front tire wear

[Jeff Layton]

John: I've been playing with various bike loading options over the last year and have come upon what I feel is the best overall option. 1) Get a folding aluminum ramp, but one that doubles as a bed extender: http://www.motorcycleramps.com/rrextender.htm 2) Get a smaller motocross ramp to walk up along side - got mine off eBay for $30. It's about 8" wide & nice and light. 3) Use the 2x4 trick mentioned here to keep the forks from compressing. Lets you really crank down on the front tie downs nicely. I keep mine with my tie downs. Had to notch the ends to fit the tire & fender inner profile. Works like a champ. 4) Get a quality set of four 1" ratchet tie-downs. Not wal-mart or HarborFreight - those usually lock up when you least expect it. (have dozens of each - trust me - cheap ones are fine for a while if you keep them out of the weather...but how do you do that and use them too???) 5) Put the bike's front tire in the front corner of the bed & put the rear tire in the opposite corner. If you like it straight, like I do, then get a nice wheel chock, or make one out of 2x4's. If you load by yourself, you'll appreciate one that holds the bike upright with only the front tire like this one: http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-trailer-wheel-chock.htm - this will let you tie the bike down while it holds the bike in place. Otherwise, build yourself one, or just stick it in the corner or use the kickstand). Don't waste your time on any wheel chock that doesn't hold the bike upright - like these: http://www.motorcycleramps.com/motorcycle_wheel_chocks.htm - I even mounted a set of these in the bed of my pickup before I found out they're basically worthless for what I need (I load alone all the time) . And don't waste your time on something like the "Bed Buddy": http://www.motorcycleramps.com/bed-buddy-tie-down.htm - again, I tried that, and it's not conducive to holding your bike up while you tie it down. If your bike is on the kickstand, then the tire doesn't sit squarely into this thing anyway, and at that point, it's just an overpriced 2x4. I find this method is easiest, and uses the least amount of 'stuff' I have to bring with me. I'd like to get one of those king-daddy 6-piece big ramps that you ride up, but that's just too much stuff to haul around in the bed. I've tried stepping on a milk crate instead of walking up a ramp, and I find walking up the ramp takes a little less coordination Hope that helps Jeff Layton Austin, TX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Don Pendergraft]

Great tips Jeff! Hey, what constitutes a quality strap? Can someone provide a link to what would be considered a premium strap? I'm looking to upgrade. Don+ _____ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Layton Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:43 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Loading Bikes into pickups. Was: Re:Got me a NEW used Truck 4) Get a quality set of four 1" ratchet tie-downs. Not wal-mart or HarborFreight - those usually lock up when you least expect it. (have dozens of each - trust me - cheap ones are fine for a while if you keep them out of the weather...but how do you do that and use them too???) Jeff Layton Austin, TX Recent Activity * 15 New http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ2FnZ2xsBF9TA zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA3Z0bARzbGsDdm1ic nMEc3RpbWUDMTE5NjM0Mzc5MA--> Members * 6 New http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/spnew;_ylc=X3oDMTJldmNta2xhBF9TAzk 3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA3Z0bARzbGsDdnBob3Q Ec3RpbWUDMTE5NjM0Mzc5MA--> Photos Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMmdjZTVxBF9TAzk3MzU5N zE0BGdycElkAzQ4ODM4NQRncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMjYyNjIEc2VjA3Z0bARzbGsDdmdocARzdGltZ QMxMTk2MzQzNzkw> Your Group Health Zone Look http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12jort29u/M=493064.10729671.11699924.9977693/D= groups/S=1705126262:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1196350990/A=4430620/R=0/SIG=11fhbjsi1/*h ttp://promotions.yahoo.com/healthandfitness/> your best! Groups to help you look & feel great. Yahoo! News Get http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12j1dae6p/M=493064.10729659.12153716.8674578/D= groups/S=1705126262:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1196350990/A=3848627/R=0/SIG=10obc6i69/*h ttp://news.yahoo.com/> it all here Breaking news to entertainment news Holidays with Y! Fly http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12jt1edn5/M=625000.11723957.12194044.8674578/D= groups/S=1705126262:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1196350990/A=5008828/R=0/SIG=11oo17jiv/*h ttp://promotions.yahoo.com/holidayjetsetter/index.php> home on us. Win free airline tickets now. . http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=488385/grpspId=1705126262/msgId= 180152/stime=1196343790/nc1=4430620/nc2=3848627/nc3=5008828> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[John thomas]

Back truck into ditch....drive bike onto truck....tie down (bike)....drive away in truck....(make sure bike follows): Thomas Forest Park Ga. "Old Geezer club member 39.6" 90 Tengai 20,451 miles 78 CB400A 7,839 ----- Original Message ---- From: Don Pendergraft To: Jeff Layton ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 9:42:10 AM Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Loading Bikes into pickups. Was: Re:Got me a NEW used Truck ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Don Pendergraft" wrote:

> > Great tips Jeff! Hey, what constitutes a quality strap? Can someone provide > a link to what would be considered a premium strap? I'm looking to upgrade. > > > Don+ > > _____ >

Don, I usually stay away from ratchet tie downs. A lot of my towing happens in winter months to get out of Minnesota, and I don't want to deal with iced-up ratchet mechanisms. A good-quality cam-lock tie down has worked for me for thousands of miles. Ancra is the gold standard. I like the ones with the built-in soft ties. In a pickup, two tie-downs is sufficient. Roll the bike straight up against the back of the bed and tie it down to the stake pockets in the corners. The channels in the truck bed will locate the front wheel sufficiently. If the bed is too short, a) you should have bought a full length bed, and b) you can leave the tail gate down. On an open trailer, a single tie-down through the wheel and run to the rear of the trailer will keep the rear wheel from drifting. I will also strap the front wheel to the rail or chock.

[Don Pendergraft]

Thanks for the tips. I was just at the dealer picking up a Yuasa battery and saw the Ancra straps, so I know where to get them. The battery killed my KLR budget for awhile! Don+ _____ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jud Jones Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:10 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Loading Bikes into pickups. Was: Re:Got me a NEW used Truck --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, "Don Pendergraft" wrote:

> > Great tips Jeff! Hey, what constitutes a quality strap? Can someone

provide

> a link to what would be considered a premium strap? I'm looking to

upgrade.

> > > Don+ > > _____ >

Don, I usually stay away from ratchet tie downs. A lot of my towing happens in winter months to get out of Minnesota, and I don't want to deal with iced-up ratchet mechanisms. A good-quality cam-lock tie down has worked for me for thousands of miles. Ancra is the gold standard. I like the ones with the built-in soft ties. In a pickup, two tie-downs is sufficient. Roll the bike straight up against the back of the bed and tie it down to the stake pockets in the corners. The channels in the truck bed will locate the front wheel sufficiently. If the bed is too short, a) you should have bought a full length bed, and b) you can leave the tail gate down. On an open trailer, a single tie-down through the wheel and run to the rear of the trailer will keep the rear wheel from drifting. I will also strap the front wheel to the rail or chock. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Layton]

Good questions, Don. Here are a few I know about: 1) http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/182/1 2) Ancra brand (although they don't have as many ratchet-style, which I prefer) - here's one: http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=43246 3) http://www.mrproducts.com/index.php?func=view&id=171&cookie=yes You get the idea. Don't need the big ole' 2" ones for the little KLR - more for a Gold Wing. Good quality 1" straps (like above) are fine, especially with the front fork springs blocked with the 2x4 - you can cinch them down nice & tight. I don't even use the "soft loops" many companies offer (and included in my #1 above), because I just use the rubber-coated hooks right over the handlebars (watch out for cables & wires). Hope that helps! Jeff Layton Austin, TX

----- Original Message ----- From: Don Pendergraft To: 'Jeff Layton' ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:42 AM Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Loading Bikes into pickups. Was: Re:Got me a NEW used Truck Great tips Jeff! Hey, what constitutes a quality strap? Can someone provide a link to what would be considered a premium strap? I'm looking to upgrade. Don+ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bill Watson]

I've run GP110's for nearly 20 years now. Love the tire, but the cupping is common if mounted as the mfr. suggests. It is pretty common for people to mount them backwards, and the cupping never starts. Go figure. I've got about 10,000 on my front right now (mounted backwards) and it looks great. I should have been doing this years ago. Bill Watson Phoenix www.xanga.com/watt_man --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]