to now...what a pity about the camera roll!