There are lots of ways to get from here to there. If you are into motorcycles, there is nothing quite like heading off to your destination straddling the seat of your bike, hearing the rumbling of the engine, and feeling the wind hit you in the face. But all is not perfect. There are things to worry about, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to carry stuff with you.
Carrying stuff isn’t a big deal when you’re just riding around town. You can throw on a backpack to carry your lunch and other items you need for work. A saddlebag works well enough when you need to stop at the grocery store for a few things. But when you are carrying the equivalent of luggage, it is a different matter.
I’ll be honest and say that my preferred method for tying stuff down, when I was still riding a bike, was bungee cords. That was 40 years ago. If I were still riding a bike today, I would not repeat that mistake. Instead, I would invest in a selection of cam straps.
Cam Strap Basics
Cam straps are webbing straps with a cam buckle on one end. You can deploy them as single or multi-piece units. To secure a cam strap, you thread the open end through the cam buckle and pull it firmly. A toothed plate digs into the webbing material and holds it securely.
According to the folks behind the Rollercam brand, cam straps come in all sorts of configurations. Bikers would probably want to avoid straps with hooks. Instead, straps with loops work just as well without the risks associated with hooks.
Why They Are Ideal for Bikers
Not only would I not use bungee cords, I also would not secure stuff to a motorcycle with nylon rope or even ratchet straps. Maybe those two solutions sit well with you. That’s great. Here is why I would stick only with cam straps:
1. They Aren’t Bungee Cords
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I’m not a big fan of bungee cords. They are not reliable, they aren’t very strong, and their hooks are dangerous. Cam straps are ideal if for no other reason than the fact that they aren’t bungee cords. Enough set on that point.
2. They are Smaller and Come in Various Lengths
Ratchet straps are intended more for heavy and dense loads being transported by commercial vehicles. They are too big and bulky for motorcycles. On the other hand, cam straps are smaller. They can also be had in smaller lengths, so you do not have to deal with a lot of excess strap material to keep it out of the way.
3. They Are Easily Deployed
Cam buckles are pretty simple in their design. As such, cam straps are very easy to deploy. You do not need a lot of force and it only takes a minute or so to secure things in place. They really are easy to use.
4. They Represent a Good Value
A high-quality cam strap will provide years of reliable service. Add to that the fact that camp straps are pretty affordable, and you get a tie-down that represents a good value. You don’t have to spend a lot on a good cargo securement tool.
There are still more reasons I think camp straps are ideal for carrying stuff on your motorcycle. Unfortunately, I am out of space for this post. If I still owned a bike, cam straps would be an indispensable item for me to have on hand.
