Aluminum L-Track (Airline Track) for Motorcycle Tie-Downs: What to Buy and How to Set It Up
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Aluminum L-track, airline track, angled L-track: it all looks about the same in the photos. It isn't. The track is the thing your whole tie-down setup bolts into, so the rail you pick, and how you lay it out, decides how solid your bike feels at 70 mph on a rough road.
This guide covers what L-track actually is, what to look for when you buy it, and how to lay it out in a truck bed, trailer or van so your bike goes in and out fast.
What is L-track (airline track)?
L-track is a low aluminum rail with a slot down the middle and a row of round openings along it. Fittings drop into an opening, slide a short way and lock in place under the lips of the track. To move a fitting, you unlock it, slide it to the next opening and lift it out.
You'll see it called a few different names:
- Airline track or aircraft track, because the same style of rail has long been used to anchor seats and cargo in aircraft.
- Logistic track, a common name in trailers and cargo vans.
- Aluminum L-track (or aluminium L-track if you're in the UK).
They all describe the same basic idea. The differences that matter are in the profile and the build quality.
If you're still deciding between L-track and the wider, flatter E-track, start with our breakdown in L-Track or E-Track? What's the difference? The short version: L-track is narrower and more compact, which is why it works so well in truck beds and tighter floor layouts.
Why the track matters more than you think
Every tie-down is only as good as what it's anchored to. You can buy the best tie-down on the market, but if it's clamped into thin, soft rail that's held down with a couple of wood screws, the weak point has just moved to the floor.
Three things decide whether a piece of track is up to the job.
1. Wall thickness
A lot of cheap track sold online is thin-wall aluminum. It looks fine in a listing, but the lips that hold the fitting are where the load goes. Thin lips can flex or deform under repeated loading and bumps. Before you buy, check the aluminum thickness, not just the length and the price.
Our Moto Track Angled Aluminum L-Track (Airline Track) is built from high-strength aluminum and is made to be much stronger than the thin track you'll find on Amazon.
2. Profile: angled vs square-edge
Standard square-edge rail stands up off the floor with a hard vertical edge. That edge catches boots, gear bags, ramps and anything you slide across the floor.
Angled L-track has sloped sides, so it sits flatter and lower. In a truck bed or trailer where you're walking, loading and dragging gear around, that lower profile snags less and is easier to live with day to day. Finish each run with an End Cap for L-Track and the tapered edge cuts down snags on clothing and soft bags even more, and the install looks clean.
3. How it's fastened down
The track can only hold what its fasteners and the floor behind it can hold. Through-bolting with nuts and backing plates spreads the load far better than screws alone. That's why we sell matched kits:
- 2" L-Track Hardware Kit with single-hole backing plates for standard and longer L-track runs.
- 2.5" Heavy Hardware Kit with thicker 3.2mm backing plates for tougher installs where you want extra plate strength.
How to lay out L-track for motorcycle tie-downs
Moto Cinch tie-downs secure the bike by the foot pegs instead of the handlebars, so your track goes where the pegs sit, not out by the front wheel. That changes the layout compared with a strap setup.
Step 1: Park the bike where you want it to ride
Roll the bike into the truck bed, trailer or van and stand it where you'd like it to travel. Leave room for ramps, the tailgate or door, and any other bikes or gear.
Step 2: Mark under both foot pegs
Drop a mark on the floor directly under the left and right foot pegs. These are your anchor points. One short run of track under each peg is enough for a single bike in a fixed spot.
Step 3: Decide between short pieces and long runs
- Short pieces (6" to 12") work well when the bike always goes in the same spot. They keep the floor clear and cost less.
- Longer runs (24" to 36") give you room to adjust. They're handy if you haul different bikes, switch between one and two bikes, or want to shift the load forward or back.
Our angled L-track comes in 6", 8", 12", 24" and 36" lengths, and it's priced per single track, so order one for each side.
Step 4: Check what's under the floor before you drill
Look underneath before you drill a single hole. Watch for fuel lines, brake lines, wiring, crossmembers and the trailer frame. Where you can, put your bolts through solid structure, and always use backing plates underneath.
Step 5: Bolt it down and seal it
Through-bolt the track with the hardware kit, tighten the lock nuts, and seal the holes if the floor is exposed to weather. Cap the ends.
Step 6: Test fit before the first trip
Clip your tie-downs onto the pegs, cinch them down and check that the bike stands upright and solid.
Choosing the right Moto Cinch for L-track
Once your track is in, the tie-down you pick depends on your bike and peg height:
- Dirt, MX, dual-sport and ADV bikes: The Moto Cinch MX L-Track (Airline Track Model) fits foot peg heights from 13.5" to 17" and peg widths up to 2.49". It's built from aircraft-grade aluminum and ATS lab tested to 1,500 lbs per unit. If you want a dual-pin fitting, look at the Moto Cinch MX L-Track Dual Pin Model.
- Smaller bikes with lower pegs: The Moto Cinch Mini MX (L-Track) is built for lower peg heights.
- Street and sport bikes: See the Moto Cinch Street (L-Track).
- On a budget: The ECO Cinch MX (L-Track) is a lower-cost option.
Not sure which one fits? Measure from the floor to the top of your foot peg with the bike upright, then check the fit range on each product page, or get in touch and we'll help you pick.
Useful add-ons once you're on L-track
- Single point anchors. If you don't want long rails, L-Track Stainless Steel Single Point Anchors give you round 1.5" anchor points that hold up to wet trailers and salt air. They come in packs of 2 with hardware.
- Theft deterrence. The Moto Cinch L-Track Locking Device is a lockable L-track fitting for a cable or chain. It needs at least 6" of L-track and takes a lock with a 5/16" (8mm) or smaller shank.
- Switching to E-track later? The E-Track Conversion Kit converts L-track Moto Cinch units to E-track mounts. It does require drilling a larger hole in the cinch body, so read the install notes first.
The bottom line
Good aluminum L-track is the foundation of a strapless setup. Pick a solid, angled rail, bolt it through with backing plates, and put it right under the pegs. Do that once, and loading becomes click, cinch, go.
Want more on getting the bike in safely? Read How to Tie Down a Motorcycle in a Trailer (Without Damaging Your Forks) and How to Haul a Dirt Bike Without Straps.