Most riders feel that they can handle the process whenever transport is required for a motorcycle. However, towing a motorcycle isn’t as simple as it sounds. Poor practices and equipment pose huge risks to your bike’s safety your safety, and even the safety of other road users. Professional motorcycle tow truck services provide this special care and expertise to ensure the job is completed safely and effectively.
Below, we’ll look at the risks of trying to tow a motorcycle yourself and why booking a professional motorcycle tow truck is smarter and safer.
The Risks of Do-It-Yourself Motorcycle Towing
- Incorrect Equipment
Towing a motorcycle can be accomplished with special equipment that secures and stabilizes the bike on transport. The most common ‘do-it-yourself’ setup includes rope, bungee cords, or even normal car trailers not acceptable when towing a motorcycle. Without proper wheel chocks, soft straps, and loading ramps, your motorcycle is at risk of toppling over, shifting while in transit, or sustaining frame damage as well as the tyres or suspension.
This is supported by the fact that professional motorcycle tow truck services have the right equipment for the same, including flatbed trucks with motorcycle cradles and tie-down systems that keep the bike safely fastened in place. Such precision in equipment is just not possible with a DIY approach.
- Lack of Expertise
Towing a motorcycle is somewhat different from actually riding the bike. A motorcycle, due to balance and weight distribution, has a very special way it should be handled when being towed. Only experience can teach a handler how not to make any mistakes, even insignificant ones like not tightening a strap or not tying up the handlebars, which may lead to irreparable damage or even accidents.
Expert, professional, licensed, and experienced tow truck operators undertake towing of all types of motorcycles, from standard ones to sports bikes and cruisers. They know exactly how to load the motorcycle, secure it, and then move it efficiently without causing any damage and making the process trouble-free.
- Damage to Your Motorcycle
One of the major risks in towing a motorcycle yourself is the potential damage to it. If it is done without the proper equipment and technique, then your bike might fall victim to the following:
Scratches and Dents: Improper strapping or over-straightening may make the bike show some ugly scratch marks or dents in the paint and bodywork.
Bent Frames: Various towing methods poorly executed can impose undue stress on the frame, leading to structural issues.
Suspension Damage: Uneven weight distribution while towing can pull on the suspension system, compromising the performance of the bike in the process.
With a professional motorcycle tow truck, this is ruled out. Their soft straps, non-abrasive materials, and balanced loading techniques see to it that your motorcycle will arrive perfectly at its destination.
- Increased Risk of Accidents
Most of the DIY towing sets are unstable, leading to an increased risk of an accident. In case the motorcycle is not well secured, it may shift or even fall over during transit, which may present a potential hazard to other road users besides placing you at risk of liability. Thirdly, if you are not well trained in towing a motorcycle, this might be very difficult to maneuver, brake, or otherwise maintain control of your vehicle.
These risks are negated by professional tow truck services that use secure towing systems and drivers trained for the particular challenges created by transportation by motorcycles. Their vehicles are also fitted for safe towing, even on rough or uneven roads.
- Legal and Insurance Issues
Poor towing can be susceptible to a lot of legal and insurance issues. Most states have laws governing towing methods, and failure to comply with these will lead to the imposition of fines or other penalties. Furthermore, if your insecure towing setup results in an accident, it is likely that insurance coverage will deny the claims for damages, which will require you to pay out of pocket.
Professional motorcycle towing companies are licensed, insured, and follow all the local regulations; that way, one is always safe and legally protected.
- Stress and Hassle
Self-serving motorcycle towing is quite stressful, as well as laborious. From figuring out how to secure the bike to dealing with potential mishaps on the road, more often than not, self-service towing of motorbikes is just more trouble than it is worth. The services, on the other hand, will handle everything that has to do with the towing process, therefore letting one attend to the situation at hand with no extra hassle.
Towing a motorcycle is something that needs to be done very carefully. Any so-called ‘savings’ on the cost of the DIY towing method pale significantly when weighed against the risks entailed, besides the damage such improper handling may incur. If you book a professional motorcycle tow truck service, you are guaranteed the safety of the bike and efficient transport, along with your peace of mind.
Here at Maningham Towing, we are dedicated to offering nothing but the best motorcycle towing for whatever your needs may be. Whether it’s about breakdown issues, accidents, or just usual transport, our team is here for you. If there is something you would like to know more about about our provided service, or if you need to schedule a tow, feel free to contact us today. Don’t gamble with it; just go with the professionals in motorcycle towing so that your bike is in the best hands possible.