---
title: "How to tow a motorcycle"
canonical: https://towingdad.shop/vehicles/how-to-tow-a-motorcycle/
lang: en
---

# How to tow a motorcycle
A motorcycle goes on a flatbed, upright and strapped. There is no acceptable wheels-down version: a bike cannot be dragged behind a truck without damaging the drivetrain, the bearings or the machine itself, and it will not stand up on its own.

## Where the straps go
Straps run through the suspension or structural points, compressing the forks partially so the bike cannot bounce. Never by the handlebars alone: the bars are not designed to hold the machine's weight against a truck's motion, and an over-tensioned strap on the forks can damage the seals.

A front wheel chock does most of the work of holding the bike upright. Without one, the machine depends entirely on strap tension.

## Where the damage shows up
Fork seals from over-compression, scratched fairings from badly placed straps, and bearings from being dragged. Photograph the bike strapped down before it leaves: if something appears later, that photograph is what separates transport damage from pre-existing wear.

## Related questions
- [How your vehicle should be towed](/vehicles/)
- [Equipment](/equipment/)

Always follow your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Improper towing can cause severe drivetrain damage that is not covered by warranty.

Sources (1)- Towing and Recovery Association of America — [Training and certification levels](https://www.traaonline.com/) (accessed 2026-08-17) T2