I have always tied my bikes down using the soft tie downs through the lower triple clamps. Besides having a secure attachment point, there is an extra benefit of keeping the ratchet mechanisms and S-hooks as far away from the upper plastics and tank as possible. Any wear marks(if any) in the area of the triple clamp will never be noticeable, either.
Last fall, I made the mistake of hauling my FJR (winter storage) to my warehouse on a Kendon trailer (since sold). The Kendon has a built in non-adjustable wheel chock on the guide rail that captures the front tire. Unfortunately for me I did not notice how close the lower chin fairing was to the flipped up wheel chock after tightening down the front end. It was just close enough to the chock, that, during the 20 mile drive to the office on our normally rough Michigan roads, some paint on the inside of the chin fairing was rubbed raw.
oster_oops:
No real harm done (nickel sized gouge), just annoying as heck. :angry:
Something to watch out for, that's all! :blush2:
