I bought this about 2 months ago. It's a Yamaha MT-09 Tracer 850 triple. A very nice bike, my first full "Road Bike" after many adventure, trail and Dual Sports machines. I wanted to put it in the ute/pickup truck to transport it south to avoid riding through busy and dangerous Sydney, but because of the fairing and bits I can't tie it down through the bars or the triple clamps like other bikes. Do you guys have any suggestions of how to strap it down for transport without bolting something on??
Yes, they make nylon straps with non scratch pads that loop around the bars or forks, they loop thru themselves. https://www.denniskirk.com/407790.sku?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&gclid=CNjTjfH-0s0CFRFahgodUh8DeQ&ad=45712965997 They stick out about 8"-10" & tie-downs hook onto them.
Jesus guys, strapping a bike down against its suspension can cause the oil seals to weep as you've increased pressure on the forks far beyond the normal short burst here an there..... I would use the foot resets put a towel on the seat go from left foot rest over to of bike to right side of it and other for the other one. Then I would throw a strap through the front wheel resting on sanctions again a rag or something an start that too the front of the van bed. Then wrap the tie around the tyre an rim on the rear to the rear of the utes bed. Nice bike by the way.
I've hauled a lot of bikes to a lot of places in a lot of vehicle/trailers. Never had a problem. Just use your head. Nice bike indeed.
i always haul my bike pulling on the front forks, but i think alot of people pull harder than you need to.. when you go ride for a few hours, most of that time the forks are compressed some. ive never seen my seals leak from hauling..
Well I guess I'm good at finding old wives tales. Lol I don't strap my bike against suspension. If I have too strap down then a block of wood goes onto of the tyre under the yolks to stop it compressing. Doesn't work for road bikes as the guard is mounted right above tyre. I also turn off fuel tap and run it for a few seconds, my thinking behind that is it prevents bent float height as the rides bouncing around an fuel could flood cylinder... Probably just another useless thing I do but keeps me happy.
both of the things you do are good things...its definitely easier on the suspension to strap the bike down against itself rather than suspension. the fuel issue does happen..i have never heard of the floats bending but fuel can overflow from the vents of the carb if there is anything worn, dirt in the bowl, or just something not right. my riding areas arent too terribly far, so i tend to just throw the bike in and go..if i had much of a ride it would be good to have the fuel line empty.
All good ideas guys, thank you for the input. I think they are sold as a similar machine in the States as an "FJ-09". A few points: - I've tied down a fair few bikes to trailers, but this one is hard though because the flare on the tank/radiator fairing comes out so far that the strap would almost have to come out horizontally to avoid damaging it. maybe like 70 degrees. Not possible on a trailer or ute. - The fairing on the radiator makes it hard to use the bottom triple clamp, but may be doable if the strap can come down straight. - I always use a fork brace or some sort of chock when tying down the dirt bikes through the bars (yep cant do it here cuz of the tyre spray guard), more so as I don't like straining the fork springs rather than the dampening system being under pressure. I don't think that once the fork compressed the oil is under any real pressure, is it? Unless you have air suspension.
There is always air/nitrogen in the suspension that's what gives it it's bottoming resistance. No air gap an you won't have any thing to compress an suspension will be solid. Can you tie to the sanctions to the back of the cab? Then round rear wheel etc, the over opposite side of seat from pegs is a good way to stabilise it, protect the seat with a towel or jacket
I have an FZ-09. Same engine and frame as your bike. When I recently trailered it, I used the straps with built-in soft loops. One set on the handlebars and one set on the subframe (on the angled tube just below where the passenger pegs are attached. Using two sets of straps lets you use less pressure while still keeping the bike secure.
I've also seen people run their straps to the outside of the truck bed to keep the front straps at more of an angle so they don't rub the plastics.
Soft tie downs sound like the go either right at the bar ends or bottom clamps. Thanks guys. Its a great all rounder bike, first bike I've ridden with traction control, so much fun when you can get away from the angry and oblivious metal cagers. Just have to get the time to ride it more.
Yes good point. I guess when you compress the forks even just enough to hold the bike firm you probably reduce the air volume in there by 1/3-1/2
Planning a trip away in a fortnight through some mountains and country side, riding the Tracer with a navigator/captain/wife on the back. A loop through the Hunter Valley, Via putty rd, Katoomba Blue Mountains and Mudgee. I'll post some photos when I go.
