Yesterday I installed the MotoCinch system on my trailer, and got to use it for the first time today, to haul our bikes up to my son's place. I am really impressed with this system. We trailer our bikes almost every weekend, and I would estimate that the very first time I used them, they reduced my load time by 40 minutes and my unload time by 20 minutes. That may get even better as I get more accustomed to using them, and get to know where the bikes line up best with the brackets. So that is 2 hours saved every weekend (the bikes get loaded and unloaded twice every time we trailer them).

The drive to my sons house is 2 hours, a mix of freeway and back roads with bumps, railroad tracks, etc. Bikes were rock solid, which is great peace of mind. I always worried about the straps after we almost lost one of the bikes several months back on a very bumpy section of road where the bike managed to slide sideways and loosen the straps.

For me these benefits are well worth the cost over straps...

EDIT: OR NOT... see later in the thread - system failed!!!

Here are a couple of pics from today showing off the trailer, the system, and a shot just to prove we actually rode today.

 

Wow takes me less than 5 mins to load and tie down my bike and even less to unload using regular tie downs.

 

Niceeee.

 

Nice rig Bill.

What mpg towing?


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That's a nice trailer. I'll bet it's decently light. I'll read up on this MotoCinch deal, never heard of it before.

 

Wow, not for me. More like 45 to load and 25 to unload. Position bikes on trailer, stuff a wood block under both front fenders, untangle the pile of straps. Then 4 straps on each bike, ratchet them all down, then go back around and tuck and tie up all of the strap ends so they don't flap in the wind. I don't see how you could do all that in 5 minutes.

Now it is 5 minutes to load and even less to unload.

 

Thanks guys!

The trailer is 600 lbs empty, and rated 2950 lbs, so a 2350 lb cargo capacity. The sides are also the ramps, and are very easy to remove. The back sections are also removable if you want to go completely flatbed.

I'm getting 16 mpg with the trailer and 20 unloaded. For comparison, on our trip to Moab and Sedona last month, we didn't use the trailer (figured the gas savings would add up on a 3000 mile road trip) and had the bikes in the bed of the truck. Averaged 18 mpg on that trip.

 

Checked their website... nice system.

I used to have a very nice aluminum R&R snowmobile trailer. LOVED that trailer!!! It was barely 300 lbs unloaded. I could scoot the rear end over all by myself (while empty, of course) . I just bounced it a little and tugged it the direction I wanted it to go... It's hard to find aluminum trailers out west. The trailer I have now is probably heavier than my car... well, maybe not, but it feels that way. It was cheap though - free, if you consider I got the trailer with a snowmobile for $1k. The sled was easily worth that much.

 

+1, less than 5 mins to load.

Hey Bill. If you are using 4 straps per bike , how does the rear end slip sideways? Or are/were you using 2 each side up front for redundancy?

 

On securing the rear wheel, I'm not too high on straps compressing the rear suspension...or front suspension for that matter. I use one of the semi-homemade devices that goes between the front fender/triple clamp and front tire and use conventional straps. In the rear, I use 2 eye-hooks with a rubber hose covered chain with quick clips on each end to secure the rear wheel. Make the chain the right length, and it will keep the rear wheel in place even on rough 2-tracks.

This system Bill has shown here doesn't seem to compress the suspension too much, and that's good. I think I'd still want my front tire to be pushed into a V or slot, and I'd secure the rear with my described setup. I can load and secure my bike in about 5 minutes easily. I think some of it is just having your method down and your technique a matter of routine.