How to Tow a Motorcycle the Right Way (Without Wrecking It)

Ask any rider: there's a right way and a very wrong way to move a motorcycle. A bike balances on two contact patches, carries its weight high, and hides expensive, easily-bent parts in plain sight. Get the tow wrong and you're looking at a scratched tank, a tweaked fork or a tipped-over bike. Here's how it should be done.

Why a motorcycle can't be towed like a car

A car sits on four wheels and a wide track, so it's stable on a hook or a dolly. A motorcycle has none of that. It can't be dragged on its own wheel, it can't take a hard chain on painted or chromed parts, and it will not stand up on its own on a moving deck. It has to be supported, balanced and tied down deliberately.

The right method: flatbed, chock and soft straps

• Flatbed loading. The bike rolls up onto a flat deck so nothing drags and the forks never take a side load. Flatbed towing is the gold standard for two wheels.
• A front wheel chock. The front tire locks into a chock so the bike stands upright on its own while it's secured.
• Soft straps over the bars or triple tree. Soft straps protect the finish, and tying down over the triple tree compresses the suspension evenly so the bike is locked in without crushing it.

What to avoid

Hard hooks on bodywork, a single strap "to save time," riding it onto a trailer with no chock, or letting a non-rider improvise. Each one is how bikes get dropped.

Yes, we really do motorcycles

McCoy Towing transports sport bikes, cruisers, baggers, touring rigs and trikes across Orlando and Central Florida — broke down on I-4, dropped in a corner, or just bought and needs moving. We bring the chock and the soft straps and treat your bike the way you would. See our motorcycle towing service, or just call (407) 305-0088, 24/7.