If you’re a motorcycle owner, like motorcycle goggles, a motorcycle wheel chock is an accessory you cannot do without, especially if you’re hands-on with fixing and storing your motorcycles.
Put simply; a motorcycle wheel chock is an accessory that keeps your motorcycle in place whenever there’s a need for your motorcycle to be secured tightly. If you need to keep your bike in place and make sure it doesn’t swerve or move suddenly, a motorcycle wheel chock is a tool you need.
Suppose you’re going to be carrying your motorcycle in a trailer or want to park on a slippery surface without having to worry about your bike’s stability. In that case, you should get a motorcycle wheel chock.
A motorcycle wheel chock consists of a pivoting cradle that locks the wheel in place, a base plate, and is adjustable to handle different tires.
How to Choose a Motorcycle Wheel Chock?
Finding the right motorcycle wheel chock for your bike can be a tricky business. There’s a myriad of options available when it comes to choosing a motorcycle wheel chock. That aside, there are things you should take note of when choosing a motorcycle wheel chock.
Here’s an extensive list:
- The size of your bike and wheel chock. Like most things, motorcycle wheel chocks come in various sizes. Before purchasing a wheel chock, you want to make sure you’re getting one that’s equipped for your motorcycle.
If you have a heavier than a normal bike, you may want to consider choosing a wheel chock with a wide base. Wheel chocks with wide bases are equipped to handle heavy bikes.
A motorcycle wheel chock with a narrow base is enough for smaller lightweight bikes to secure your bike.
NB: There are motorcycle wheel chocks that have adjustable bases. So, if you own many bikes, you may want to opt-in for the one-size-fits-all base.
- Chock’s load capacity. As motorcycle wheel chocks vary, so does their loading capacity. If the loading capacity of your motorcycle exceeds the wheel chock, the result could be disastrous.
So, ensure to read the manual of your wheel chock to determine whether or not it’s the right fit for your motorcycle.
- Watch out for the material of your wheel chock. A motorcycle wheel chock is a piece of equipment that handles a lot of stress, especially when the wheel chock is being used to secure the motorcycle in a trailer.
Your motorcycle wheel chock should be made of heavy-duty materials such as steel, aluminum, or steel alloys.
When you’re in the market for a wheel chock, you need to check for a wheel chock that ticks all the boxes listed above.
How to Use a Motorcycle Wheel Chock
When using a wheel chock to secure your motorcycle, there are four major steps you need to take.
- Mount the wheel chock
- Secure the motorcycle
- Tighten the straps
- Put your motorcycle into gear
Mount the wheel chock
Motorcycle wheel chocks come in different shapes and sizes. Some motorcycle wheel chocks come made to fix on the floor permanently. These are made for in-house storage spaces.
If your motorcycle wheel chock is going to be used to carry when transporting your bike, you’re going to need a wheel chock that is mounted instead of secured permanently in one place.
Different companies make motorcycle wheel chocks. Regardless, they should come with manuals and tools that aid installation. These tools are often different sets of bolts and screws that make installation easy.
If you’re carrying your bike in a trailer, you should make sure it’s mounted as deep in your truck as possible. Also, make sure it’s fastened between the trailer’s tiedown spots.
Secure the motorcycle
After mounting the chock successfully, the next stage is to secure the motorcycle wheel to the chock.
If you’re doing this first, we advise you gently push your motorcycle onto the chock and observe as the locking mechanism secures the front wheel.
The next stage is proceeding to tie down the motorcycle. If your motorcycle wheel chock has a stabilizing feature, you can tie down the motorcycle alone. If it does not have the stabilizing feature, you’re going to need an extra pair of hands to keep your motorcycle in place while you fasten it.
You may be wondering whether or not a motorcycle wheel chock can be moved after everything has been fastened in place. The answer to this question depends entirely on the kind of wheel chock you have. To know if your wheel chock has this feature, you should read the manual as it contains all the information you need.
Tighten the strap
This is the most important stage of securing your motorcycle. If this stage is not done properly, everything else is essentially in vain.
After positioning the bike correctly, there should be two tiedown spots on each side. Use sturdy straps to secure your bike on both sides.
NB: When tightening the strap, make sure not to strap it too tight on one side. When you tie the first strap, leave it a little loose initially, tie the second strap in place, and then move back and forth to tighten both straps. This is to ensure that the bike remains upright at all times.
Also, make sure the front straps are positioned in the same direction as the chock to reduce the tension exerted on both the strap and the chock.
Put your motorcycle into gear
This is the last stage of securing your motorcycle. After making sure it’s been tied down securely, move to put the bike in gear. Putting your bike in gear protects the bike from rolling backward when the trailer is in motion and takes the strain off the various points it was tied down.
Conclusion
If you’re going to be moving around with your bike in a trailer or a truck, you want to make sure it’s safe and secure; a motorcycle wheel chock is one of the many ways to do it.