Anyone worry about their forks(seals) while trailering? Do you block the front?

[Ben 500RR-S]

I always use a block or the t-shaped plastic piece that wedges in between the tire and fender when I trailer my bikes. Even though I use the Canyon Dancer lower triple clamp rings and my tie downs have spring clips to keep them from bouncing out of the rings or handlebars, I like that the front end is stiff and won't bounce at all.

I had read, in the past, and over and over again that provided ones fork seals are good, compressing the front for trailering poses no threat to the fork seals or the internals as the forces when we ride, jump and pound our bikes on the trails or in the snow are way more than they'll ever see while trailering.

Do any of you bother to block your front end to stop the excess(ive) compression/bouncing of the forks?

If you do, did you just measure and cut a piece of wood, I'm thinking 4x4, then shaping one end of the wood to conform to the top of my Camso ski mount.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

My last fork setup was so stiff I wasn;t worried about it bounching, also YOu have to strap them down so little as the kit just sits much more planted then wheels do. Always trying to strap them down to the top of the bed rails and keep strap angle low that way you are supporting them side to side not just compressing forks for fun.

But also no its not something I stress on at all.

 

[heliwrench]

I run those canyon dancer rings as well and also block the front. Not worried about blowing the seals out, its just nice to have something solid to pull against with the straps. Bike has never moved in the trailer doing it this way.

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

I run those canyon dancer rings as well and also block the front. Not worried about blowing the seals out, its just nice to have something solid to pull against with the straps. Bike has never moved in the trailer doing it this way.

Thanks, good to see you also use the rings. The dealership that I got my bike from puts them on all the bikes they sell as a nice-touch.

I will loosen my bike up from the trailer, measure(twice) and cut a long block, then shape one end to conform to the rounded top of the ski mount, and use it from now on.

I also like to have something solid to pull against. If I keep pulling, the forks will go all they way to the bottom pretty easily.

 

[Timberview01]

I, for one, do not use a block. My bike has the triple clamp rings and I use good straps. In my truck bed, I have a set of rails with "Superglide" strips on them so the ski can't migrate left or right. The ski loop is against the front of the bed, so the only thing I am trying to avoid is the bike tipping over. As stated above, the track is way more stable than tires, so it doesn't take much pressure on the straps to keep the bike upright. I maybe compress the forks two or three inches. Ruining the seals is not a worry in my mind. But I guess if I had a long commute to the riding area, I may think differently. My bike is in the truck less than an hour for the round trip including a fuel stop.

On my buddies trailer, we strap from the foot pegs. I still put straps on the triple clamp, but only to keep the bars straight.

I have never strapped the rear end either. Some guys do.

 

[Motogeek33]

I'm not an expert on how forks work, but I don't think your seals would be affected at all by the forks being compressed. The springs are what are working to extend the forks, not the fluid. The fluid in a fork just slows the action. Leaving a bike tied down to a trailer or in the back of a truck for extended periods might take some of the spring out of the forks, but that should be it.

 

[eric82930]

strapping the bike down without a block will not hurt the fork seals. if they already leak from having dirt in them then they will leak worse tied down. or if you're Chrome tubes has a scratch part way down they will leak also if the seal is on top of the scratch

 

[Jaynelson]

I have never done anything special to tie down a dirt/snow bike and continue to not be worried about it. If the forks can't handle the truck ride....we're going to have serious problems when we get to the actual ride.

 

[Snowbikenewbie]

At the recommendation of someone else here I have strapped mine from trailer to foot pegs and the bike is very stable. I usually stand on the peg while pulling the strap tight to compress the suspension, mostly the rear and it is very solid with very little movement at the bars when the trailer hits bumps etc... I originally bought the small bar straps to attach my tie downs to but it is a hassle when trying to fit a bike in the middle of other sleds and having straps to navigate around. My footpeg straps attach under other sleds in the channel. I have 4 sleds and a snow bike on my 4 place trailer now. The snowbike is planted in the middle at the very rear to minimize road spray hopefully and for ease of loading, unloading. I drag it down the ramp backwards. I haven’t got the balls yet to ride it off the front like the sleds.