Quick Opinion: Bike in Truck Bed, Kick Stand Down Yes/No?

[aedi006]

I will be transporting a GS850 from Pa to Mich tomorrow. I have built myself a good ramp and have a LOT of ratchet tie downs. Now assuming the bike gets in the bed fine, should I strap it with the kickstand up or down? I leave at 5am, need your input soon!

[crag antler]

kickstand up.
Make sure you don't strap it down too far and blow your fork seals

[knotzilla]

Leave your kickstand up. If you have good quality straps and they are tightened properly it ain't going to budge a bit. Ted

[aedi006]

kickstand up.
Make sure you don't strap it down too far and blow your fork seals

Thanks for the quick replys everyone. This forum is top notch. As for the seals..... how much is too much?

[Tarbash 27]

I like the kickstand down. I worked at a harley dealer and we use to tranport 4 bikes at a time in a box truck with the kickstands down. Its just seems easier and more stable.

[marvinsc]

Stand UP

I Hauled My 850 From Near Canton Ohio to West KY in a Uhaul Covered Trailor with No Problems at All. We Comprerssed the Front Forks about Half Way with Ratchet Type Straps and used Tiedowns to Keep the Back end From Jumping Around. 500 Mile Trip. The Fellow I bought it From said He had actually Seen a Frame Broken by a Kickstand during Transport!:shock:

[tkent02]

Bout halfway down ought to work...

As for the seals..... how much is too much?

Just tight enough that it can't bounce around and get loose.
Check it every once in a while on the way.

[rphillips]

up!!! up!!! up!!!

[morthrane]

I like the kickstand down. I worked at a harley dealer and we use to tranport 4 bikes at a time in a box truck with the kickstands down. Its just seems easier and more stable.

Never actually seen it, but I've been told that leaving the bike kickstand down upps the chance that a bad bump will punch that kickstand through the truck bed

[dpep]

I have the kickstand up. I put the ramp on one side of the bike and an old tire on the other that would keep it from going all the way over.....just in case.

[J_C]

Up. I've transported my sportbikes to and from track days and never had a problem with it. If you do it right, the bike should be sitting perfectly straight, so the kickstand doesn't even matter. You want it straight up and down so the suspension absorbs the vertical jarring of the ride.. You do NOT want the kickstand absorbing it.

[aedi006]

I think the UPs have it

The UPs have it. Thanks All! yawn

[rphillips]

be sure you use at least 2 sets of straps, both on the handlebars. Odds are, nothing would brake, but if something did happen, that extra insurance would be invaluble.