SuzukiSavage.com - How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Savage

adri YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 10	How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Savage 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
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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Reply #1 - 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.

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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #2 - 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.
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antmanbee Full Member Offline 4 Moto Guzzis and an S40 Posts: 101 NE Florida	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #3 - 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
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barnett468

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Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Reply #4 - 08/02/22 at 16:20:35

Gary_in_NJ wrote 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.

Yup.

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barnett468

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Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Reply #5 - 08/02/22 at 16:27:58

adri wrote 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

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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ohiomoto

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Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Reply #6 - 08/02/22 at 17:35:25

antmanbee wrote 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

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

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. Huh

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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #7 - 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?
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #8 - 08/02/22 at 17:42:09 adri wrote on 08/01/22 at 09:30:35: 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.
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antmanbee

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4 Moto Guzzis and an
S40

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Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav
Reply #9 - 08/02/22 at 19:19:45

ohiomoto wrote 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?

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?

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #10 - 08/02/22 at 20:07:13 Dang, I was betting the peace sign was upside down.
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5113 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #11 - 08/02/22 at 22:10:18 Strap , rope , chain , cable thru the rear wheel and drag it back home.
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: How To Tow a Suzuki Boulevard S40 / Suzuki Sav Reply #12 - 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!
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