How common is it for aftermarket clipon bars to be slightly bent under routine use? Is this even possible by routine weight transfer from the rider’s upper body during braking? How about by tightening tie-down straps too aggressively? Any one experience this?
like name branded bars? Its not completely out of the realm of possibility but the forces to do such distorting... Ive seen many cast clip ons break from over zealous tie down cinching.
I could see tie downs bending them but not people, most often the clamp with spin from a person before the bar would bend. Also you shouldn't tie down from the bars
I’ve got a Kendon 2 bike trailer with the wheel chock upgrade. I use a Canyon Dancer to secure the bike from the handle bars. A TRS setup would be ideal, but won’t work on this trailer. I just thought that if the tie downs only partially compressed the forks that there was no way the bars could bend. And yes, these are name brand, top tier bars. I’ve been towing this way for 25 years and don’t recall this ever happening before.
I still use tie downs from the bars with canyon dancers. But I dont use ratchet straps. Instead I use cam buckle straps. No risk of over tightening like with ratchet straps. Never had an issue
For me also with a chock, soft straps to the lower triple is more secure and won’t damage grips or throttle. There’s a lot of force in a bike tied down and going over speed bumps. I’m not surprised ppl over do it and bend/break them.
Per stangmx13 "soft straps to the lower triple" This is what you want to do if you need to strap front!
Never tried that technique. Seems like it would interfere with bodywork - but I’m willing to give it a try. I think I will also go back to non-ratchet style tie down straps a well.
That's why I stopped using the lower triple. The straps were putting too much pressure on my bodywork
Don't you just love when someone gives you a solution so simple that you can't believe you didnt think of it?
It only works on the single bike version of the Kendon. Mine is a 1997 edition two bike version. edit: a Google search yielded a trailer like mine with a double trs system - but it took some major modifications! I’ll try some other suggestions first...
I have a TRS on a Kendon dual trailer. Had a buddy weld a plate onto the rear section. Used it all this season and it has been great. I'll never deal with straps again.
