Because the bar tubing is a very thin wall tubing and easily bent. I've done it, strap to the bars that is, and gotten away with it, but I can also bend my bars easily with my bare hands. I can't bend the frame with my bare hands!!

 

I learned the hard way. I had just bought my FLHT and was going to haul it back to southern Ohio from Michigan. I loaded it on the trailer and started ratcheting down on the straps and the handlebars made a loud pop. The bars came completely loose and were moving up and down. Apparently to much torque for the clamp. Luckily it was under warranty and a tech unloaded the bike and fixed the bars.

 

These are really nice and make a great location to tie down.

Easy install, solid as a rock and no too expensive.


http://www.kuryakyn.com/Product-Gall...Name=929-1.jpg

 

I put the Harley-Davidson Chrome tie-downs on the upper sides of the front forks, looks great, heavy duty, and works perfectly for the front, tying it down. and on the rear, I ran a pair of HD, soft ties, criscrossed threw the back wheel, (not where the valve stem is), with my ratchet tie downs, to the rear left & right tie down points in my trailer, keeps the rear of the bike centered/in place, w/o bouncing & moving left and right, during transport/long hauls.....More recenty, (Because the above was a little difficult, sometimes), I now use the soft ties threw the front of the rear chrome bag protector bars, on each side, close to where its mounted to the frame, with great success/not problems. This is a little easier & faster to do. Good luck!

 

I guess I'm just lucky??? One pull strap on each side to the bars in the back of my short bed truck? Been hauling bikes like that since I quit using 1/4" nylon rope about 30 years ago?

 

I use that method for dirtbikes just not on my heavier stuff

 

+1 on this one... People get impatient here sometimes... I have been guilty of asking why on things here too (just ride it) but I have to always remember that not everyone has the same experiences or knowledge level and the whole reason for this forum is to educate ourselves and learn everything we can the best we can? Right?

 

Geez, a 7 year old thread resurrected. That must be a record.

 

This is why I don't do it. I had my bar clamps come loose in normal operation and they rocked on me. had they been on the bars they would have rolled back until the strap came off. I also bent they bars on a friends bike picking it up after a tip over.

I use six straps. The are all soft tie ratchets. Either side of the fork just above the fender mounts. two more around the crash bar frame and then two more on the saddle bag guards on either side. I only compress the suspension slightly. Never had the bike move on 700 mile days.