I too have the 3" PVC pipe (although mine's stock, not trick like yours!). I've tried hitching it down with and without and it just doesn't feel secure enough without it. My bike has never tipped over with it in (although my wife's has (without a block)several times). I think that is benefit enough to invest a couple dollars (mine was free) to put this in and not worry about. I tighten it enough to see it bite into the tire, it doesn't hurt ONE single thing, the bike actually looks better in the truck (just like new graphics make it LOOK better), and it is MORE secure than I could get it without putting it in --- therefore, I FEEL better about transporting my bikes around WITHOUT fear of them tipping over! Cool, huh?
I don't buy into the hype that tightening the straps down and compressing the springs doesn't contribute to them fatiguing either (even if it is a very minute (ya know 'my noot') amount). So, lets see, bouncing up and down everytime you jump will fatigue the springs, but compressing them down and leaving them this way won't? Lot's of people change their pistons and/or rings on their 2stroke bikes every 25 hours or so RELIGIOUSLY, for peace of mind (and at the same time tell everyone not to rely on a compression test). Lot's of people clean their filters everytime they ride and suggest everyone else do the same, for peace of mind. I don't hear anyone saying that they are WRONG, I don't see any threads with 40 posts telling them that what they are doing is unnecessary (when it probably is a little bit in excess). But, someone offers a tip--something that they've found that works for them and this thread is already two pages long! You can keep trying to convince me, I've read all of the threads on this subject and you haven't done it yet! Keep trying....maybe I'll get around to checking this thread again and see if you've come up with something a little more convincing. :flame: :flame:
Ok, sorry, rant over.