Thanks Rjs!! You're always a wealth of information, you're right about the belt and the tension. That's what I'm more worried about. I'll just bite the bullet and take the 2 hour trip, uhaul Mc trailer is like $15 for a day.
This photo shows how I tied down my AK on the U-Haul mc trailer. I believe this is the best way to avoid needing to remove any plastic and also avoid any damage to the handlebars (which can and has happened to others I personally know who used the bars to tie their ST1300 down). This method does not compress the front forks and that is not needed this way. No damage to the fork seals doing this way as sometimes does happen when you compress the forks.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7xesAVJC2j5f5G2H9Two straps around the fork on the front wheel as shown pulls the AK into the integrated wheel chock since they are angled forward to the front/side D rings on the trailer. Do not put the straps to the railings of the trailer. Use the tie down rings. The wheel chock is what does 80-90% of the work holding the bike upright. The straps in front do help a little but also are still in the right place to keep the bike upright as well. The lower brackets on each fork prevent the straps from moving down. As long as the strap is above the axle they will do their job perfectly.
Two straps around the rear wheel as shown. No need to do more in the rear since the ONLY purpose is to hold the rear of the bike from walking side to side. As long as the bike is kept straight with the front wheel there is no further need for any more support than this. AND THIS BIT IS VERY IMPORTANT, you do want to put on the parking brake to prevent the rear wheel from turning due to bouncing on the trailer. Also, be careful routing those straps around/under the center stand.
You do NOT want to leave the center stand or side stand down. Be sure to put those up to prevent poking holes in the trailer floor or damaging the bike frame or the stands. Let the suspension of the bike do what it does.
To tie down the bike put it onto the side stand and then put the left front strap on first... but only tight enough to make it tight when you stand the bike straight up in the trailer while sitting on it. Then put the right front strap on and tighten both the right and left straps to pull the AK firmly into the integrated wheel chock and hold the bike straight up. Then finally put on the parking brake and put on the rear straps to firmly hold the rear wheel in place and put UP the side stand.
When you remove the straps be sure to remember to put the side stand down first... then release the front strap on the right side first and let the bike lean over onto the side stand... then remove the other straps. I did put down the side stand first but then had a brainiac senior moment and made the mistake of loosening the left front strap first. And since I had stopped on a slight slope to the right the bike leaned over to the right. I was able to grab the handlebars and slow the lean to ease my AK against the right rounded rail of the trailer. The trailer is narrow enough that now there is only a slight rub mark on the right colored fairing above the logo oval where it sticks out the most. Can't really see it unless I am looking real close. Glad that trailer rail is a smooth rounded edge.
Like I said, you DO NOT need more straps than this and only the front straps are needed to hold the bike straight up and tight into the integrated wheel chock... which does most of the work. This setup worked really well for me even at some faster speeds on slightly bouncy roads. NO shifting of the bike on the trailer and NO hint of the bike not being supported more than enough.
