Motorcycle Tie Down Kits: What Should Be in the Box (and What You Can Skip)

Search "motorcycle tie down kit" and you'll get everything from a $20 bag of ratchet straps to full trailer track systems. Some kits are ready to bolt in on a Saturday. Others leave you making a second trip to the hardware store because the anchors, rails or bolts were "sold separately."

This guide walks through what a motorcycle tie down kit should actually include, which extras are worth adding, and how a strapless footpeg kit compares to the classic strap setup, whether you haul in a trailer, a truck bed or a van.

The three parts every tie down kit needs

However a kit holds the bike, it has to cover three jobs:

  1. Something that holds the bike. Straps and soft loops, a wheel chock, or a footpeg tie-down.
  2. Something on the floor to hold onto. D-rings, L-Track (also called airline track), E-Track rails or single point anchors.
  3. Hardware to fasten that floor point down. Bolts, nuts and backing plates sized for your floor.

A lot of "kits" only cover the first job. If the box has straps and nothing else, you still need anchors and hardware before you can use it. Check the "included" list before you buy, not after.

Strap kits: cheap, familiar, and a lot of cranking

The standard motorcycle tie down kit is a set of ratchet or cam-buckle straps plus soft loops for the bars or triple clamp. They're cheap and easy to find, and most riders have hauled a bike with them at some point.

The trade-offs show up on the road:

  • Fork compression. To keep the bike upright, you crank the front end down and leave it there for the whole drive. We break down why that matters in Why is it important to limit compression of front forks?
  • Loosening. Straps can stretch, shift or work loose over bumps, so you end up checking them at every stop.
  • Setup time. Four straps, two hands, one bike that wants to fall over while you get the first two on.
  • Floor points still not included. A strap kit still needs D-rings or track in the floor.

If you already have a strap setup, our guide on motorcycle tie down straps covers how to use them well.

Wheel chock kits: good for the front, not the whole job

A wheel chock holds the front tire straight and keeps the bike from rolling. It's a solid upgrade for street bikes and cruisers, but on its own it doesn't keep the bike upright. Most chock setups still use straps to hold the bike vertical.

If you go this way, check whether the chock mounts to your track system and whether hardware is included. Our E-Track wheel chock (floor mount) fits tires up to 7 inches wide and mounts into horizontal E-Track on the floor. It needs at least 14 inches of E-Track, and the hardware for permanent mounting isn't included, so plan for that.

Strapless footpeg kits: what a complete one includes

A footpeg tie-down skips the bars and the straps entirely. It locks on to the pegs and anchors to the floor on both sides, so the bike is held from its lowest solid point with minimal fork compression.

This is where knowing what's in the box matters most, so here's exactly what you get with Moto Cinch.

Every Moto Cinch set includes the floor anchors and hardware to mount it. You don't need to buy or install track first. Bolt in the anchors that come in the box, and you're ready to haul.

  • Moto Cinch MX (L-Track) is our original cam-action footpeg tie-down for dirt, motocross, dual-sport and ADV bikes. Click the boot onto the peg, cinch the lever, and go. It's built from aircraft-grade aluminum, ATS lab tested to 1,500 lbs per unit, and fits peg heights from 13.5" to 17" and peg widths up to 2.49".
  • Moto Cinch MX E-Track is the same idea for E-Track floors. It comes with E-Track single point anchors and install hardware, and it needs a minimum peg height of 14.5" from the ground to the top of the pegs.
  • Moto Cinch Street (L-Track) is built for street, sport and cruiser bikes, with peg widths up to 2.37".
  • Moto Cinch MX Dual Pin (L-Track) adds a second L-Track pin on each side for bigger, heavier bikes, and ships with 8-inch aluminum L-Track rails, one per side.
  • ECO Cinch MX (L-Track) is the budget version for bikes of all sizes. It has no cam lever, so you lean the bike and attach one side at a time. It includes left and right ECO Cinches, two angled aluminum L-Track rails, a rail hardware kit, a brake strap and a carry bag.
  • ECO Cinch 2 MX (L-Track) adds a second attachment point on each peg and includes two 6-inch angled aluminum L-Track rails, rail hardware, a brake strap and a carry bag.

Not sure which one fits your bike? Peg height and width are the two numbers to check. Our application table helps you match a model to your setup.

Extras worth adding (sold separately)

The kit gets you hauling. These are for riders who want more mounting points or a cleaner long-term setup:

Trailer, truck bed or van: what changes

The kit itself stays the same. What changes is where the anchors go and what's under the floor.

  • Trailer: You usually have a wood or aluminum floor with good access underneath for backing plates. See how to tie down a motorcycle in a trailer.
  • Truck bed: Access underneath is tighter. Some riders use rivet nuts to make the install easier.
  • Van: Floors vary a lot, so measure and check what's under the floor before you drill.

For placement, our post on motorcycle tie down anchors walks through which anchor type to use and where to put it.

L-Track or E-Track kit?

If your trailer or truck already has track, match it. If you're starting from a bare floor, either works, and the anchors in the box cover the basic install. Our breakdown of L-Track vs E-Track explains the differences in more detail.

Quick checklist before you buy any motorcycle tie down kit

  • Does it include floor anchors, or just straps?
  • Is the mounting hardware in the box?
  • Does it fit your bike's peg height and width (for footpeg kits) or tire width (for chocks)?
  • Does it match your floor: L-Track, E-Track or bare?
  • Will it hold the bike upright without cranking the forks down?

The bottom line

A good motorcycle tie down kit should let you open the box and get the bike secured that same weekend. With Moto Cinch, the floor anchors and hardware come in every set, and extra anchors are there if you want more mounting points later.

Find the right fit for your bike and see what's in the box before you order.

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