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Bike tie down on ferry to Tasmania

  • T4
    T4
    yesterday
    Hey all, question for those who have done this recently. I did a search and found a result from 14 years ago - is it still the same? There was no photo and they did not specify whether the bike was upright or on the sidestand. Not keen on it being on the stand and also not super keen on it being in gear all that way either, not loaded with gear.
    Bike in question is an older model Sportster (2004). Any advice would be appreciated.

    Cheers, Will
    Screenshot (1364).png
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    yesterday
    About 12mths ago i took my BMW over and it was on the side stand in gear. The boys did a great job and maybe 70+ bikes without a single fall over or issue. It gets pretty rough..
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    yesterday
    I have been on the boat more times than I can remember since 1986.
    Only had one issue a couple of years ago when they used my handgrips as tie down points and  tightened up the throttle side so much that it ruined my heated handgrips (the outer sleeve of the handgrip would pull right off). Of course I did not realise this until about 5 minutes ride away from the ferry on a wet and cold Melbourne day.
    After my trip I contacted TT Line and told them about the issue and asked for funds to replace the grips, the HD heated grips were not cheap (a bit over $800 before fitting at the time).
    I was told that because I did not report the damage when still on the boat they would not pay me.
    This pissed me off big time so I kept at em cause I knew they had busted the grips.
    In the end they thankfully did pay me.
    I guess $800 is not that much to them as at the time someone had had 16 polo horses die (allegedly in the back of a truck on the boat). Dont think the driver realised they were all dead till after departing the boat either.
  • Hidiho
    Hidiho
    yesterday
    If your bike has an alarm make sure you disable it or leave the fob with the bike, when I went over years ago someones alarm went off once we hit open waters and they were calling for the owner over the PA system to disable the alarm.
  • flstc08
    flstc08
    23 hours ago
    Quoting Hidiho on 04 Jun 2025 11:29 PM

    If your bike has an alarm make sure you disable it or leave the fob with the bike, when I went over years ago someones alarm went off once we hit open waters and they were calling for the owner over the PA system to disable the alarm.

    G'day,
    does your alarm have a 'transport' mode? 
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    23 hours ago
    My 2012 Street Glide does
  • T4
    T4
    16 hours ago
    Thank you for that update PB.
    I am still not keen on having the bike on the side stand as I have had a not so wonderful experience with a Triumph T140V tied down on a trailer (not a ferry) on the side stand (read: young, dumb, drug and alcohol affected). It bent the stand and slightly twisted the frame rail :(
    Do you recall seeing any bikes tied upright, like you would (properly) on a trailer?

    Cheers, Will
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    14 hours ago
    Will i haven't seen a bike upright on any of the ferries i have taken a bike including across to Victoria Island in Canada. 
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