Reminder: Just because it's their job, doesn't make them a pro

[splat]

Saw some guy getting his Ducati 1098 towed.

Truck driver threw a 15 or 20K ratchet strap through the fairings and cinched it down. OUCH!!

Then he threw another strap over the seat and ratcheted it down...I was about 50 yards away and thought I heard a ping.

He removed the strap and wrapped it through (?) the swingarm. Suspension now stretched

He realized he didn't like the strap through the fairings, so he removed it, and decompressed the front forks. He then wrapped the straps AROUND the fork and looked like he bowed it out.

The rider snapped a few pictures (I assume he noticed, too), tow truck driver shook the bike, and consequently the whole truck, to prove that it was secure and just like that they were gone.

I really wish I would have said something to guy bike owner at the time though.

 

[sf250gto]

Ouch! Makes me wince. I couldn't have stood by and watched my bike being stretched on the rack. Probably cost more to repair than the original need for tow.

 

[rootkit]

That's an 899/1199, not 1098. But I agree, that's painful to watch

 

[quicksparks]

True cost of skimping on maintenance.

 

[catch2otwo]

True cost of skimping on maintenance.

or the true cost of not knowing. There is no way an informed rider would have let that happen. Now the rider knows, hopefully.

 

[Honey Badger]

Ouch - dang, I had a tow truck driver once who was thinking about doing something interesting to my bike. I was about to stop him when his coworker stepped in and changed it up to a more reasonable solution.

These guys don't deal with un-crashed bikes too often, so if you've broken down or gotten a flat, hopefully you have an idea how a bike should be strapped down before leaving it to the "pros."

 

[mackdaddy]

Dave's Cycle Transport FTW!

 

[ST Guy]

I once was a member of the Honda sport touring association, primarily for the motorcycle specific towing. Of course I needed it once out in the middle of Southern Oregon. Took 2.5 hours for the guy to show up and of course, the guy knew nothing about bikes. Fortunately the guy let me ride it up and then tie it down. No damage done.

 

[ToraTora]

That's an 899/1199, not 1098. But I agree, that's painful to watch

1199--single sided swing arm.

 

[redtail]

FWIW, I had my Goldwing lose it's alternator ~50 or miles from home. I have AAA premier service so I called to have it towed home. The guy that showed up was very knowledgeable about strapping a big motorcycle securely without fucking up any of the fairing. I was very impressed.

 

[Stix]

I would have beaten him with the closest blunt object.

 

[Strigoi]

Tying down bikes is part of my job and I'm a pro at it. I've probably done it a few thousand times (at least) over the last 16 years.

Non-Harley/cruiser stuff does make me think a bit usually since I don't deal with them often.

I do love wrecked bikes though. Tie them where ever it's solid and no fucks given. I have had wrecked ones that were a challenge due to being so damaged. Those usually get loaded into the truck or trailer with a forklift.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Having spent nearly 40 years in the automotive industry I feel confident in saying "None of those guys are pros."
The towing field in general is fueled by bottom feeders coupled with low IQs.
No surprise here.

 

[Blankpage]

Yeah not a lot of mechanical engineering graduate tow track drivers.

 

[RxRC]

Geez, what's going on here, couldn't he stop this guy? Is it a repossession or something?

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

I had a Suzuki C50T that got a flat tire one day - called for a tow and the guy showed up with a flatbed, with a special cradle made for bikes. It fit under the front wheel, and had "outrigger" wheels that allowed it to hold the bike upright. He used straps to attach the bike wheel to the cradle, then winched that cradle up onto the flatbed. Then he strapped the bike down to the flatbed using straps through the wheels. It ended up being very secure, and did no damage to my bike.

 

[Hooli]

That's an 899/1199, not 1098.

Oh ffs. :laughing

 

[rsrider]

FWIW, I had my Goldwing lose it's alternator ~50 or miles from home. I have AAA premier service so I called to have it towed home. The guy that showed up was very knowledgeable about strapping a big motorcycle securely without fucking up any of the fairing. I was very impressed.

The guy that towed my scoot (rear tire blow out, totally my fault), had a couple of MC specific accessories for getting the bike on the flatbed and securing it properly. He didn't even use straps on the upper part, just secured the scoot to a device using it's wheels and then secured the device to the flatbed.

 

[rsrider]

I had a Suzuki C50T that got a flat tire one day - called for a tow and the guy showed up with a flatbed, with a special cradle made for bikes. It fit under the front wheel, and had "outrigger" wheels that allowed it to hold the bike upright. He used straps to attach the bike wheel to the cradle, then winched that cradle up onto the flatbed. Then he strapped the bike down to the flatbed using straps through the wheels. It ended up being very secure, and did no damage to my bike.

damn, beat me to it..............:laughing

 

[avu3]

I've been towed a few times. Always using my AMA membership. Every time they've sent someone who knew what they were doing.

Last time was JL Transport. They're always posting on FB the cool bikes they tow. I think he's up to 3 or 4 trucks now - all specialized bike only. I'm requesting them by name next time.