Trailering my new to me Nomad

[deemus]

Hi everyone I'm new here in fact I won't have my bike till Friday and I can't ride it till spring I have to trailer the bike home approx. 500Km and I have never trailered a bike before, just wondering if anyone out there had any tips for me.

[blowndodge]

Get a Victory instead?

I joke... Just take your time getting it home.

[dshelly]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Get a Victory instead?

X2. I believe Victories come with their own trailer..

[BudMan]

Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum.
My advice is to place blocks on the sides of the tires. 2x4's would work assuming the trailer has a wood bed you could screw them down to.
If the rear tire slides to one side it could fall over no matter how well it's tied down.

Use plenty of tie down ratchet straps and check them along the way.
Not just left to right but front to back.

I also wouldn't use the handlebars as a place to apply considerable pressure.
Some, just to help stabilize the bike but not to much. You can do damage.
Get a strap around the risers. Don't pull the bike down so hard you have bottomed out the shocks.

[Bud2rat]

+1 on what Budman stated. Make sure you have it strapped down good. Also, watch the placement of the straps so as not to rub the paint.....don't ask me how I know this.

[smokier]

Greetings and Welcome!
Congratulations on the new-to-you-Nomad!
What the others have said. Stabilize the rear of the bike from bouncing and sliding.
Leave some slack in the front forks, so the forks can still absorb bumps in the road. Yes, even while trailer-ed!
Watch where your straps touch your scoot. They will leave marks as the rub, vibrate and scuff across paint and chrome...
Kick stand up, bike standing straight up.
With a little attention while securing, they ride better than you think.
Ride safe, and safe travels!
Smokier

[sam]

go to the parts & accessories for sale & get the condor stand. best way to trailer a bike & you can use this one in the garage also.

[Loafer]

Rule #1, don't ask GLWilson for advice on trailering
Rule #2, see Rule #1.

Some have used the crash bars for additional tie down spots. Best to you!

[JD Hog]

Welcome from Northern California

Congrats on the new Nomad, you will love the bike.

Lots of good advice above but I will add that you should check the tie downs often so if any come loose and start rubbing on the paint you can fix it before it's too late.

[skullbagger]

when the bike's front end is strapped down, have a buddy straddle the bike and lean with a counter steering action ( push left to go left and push rt to go right)
then you get the extra inch or two of strapping to tighten then switch to the other side of the bike and do it again, it will compress the front a little, BUT DONT BOTTOM IT OUT LEAVE SOME PLAY IN THE FRONT END. once in she aint going no where. strap the rear too so it dosent hop. thru the wheel and thru the floor if the trailor allows you to do so.

oh the front should be anchored with what I call bowties. from the risers down to the strap then cinch to anchor to the trailor

[tonik]

Four tie downs, two on the handle bars, and two on the saddle bag bars. Have someone compress the front a bit for you so the forks are preloaded. As mentioned if you can screw some short 2x4's in on both sides of the wheels. Especially the front tire. Make sure the tie downs hold the bike from stops and starts. So two pull forward and two backward.

Drive for a couple of miles, stop and recheck everything.

Not a big deal, it will be fine. But I understand your concern. It is always nerve wracking.

[dank]

U-haul rents a motorcycle trailer that is excellent. I rented one to trailer a Yamaha home for my son a few years ago. Nice ramp, metal channel for the wheels, and good tie-downs on the one we rented.

http://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Motorc...ler-Rental/MT/

[deemus]

Thanks for all the excellent advice and I did rent a u-haul Dank, glad to hear they work so well.I just hope the weather holds a storm in southern Ontario this time of year can be nasty.

[Peg]

Originally Posted by deemus

Thanks for all the excellent advice and I did rent a u-haul Dank, glad to hear they work so well.I just hope the weather holds a storm in southern Ontario this time of year can be nasty.

Sounds like you're sorted. One last little tip though... Don't use a cover of any kind. It's easier to wash the dirt off later on than it is to fix where the flapping material wore the paint off.

Last time I trailered a bike any distance was when I bought the Nomad. I used a covered in horse type trailer for that, but it sure was hard on the 2 litre Subaru I used for the tow.

[ringadingh]

Congrats & Welcome aboard!