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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Savage
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Message started by adri on 08/01/22 at 09:30:35

Title: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Savage
Post by adri on 08/01/22 at 09:30:35

How to (properly) tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Savage 650 (or any other motorcycle for that matter) without putting unnecessary premature wear on your suspension springs.

Video: https://youtu.be/cy51OB7wkuI

If anyone knows how to embed a video into this post please let me know :)

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 08/01/22 at 09:50:46

I disagree with your method. You are placing way too much force on the M6 bolts that hold the fender in place. As an ex racer I have strapped down a motorcycle over a thousand times, and I have never once blown out a fork seal by strapping down the bike from either the upper or lower triple clamp.

Nicely made video, but bad advice.

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by ohiomoto on 08/01/22 at 17:50:48

What Gary said. Got to any pro national where privateers pay $10k for A-kit suspension that their livelihood and lives depend on and see how they have their bikes strapped down.

That said, it depends on the stepping point and what works for you. If you like the video more power to you.

http://suzukisavage.com/yabb2.2/Attachments/PXL_20210719_121246295.jpg

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by antmanbee on 08/02/22 at 15:07:10

ohiomoto,
What kind of carrier is the one on your van? I have looked at similar ones and the ramps are all very short.
I want to do the same as you. Could you give me some advise?
Thanks

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by barnett468 on 08/02/22 at 16:20:35

53595D575C555158060004340 wrote:

Yup.

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by barnett468 on 08/02/22 at 16:27:58

51544259300 wrote:

The side stand is NOT a "fail safe".

Pulling down hard on the suspension does not cause any "wear" on the suspension springs whatsoever, meaning, it will not cause them to become weaker or shorter.

Although your method may work, one of the best methods for this type of bike is to pull the front suspension down until it is nearly bottomed by putting the straps around the fork tube just above the lower tripple clamp. Then hook the straps where the ends will be at least 3 feet apart if there is no V for the front tire, and where they can pull down and forward on the front. If there is a V for the front tire, the ends of the straps can be a little closer together.

Then strap the back so the rear can not bounce from side to side, which can be done by looping a strap around the rear wheel one time, then hook the ends on the sides of the truck or trailer etc the bike is on.

If there is no V for the front tire to wedge into, then simply loop a strap around the front wheel as well and put the hooks on the sides of the truck or trailer etc the bike is on.

Another option that I have not personally used is to place one of these between the front tire and underside of the front fender. This only allows your front suspension to be compressed around 1/3rd of the way.
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Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by ohiomoto on 08/02/22 at 17:35:25

020D170E020D010606630 wrote:

ohiomoto,
What kind of carrier is the one on your van? I have looked at similar ones and the ramps are all very short.
I want to do the same as you. Could you give me some advise?
Thanks

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

This is the rack I have: https://a.co/d/gUv0Kpn

I found it on craigslist for $100. It works fine. The ramp is a bit short, but it gets the job done and it's solid. The staps go to the center so you can't just crank the forks down. You need 4 straps to keep both ends of the bike in place. But I am able to get some compression on the forks and shocks as has been discussed in this thread.

A longer gutter ramp and rail, or a tilting rack might be more user-friendly. :-?

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by ohiomoto on 08/02/22 at 17:37:53

LOL, I just noticed something really strange and magical with the picture of my bike on the rack.

Who sees the problem?

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by ohiomoto on 08/02/22 at 17:42:09

696C7A61080 wrote:

H
If anyone knows how to embed a video into this post please let me know :)

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

You have to use the media tag and remove the s from 'https' in the link.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy51OB7wkuI[/media]

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by antmanbee on 08/02/22 at 19:19:45

3E39383E3C3E253E510 wrote:

LOL, I just noticed something really strange and magical with the picture of my bike on the rack.

Who sees the problem?

It's magically standing up with no straps?

There are a half dozen or more carriers that look identical to the Black widow you have. Are they the same racks from China and just relabeled?

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by verslagen1 on 08/02/22 at 20:07:13

Dang, I was betting the peace sign was upside down. ;)

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by Ruttly on 08/02/22 at 22:10:18

Strap , rope , chain , cable thru the rear wheel and drag it back home.

Title: Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Post by ohiomoto on 08/03/22 at 15:24:10

Yeah, I think I had the two straps outside straps off and then thought I would take a picture. I didn't drive to the dealer with it like that, I swear! ;D