Best Motorcycle Tie Down Straps (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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Motorcycles are meant for riding, but the day will come when you need to transport one in a truck or trailer. You need a set of tie down straps to keep your baby upright and secured in place when that happens. A quick search online, and you’ll quickly realize there is an endless number of possibilities. They may all look the same at first glance. You want a set of straps that won’t let your two-wheeled ride take a nap when you hit that unavoidable pothole. We’ve created a comprehensive guide to walk you through the different types of straps and features to look for. That way, you buy the best straps for transporting your bike.

Our Methodology

When we evaluated the couple dozen motorcycle tie down straps available, we considered the range of motorcycles, their weight, their height, and transport methods our readers use. One set of straps may be overkill for someone who has a dirtbike while not being enough for someone with a Harley-Davidson bagger. We started with the baseline criteria like strap type, material, and attachment method. Then we refined our choices based on the additional features each tie down set has, such as coated hooks, quick-release buttons, extra-wide strap, included handlebar loops, and weight ratings. We then selected based on our decades of riding and transporting motorcycles and other powersports and equipment experience.

Best Motorcycle Tie Down Straps Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall

Rhino USA Ratchet Straps Motorcycle Tie Down Kit

Best Value

Trackside 8 Piece Tie-Down Set

Honorable Mention

Pro Taper Standard Universal Tiedown

Best Premium

Kodiak Straps Ratchet Straps Heavy Duty Tie Downs Strap Set

Best Heavy Duty

Progrip Powersports Motorcycle Soft Loop Tie Down Straps

Our Verdict on Motorcycle Tie Down Straps

Our top pick for the best motorcycle tie down strap is the Rhino USA Ratchet Straps Motorcycle Tie Down Kit. It’s the gold standard of motorcycle tie down straps with plenty of nice-to-have features. If you’re looking for value, then the Trackside 8-Piece set won’t let you down, so long as you’re dealing with a lighter machine.

What to Consider When Buying Motorcycle Tie Down Straps

Types of Motorcycle Tie Down Straps

Cam Buckle

Cam buckle straps are a basic type of motorcycle tie down that relies on a basic tensioning system. They tend to be more affordable and easy to use for most motorcycle tie down setups, but they do have some limitations in terms of the amount of tension they can safely hold before breaking.

Ratchet

Often more expensive but also more useful than cam buckles, ratchet straps use a ratcheting device to coil up the strap. This provides extra tension without having them rely on the sheer strength that cam buckles require to get the strap secure. Most ratchet straps are more efficient and quicker to set up because of this design.

Motorcycle Tie Down Straps Key Features

Hook

The hook is the main part that actually connects the tie downs to the bike and trailer. Since direct contact is made, the design of the hook is important to avoid scratches or other surface damage while the strap is in use. Rubber-coated hooks are the most popular type to avoid this type of damage. There are two main hook types, S-hooks and double J-hooks. Open S-hooks with a 45-degree angle are easy to hook onto your bike and work better when transporting your bike on a truck. However, closed and 90-degree hooks are considered more secure and are better when your bike is on a trailer.

Strap

The main bulk of a tie down comes in the form of the strap. Coming in different lengths, different strap materials are often used to hold different weights. It’s important to get the right length of strap to make sure you have enough to work with when securing your motorcycle to your trailer. Nylon is the most popular strap material because it’s more affordable. However, it isn’t as durable as polyester. While they require a higher upfront cost, polyester straps are sure to stay strong even when exposed to harsh weather and UV rays. They are also less susceptible to stretching like nylon.

Tensioner

A tie down strap won’t work unless there is some way to actually tension it. The tensioner is where cam buckle or ratchet designs are used. The basic buckle relies on physical strength, while the ratchet holds the tension with each turn for a more complete hold.

Strap Length and Width

The strap needs to be long enough to bridge the distance between a part of the motorcycle and the trailer. Extra length is also usually required to have enough for securing the strap through tension. Most straps are two to eight feet in length, but longer versions are also available for larger trailers. That doesn’t mean the longest possible option isn’t always the best choice. Transporting your bike on a small trailer or truck bed means you don’t need extremely long straps. If the straps are too long, you need to tie them to contain them from whipping around in the wind while driving. A wider strap is also an important feature to look for because it gives you better tension and is more durable.

Weight Limit

It’s important to stay within a strap’s weight limit for safe use; otherwise, the tie down may break or otherwise fail during transport. There’s a difference between load capacity and breaking strength. Load capacity is the safe operating weight limit, while breaking strength is the point at which the straps will break. You should never use the breaking point limit as the weight capacity limit for strapping down your bike.

Motorcycle Tie Down Straps Pricing

While prices can vary, you can generally expect to pay $30-$50 on ratchet straps for your motorcycle. As per usual, quality, piece count, and type are all going to influence the price. However, there’s really no need to spend much more than that to get a reliable product. You can save money and go cheaper, but that usually means you’re taking a gamble on quality. Ratchet straps aren’t that expensive, so you might as well spend the extra few bucks on something you can safely rely on.

Motorcycle Tie Down Straps Tips and Tricks

As with something you do for decades upon decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way in terms of selecting the right product, and/or using it. That’s the case with us and motorcycle tie down straps. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what we’ve learned along the way.

If you want to know how to use motorcycle straps to secure your bike, click the link and learn How to Properly Strap Down Your Motorcycle.
When secured, all of your straps should have even tension. This is crucial for keeping the bike secured and upright.
Lubricate the moving components of your straps to keep them moving smoothly and easily. The right lubrication can repel moisture to help prevent corroding.
Tighten the straps to be very taught but not overly tight, or you risk damaging your front forks.

FAQs

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q: How do tie downs work?

A: Basically, you connect one end to the bike and the other to an anchor point on a trailer. Then tighten the strap until there is good tension. For a complete explanation, check out our guide on how to properly transport your motorcycle.

Q: How many tie downs are required to secure a bike?

A: You need enough to keep the bike properly balanced and immobilized. Some owners feel that two in the front are enough. However, most people use four: two in the front and two in the back.