Zero Knievel

Opposite side needed replacement. It’s going to the mechanic now. The tool was pot metal BS (steel…my ass) and broke off. I’m not fucking with it anymore.

Okay. I'll PM my address. Do not show up with a 6-pack of beer and a thong.

I bought some eye bolts at Lowes, but decided to double check at Home Depot. I got 4 of these and some lock nuts. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-x-4-in-Stainless-Steel-Eye-Bolt-Nut-813666/314746012 These are rated for 350 pounds. The "best" I found at Lowes were only rated for 160 pounds.

Likely not, but I wasn't using the strap for the rear tire but attaching to the frame (as BMW indicates but wasn't working well here). I need to experement to find the optimal anchor points. I'm starting to agree. Yeah, they do have "custom make" as an option...if you want to spend about $5,800 for one new. I got mine for under $1,000...including tax/registration and likely gas to/from. If I had that kind of cash to throw around, I'd get a fucking enclosed trailer. If I haven't done it with my underwear yet, I'm not worried about the trailer. The psychopath part of me approves. Honestly, there's a lesson to learn here about carefully examining photos of a product before buying. If you go to their website, most every bike they show on the trailer (newer version to mine) are "traditional" motorcycles. No sport bikes. The closest is a KTM, and it is similar to my RS save for my single-sided swingarm. However, examine the photo carefully. What's missing? TIE DOWNS. They just put it on the trailer and took photos. Maybe they knew the trailer wouldn't work well for certain configurations?

That’s my thought. Clearly they designed this thing for bikes with low pipes or high pipes. Middle placement screws with your straps.

I’ll try treating before removing. The caliper was replaced on one side years ago when a piston locked.

Might have redeemed your manhood if you didn’t use the adjective “fantastic.” Granted, you’d be full homo if you used “fabulous.”

Well. I’m disappointed. The idea “works” on one side, but not the other. I might have to consider installing a special anchor point on the step rail to ensure the straps clear. Otherwise, all I can do is slide old socks over the strap to act as a buffer.

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. You should feel proud.

Flushing the brake lines, one of the bleed nipples snapped off. Best way to remove the old one? A small bit of it still is exposed.

Their installed. Not tested yet, but now I have 3 points to which I can attach. Maybe test it later today or Saturday.

If you're really hard core, you grow your own.

This is what a "typical" eye-bolt looks like. It think it's self-explanatory why I would need two nuts to install it. Other photos from Amazon indicate it's flat. Might be an optical illusion from the lighting used in the photo.

Thanks. That would only necessitate getting a slightly longer bolt. If you know how an eye-bolt is shaped, to not compromise the bolt as a securing point for the fender, I'd want a locking nut on the inside (towards wheel) and one at the "top" so I can properly tighten it down. The existing bolt inserts from the wheel side. An eye-bolt would have to insert from the trailer side.

The bolts only attach the fenders…so I suppose your idea would work, but I’d need a locking nut on both sides and I question if the short distance it would provide would make enough of a difference. I was going to make a snarky quip about complicated math, but then remembered what you do for a living. With my current health, I find that all day rides (over 500 miles) take enough out of me that riding at the destination is a chore…especially if I have to have the means to ride back home. If I ride someplace and there’s fun stuff to do other than ride, I can make the trip about riding there and back. Going to Utah was an exhausting trial and not a vacation…odd as only a decade or so ago I used to ride cross country. Once a month jaunts with the locals wear me out if I have to go all the way to Johnson City, TN just to meet up.

23 year old XX with not even break in mileage. Garage queen...and I wonder what issues it may have from never being ridden.

I doubt an eye bolt would be fit to substitute for a wheel mount bolt. I agree that the mounts should be further from the bike.

From what I can tell, there is nothing to hook on to with the BMW. I thought there was, but it was how the metal was shaped and not a hole I could look through. No. Those are the anchor points provided. Even if I could find an anchor that would attach using longer bolts that hold the wheel assemblies to the axle, I’d have to make sure it wouldn’t compromise the trailer by putting the tie down stress on the wheel hub. Just did it the way it was illustrated.

Well, I hope the issue is finally solved. Got the new rear strap system today. I experimented before with the wheel chock, but double checked for this test. Note that now the chock is set at the second to front hole. It previously was set at the very last hole in the back. This helps the bike remain stable when I’m not holding it…although for good measure I should always load/unload while parked on a level surface. Now my front ties are anchored to soft straps at the bottom of the triple tee. It comes in its own carry case. Bought it from Wheels & Wings in Lake City, Florida. I have to position the strap as such to avoid unnecessary contact with the muffler and swingarm. There is a gap between the strap and the swingarm, but I think I will still look for something to use as a buffer so they don’t rub during transport. It occurred to me that a washing mitt (for cars) cut open at the end could slide over the assembly as a sleeve. I’ll take a closer look tomorrow when I’m in town. Took the finished product out for a short drive. So far, so good. If you know the roads around my house, they aren’t that well maintained, so lots of bumps that make the bike shift side to side. Everything held firm.

Take them all...make French braid versions of them. Sell them advertising that they can handle triple the data.

Rule 34 provides....

No. People seem to assume I'm some dumb ass for not knowing something one would not know until they encounter it the first time. Never had an issue with store-bought ratchet tie downs until now. Never had an issue with prior towing/trailering. Now that I know better, I won't repeat the mistake. Don't we all fuck stuff up because we didn't have the benefit of a "bad experience" to learn better. Hell, I'm telling everyone to never go to a hospital when an outpatient clinic will do because you might get bills from multiple parties who claim to have rendered service, and it's easier to just pay them than argue over it. Incidentally, I mentioned this when seeing my dermatologist, and she agreed...at least in an outpatient setting, you know you get a bill from the clinic and nobody else unless you're told up front (e.g., lab work done elsewhere). Same deal with Medicare. I've learned a lot from watching what my parents and their friends have gone through dealing with Medicare to pay things. For example, if you are admitted to the hospital "for observation," you likely will foot the entire bill because Medicare does not cover that. So, if they want to keep you overnight, they need to admit you as a regular patient. For my dad's stroke, there was no issue because the precursor stroke mandated he stay overnight for observation as the big one would likely come that night (which it did). Recently my mom was sick and had chest pains. They wanted to admit her but until they got certain test results back as positive, it was not "necessary" and would not be covered by Medicare. Imagine having to know all this and have the presence of mind to ask questions when in the ER as a patient. We learn from experience.

Everything works fine…until it doesn’t. Had I run into this issue in the past, I wouldn’t have had an issue now.

And my point is that the poor design of the straps (too long a length between the hook and ratchet) made it unfit for this particular application. Since these things come with no instructions, it’s easy to presume that it being rated for motorcycles means it’s good for all applications with motorcycles.

No, but one tends to trust the manufacturer’s specifications. The Prius has dedicated jack points in the front and rear for a floor jack. I have to make sure inspectors and mechanics do no use a floor jack elsewhere as it will damage the underside of the car. For jack stands, I use a floor jack properly and then position the jack stands with rubber pads as usual.