Thomas Nanninga writes:

Subject: How-to-Tie Down A Motorcycle

I strongly recommend NOT to use the handlebars. The bars will have a tendency to rotate, depending on where you attach the loops, they could also slip, and loosen. The bike can then fall over, or worse, come loose and slide down the road.

I recommend using the front forks. Attaching the loops to the fork above the bottom triple clamp. This will keep everything in line. And I also recommend to cinch the bike, compressing the forks. This keeps the bike from moving. The bike just moving from side to side can create additional "G" forces that could stretch the tie downs, or cause them to break.

Steve writes:

Subject: How to tie-down a motorcycle

The writer says, "Once both Ratchet straps are in place, tighten each snugly ... BE SURE TO NOT COMPRESS THE FRONT FORKS." I've tied down a lot of bikes and if you don't compress the front forks it will not be snug. I agree it can cause damage over time, specifically to the seals resulting in leaked fluid. I'm looking for bracket system now so that I won't have to compress the forks.