Trailering fork seal issues

[2talltoo]

I need to trailer my S10 ES at times and I have had issues with fork seal leaks in the past. I have thought about building a wood block for under the bash plate and tie down compressing onto the block. Any tried this are a different solution. thx 2talltoo

 

[holligl]

I'm just finishing a 3600 mi round trip with the S10 on a Kendon trailer. They recommend about 70% compression. I miy go slightly less and have had no issues. The Kendon has a great chock system.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Buelligan]

I have one of these bolted into the front of my truck bed.
I strap the front tire into this stand, and then run a strap around my rear wheel, to each side of the truck.
I have been using this method for about 20 years now, and haven't blown a fork seal since.
I'm pretty much a suspension nut, and like to properly adjust my suspension to my own settings.
I have never liked the idea of compressing my forks for travel, IMO it prematurely wears the springs..
But that's just my opinion, I'm sure there are others that have strapped their forks down for days, weeks of travel and never noticed any difference...

 

[OldRider]

Like what Buelligan said ^^^^^. I use a Condor chock. It holds the front wheel and I just snug the "two" sets of tie downs I put on the front. Never trust just one strap on each side, they can break.

 

[Thrasherg]

and try to use straps that have a spring loaded closed end (not an open S hook) so they cant drop off when you hit a bump and the suspension compresses for a moment and then the bike falls over as its lost a strap!!

 

[magic]

I need to trailer my S10 ES at times and I have had issues with fork seal leaks in the past. I have thought about building a wood block for under the bash plate and tie down compressing onto the block. Any tried this are a different solution. thx 2talltoo

I use a wheel chock and 4 tie downs with the safety latches like Thrasherg suggested. I compress the suspension about 50% and the bikes rides just fine. I would be concerned about the block under the bash plate if your bash plate attaches to the oil sump, like the OEM Yamaha item. Some of the other bash plates available have some rather lightweight mounting brackets that may bend under the weight of an S10.

 

[Cycledude]

Compressing the forks on a trailer should not have any effect on fork seals.

 

[RCinNC]

I'd definitely steer clear of a block under the skid plate, unless you have an actual frame mounted skid plate and not one that mounts in some way to the engine. Even if you compress your bike tight against the block so it isn't moving, every time your trailer hits a pothole and your bike accelerates and decelerates up and down, you're going to be loading and unloading the forces on the skidplate (and consequently, your engine attachment points). I don't know how much force a sump can take before it cracks, but that might be a way to find out....

 

[Checkswrecks]

Tie the tires down. Anything to the frame should be just to keep the bike from laying over.

I have airline seat track in the beds of my trucks.
https://www.reesehitches.com/products/40467?gclid=Cj0KCQjwwODlBRDuARIsAMy_28VTJpSRty-VmEwP_mQIYzHn0jptetwOOkgXWJGk7DQPz8i6-Mw8xEUaAksjEALw_wcB

 

[2talltoo]

Thanks for all your thoughts I did not like the bash plate method either and is why I asked.

 

[SJC]

I move motorcycles for a living.
Always mount through the lower triple clamps.
KTM brand heavy duty friction type tie downs are simply the best kit available.
Never over compress the forks. I gauge the amount of compression through learned sense.
Every motorcycle and situation is different.
Sometimes a third and/or fourth tie down is required at the back to hold a light machine on the deck or a heavy machine from rocking. Rear mounting points vary.

 

[scott123007]

I move motorcycles for a living.
Always mount through the lower triple clamps.
KTM brand heavy duty friction type tie downs are simply the best kit available.
Never over compress the forks. I gauge the amount of compression through learned sense.
Every motorcycle and situation is different.
Sometimes a third and/or fourth tie down is required at the back to hold a light machine on the deck or a heavy machine from rocking. Rear mounting points vary.

THIS!

 

[beastie]

On my trailer,with an off road bike,(never had to trailer my s10) the widest tie down points greatly lessen the amount of tension needed to hold bike. It probably takes about 25-30% of normal tension so,maybe,an inch of travel on the forks. Have to tie bike so it is pulled toward vehicle though,otherwise it'll move fore and aft,not ideal.

 

[Thrasherg]

Or do like I did, purchase the Pit Bull trailer restraint system for each bike, then no tie downs are used at all!! A bit pricey but very easy and extremely solid!!

https://www.pit-bull.com/motorcycle-trailer-restraints

Gary

 

[FrontRangeRider]

I use LA Chocks, made by Baxley Engineering. No requirement to compress the forks and it is a freestanding chock so once you ride the bike into the chock, it is hands free. Makes tying the bike down very simple. You just strap the bike at the rear to ensure it does not back out of the chock or fall over. Have trailered my bikes thousands of miles over the years with no issues.

 

[ballisticexchris]

My buddy is using and selling this system. Really slick and easily removable:

https://www.boltiton.com/product/1-sport-bike-kit-rack-system/

Or the roll on kit:

https://www.boltiton.com/product/series-2-universal-wheel-chock/

 

[2talltoo]

Thanks for the advice. I already purchased the Bolt On shortly after I started this thread. I am happy with the unit.

 

[Eville Rich]

This boltiton kit may be the solution to my trailering issues. I need to shift my load further back to take weight off my hitch. I've got a utility trailer with 15 or 18 inch walls. 12 feet long and 6.5 feet wide. I'd been using the Condor wheel chocks against the front wall and tying down using D-rings. Works great but nearly all the weight of bikes is in front of the single trailer axle.

I've added D rings and can add more but need to use the trailer for multiple purposes, so a permanent mounting system isn't great. Getting mulch gumming up e- tracks or something similar ain't gonna cut it.

In your opinions, us this boltiton system durable and reliable? We have crappy highways in Wisconsin I will trailer on bumpy gravel roads. Would this hold up?

Thanks!
Eville Rich

 

[ballisticexchris]

In your opinions, us this boltiton system durable and reliable? We have crappy highways in Wisconsin I will trailer on bumpy gravel roads. Would this hold up?

Thanks!
Eville Rich

Hi there Eville, While I don't have the system I'm 100% positive it will hold up just for the fact that my buddy sells it. He is a small shop and only sells what works.

https://getdirtydirtbikes.com/

 

[2talltoo]

Chris is right, he is marketing, administration, manufacturing, sales all one man show. He will have you send a picture of the trailer and ask for specs and build it. You know it will work when you talk to him.