From: steve_giuntoli@harley-davidson.com
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 16:20:26 -0500
Subject: Re[2]: Strapin' it down.

     I have hauled mine many miles.  Henry is right about not using the 
     handle bars.  It works to use the bars, but the straps pull the grips 
     downward creating binding at the throttle and who knows what else?
     
     Use soft straps at the steering column below the rubber boot and above 
     the casting.  Hook your ancras to the soft straps and cinch down at 
     the front.  Note that there will not be the typical preload on the 
     suspension this way and you will think that these mounting points will 
     not support the bike (but read on).  At the back, use soft straps to 
     the passenger grab points and attach your ancras for the rear.  The 
     rear straps do more to keep the bike vertical than the front.  If done 
     right all four ancras will keep the beast upright, the front will keep 
     it against the stop, and the back will prevent it from launching 
     forward in case of sudden stops.
     
     If you're still nervous, put a "backup" set of straps to the bars, but 
     don't cinch down hard.
     
     There is no bodywork interference if done like this.

-----

From: Robert Wilson <neelin@escape.ca>
Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 13:39:44 -0500
Subject: Re: Strapin' it down.

This is truly my expertise (except perhaps for Steve G. who works for
Harley, flame on).  I hauled my GTS from California to Canada twice a
couple of years ago.  Canyon Dancer Bar harness on the front, and a web
loop thru the rear tire down thru the bumper.  Nothing else (I made a
"U" to recieve the front tire at the front of the pickup box.  Thu deep
snow and blizzards with all kinds of 4x4's in the ditch, my little
Nissan came thru for me and the bike was rock solid.  DO NOT cover your
bike with a bike cover, the wind buffeting the cover will scratch/scuff
your paint finish.

Robert

----------------------

I absolutely agree with Robert that a Canyon Dancer is a must for the GTS.
It works really well on any faired bike, but the GTS has no triple clamp
to work with, and is heavy, so tying it near where the lower triple clamp
would be is ill-advised.

A few years ago someone tried to make a "different" Bar Harness, and
reports I saw said it would scratch your plastic.  Canyon Dancer claimed
it was a design they'd tried and rejected for that very reason.  Seems to
me that it's just not worth screwing around looking at other products, go
with the one you know will work.  Should be available for about $25 at
most decent shops, or through mail order.  If you really can't find one
let me know off-list and I'll get you one.

Phil

------------------------

I have NO personal experience in this, but my mechanic told me NOT to use the 
handlebars as tiedown points.  There are some places under the bars that can 
be used, but not the bars themselves.  Use the steel not the aluminum parts
     
GTSBob what do you say?
     
Henry S. Winokur

-----------------

>>I don't know about the rest of you, but I use a 
>>"Bar Harness" from "Canyon Dancer" for 
>>transporting _any_ fully faired bike.

Yup! Got 'em, Love 'em!

-----------------

Vote #3 for the Canyon Dancers on a GTS! I've used them for years without a
problem or failure.

Kevin Hawkins // Greensboro, NC 

--------------------

Subject: Re: Strapping' it down

I have to throw my $.02 worth in.  I have had good luck with this on many
occasions.

Remove the seat.  Hook your tie-downs around the frame at the point where
the gas tank mounts--this point is very beefy and can handle a lot of load.
Unfortunately, this point does not provide a lot of vertical support to keep
the bike from tipping.  To remedy this, I add another pair of straps
underneath the headlight--there are two holes in the plastic under the light
that allow straps to be mounted.  I only use these to provide vertical
support to the bike--this point doesn't seem strong enough to me to support
the whole machine.  I also soften the front preload to be able to "sack" the
front suspension a little more.

One more hint that I haven't seen yet on the replies--If you have Heli-Bars,
DO NOT tie down to the bars!!!!  (Directly from Heli-Modified!).

All in all, there are several, albeit unconventional, ways to tie down a GTS
in a pickup or on a trailer.  Just be sure to tie to points strong enough to
hold a 600+ pound machine (both in the hauling vehicle and on the bike).
The worst loads are applied when the truck is rocking side-to-side (like
when you go over a speed bump at an angle.)  Just be careful and you'll be
fine.

Terry Baker