Every so often we come across a part or accessory that is worth its weight in gold. For me, the most recent items to make that list are a set of Highline Recreation's Tugger Lift Straps, without which I very well may not have finished the Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rally. Sold separately, the Tugger Straps are a more refined version of the old "tiedown-around-the-fork" trick. Since many bikes don't have solid places from which to grab, pull, strain, yank and tug, these Lift Straps are the perfect solution to a common problem.
The Front Tuggers sell for $14 each, though Team USA opted for the $20 custom-embroidered straps for Romaniacs. Ours were smartly lettered "Trage Aici!?" which translates to "Pull Here!" in Romanian (a simple yet effective message if I've ever seen one!). The Front Tugger attaches to the fork tubes just above the front fender and below the headlight via built-in, extremely burly loop fasteners. These attachments make the Tuggers incredibly easy to install, but once adjusted they may as well be set in stone. No matter how long they're on the bike or how much they are used, the Front Tugger will NOT come loose until you want it to! The strap length is slightly long but can be adjusted closer to the bike, and the material itself is more than up to the task of supporting a full-sized machine; I guarantee you could hang your bike indefinitely from the Front Tugger. Additionally, the 1-inch webbing is extremely easy to grab, even with gloves or when covered in muck.
The Rear Tugger is similarly well-built and sells for $24 ($30 with custom embroidery). The strap installs differently depending on what brand of bike you ride, but comes with a variety of hardware to ensure compatibility just above the rear fender and behind the seat. As with the Front, this Tugger is super solid; you'd sooner shear your subframe off than break one of these. A smart elastic tensioner keeps the strap tucked against the fender until you need it, and when you do, it is right where you want it. The Rear Tugger doesn't offer as much adjustment as the Front, but the extra slack isn't really required at the back of the bike. One cool item of mention is that these products are completely universal, but if you have a motorcycle that requires a longer strap, Highline Recreation will make you a special one at no extra charge.
Whether you're a full-on nasty woods racer or just a hard-core weekend warrior, Tugger Straps are one of those products that will make you wonder how you ever lived without them. -Chris Denison
| HARD PARTS |
97.0 |
| Installation |
20/20 |
| Function |
49/50 |
| Durability |
9/10 |
| Design |
10/10 |
| Price |
9/10 |
| www.thetugger.com |