Tip #29: Know where your motorcycle can be strapped before it needs a tow
A motorcycle tows safely when it rides upright in a wheel chock with soft straps on solid frame points. Tell the dispatcher about fairings, luggage, aftermarket parts and any crash damage so the driver plans where the straps go.
Tip #29 in one line
A motorcycle tows safely when it rides upright in a wheel chock with soft straps on solid frame points. Tell the dispatcher about fairings, luggage, aftermarket parts and any crash damage so the driver plans where the straps go.
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Call nowHow a bike should ride
We carry motorcycles upright, front wheel in a chock, held by soft straps for the whole run. The straps pull the suspension down slightly so the bike cannot bounce loose, and they attach to strong points: the lower triple clamp or fork area, solid frame members, or factory tie-down points where the bike has them. Straps should never pull against plastic fairings, mirrors, turn signals or cables.
Your owner's manual may show where the manufacturer recommends securing the bike. Many riders also keep a pair of soft loops on the bike, which give the driver a clean anchor around the handlebar or lower fork without scratching anything. If you have them, mention it.
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Call nowWhat changes the plan
Tell the dispatcher about anything that is not stock or not straight. Full fairings limit where straps can reach. Hard saddlebags and top cases can be in the way and are better removed if you can do it safely. Clip-on bars, a bent fork, a broken lever or a damaged front wheel after a drop all change where the driver can anchor and whether the front tire can sit in the chock.
A bike on its side after a crash is righted carefully before it is loaded. If fuel is leaking or anyone is hurt, call 911 first and let them clear the scene.
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Call nowBefore you hand it over
Take your helmet, gloves, documents and anything in the bags that you want to keep. Photograph the bike from both sides and the front, including any existing scratches. Then tell the driver where it is going: a dealer, an independent shop or your own garage. Pricing for motorcycle towing is the same as for a car: a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate, quoted on the phone first. The motorcycle towing guide has more detail.
One more safety note: if the bike went down on a highway ramp or in a travel lane, do not try to lift it alone. Motorcycles are heavy and awkward, and a rider who just crashed may be more hurt than they feel. Get out of the lane, call for help, and let the driver right the bike with the equipment he brings. A dropped bike can wait a few minutes; you cannot afford a second incident.
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Call nowMore on vehicle types
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- EV towing in New Jersey: what electric car owners need to know
- Motorcycle towing done right: what riders should expect
- Tip #26: An all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive car belongs on a flatbed
- Tip #27: Never let anyone tow an electric car with its drive wheels on the ground
- Tip #28: Tell the dispatcher your car sits low before the truck is sent
- Tip #30: Your car may be all-wheel drive even if it does not look like it
- Tip #31: Close and latch a convertible top before the car is towed
- Tip #76: A Tesla needs a flatbed, and the owner's manual explains its transport mode
- All posts
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