1200GS onto a trailer How?

[JimVonBaden]

redhand, ignore some of the cnuts on here. When I bought my GSA last year I had hardly touched a motorbike in the previous 20 yrs, so getting it onto the trailer was daunting. I did it with the car/trailer facing down hill and put a couple more ramps down alongside the bike ramp, for me to walk on. I then started the engine and put it in gear, walking alongside it under clutch control with the side stand down, as it went up the ramp. Best to establish where the side stand will touch the floor of the trailer to make sure there is support in the right place. Just take it easy and think ahead as 250kg+ of falling bike might hurt!

I was told not to strap it down too tight as it might pop the front fork seals?

Heres the golden rule....when you have enough ratchet straps securing the bike, add a few more

Damn, anal much?

Jim

 

[Doofus]

Heres the golden rule....when you have enough ratchet straps securing the bike, add a few more

Golden rule 2 - tie down from fork brace over front wheel rather than handle or engine bars according to BMW

 

[redhand]

Bear
Thanks for words of wisdom I too have been off bikes for a long time until recently

 

[Sid05]

Having got a Erde single bike trailer for use with a trackbike I would just add that you need to be careful with the weights. The trailer is only capable of 240kgs and the weight of a GS is circa 229kg without fuel, farkles or luggage. Check this as it could compromise suspension on trailer and maybe (?) invalidate insurance should anything,God forbid, happen.

Not sure if you can upgrade the suspension rubber grommit thingy (getting technical here!) to take a higher weight, best speak to a local trailer supplier who I'm sure can help.

I also agree with the previous comments about cranking down to hard on the ratchets, especially on the handlebars as it will cuff up front fork seals, tie it firmly but mainly lash it down from front forks themselves.

Happy hauling!!

P.S if you do attempt to ride the bike on a)you've got bigger balls than me and b) film it!

 

[DING-DONG]

I never use the bar straps to make first point of secure, I used the lower fork yoke. My mate used to strap down from the bars until one day the forks compressed and straps came unclipped and the bike fell off luckily it was an enduro bike so the damage was limited to how it looked anyway.

I carry my gs and enduro bikes on this, made this one myself and the design has been tested for a carrying capacity of 350kg when sent it for patent, when not in use it all folds away within 15mins and goes in the boot.

Non of this 2 plank, park facing down a hill bollox to load n unload .

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

when not in use it all folds away within 15mins and goes in the boot.

You must have really big feet to fit that in one of your boots.

 

[TimboLeMatelot]

Go and watch Geoff at Hilltop walk GS's up onto his Dyno. That's a lesson in itself!

 

[GrinningGSer]

It's easy for some to be smug and smirk at people's inability to move big bikes around. It takes practice and experience and many cannot do it with ease. Does that matter...no it probably doesn't. ( You'd be surprised how many 'advanced motorcyclists' cannot do a u turn in a narrow road, but that"s another thread topic).
A simple hand winch is under £15 , so that's e cheap less hazardous solution if you have a helper.

 

[Bendy toy]

I would winch it on backwards, then at least you can drive it off.

As for moving a bike about the garage/driveway I'm happy to stand on the left and push it backwards with side stand down. But pushing forwards I always feel its going to tumble away from me though I do it every day to put it into garage. Standing on the right side I ONLY go backwards if it slips I have the side stand to catch it.

Side stands on left AND right would be my top farkle - just like the old Brough Superior.

 

[steadysteve]

Put some small ramps under the rear wheels of the car and reverse it up which will lower the back of the trailer slightly making it less of a climb up onto the trailer.
Or reverse the trailer up to a high kerb to reduce the climb. You're going to need a helper, or two, to hold the bike upright while you step on to, (or off) the trailer yourself.
I've done two like this recently and it was far easier than expected.

 

[redhand]

Thanks to all I have had a practise today with something lighter. It was relatively easy despite the slight incline I had to overcome once I am confident I shall try the big one on flat ground

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Most of the YouTube fail videos relate to riding the bike onto the trailer. If the ramp doesn't slip away the usually the bottom of the bikes engine hits the top of the ramp (if the angle between top of ramp and trailer is too great) causing bike and rider to take an expensive tumble.

I'd prefer to only do it with a second person to help. Get straps ready in advance and get it lashed down without delay.

 

[Mad_Accountant]

Ideally use one of the air suspension trailers that lie flat on the ground for loading. I would not cope with with anything else. The problems are basically cost and storage, if you can cope with those it's game on.

 

[Bendy toy]

A second ramp/tray with a clevis at the front end and winch will help. Put that tray almost off the back end of the ramp and attach winch cable. Roll bike up the tray and winch it in. Put bike on backwards so you can just ride it off.

 

[cookie]

never seen so much overcomplication over a simple operation. no wait, i have - tying a bike down on a ferry



getting it on and off the trailer is the easy bit. getting the first tie down on when single handed is the tricky part

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

I'd prefer to only do it with a second person to help. Get straps ready in advance and get it lashed down without delay.

I've got a motolug and its a doddle to load a GSA. Tilt the trailer,walk the bike via the clutch and once the front wheel goes into the clamp you can sort the straps at your leisure as it's very secure Only downside learnt from experience is not to fully tip the trailer as the bike weight means you can't get the trailer back in to the tow setting and have to unload and start again

 

[JJH]

J

never seen so much overcomplication over a simple operation. no wait, i have - tying a bike down on a ferry



getting it on and off the trailer is the easy bit. getting the first tie down on when single handed is the tricky part

First sensible post in this saga. Been there done that. I tie downs just rope. JJH

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

never seen so much overcomplication over a simple operation. no wait, i have - tying a bike down on a ferry



getting it on and off the trailer is the easy bit. getting the first tie down on when single handed is the tricky part

But would you have felt that way if your first ever bike was a GSA and before you'd even ridden it you were having to put it on a trailer single handed? Probably not.

 

[paintman]

I never use the bar straps to make first point of secure, I used the lower fork yoke. My mate used to strap down from the bars until one day the forks compressed and straps came unclipped and the bike fell off luckily it was an enduro bike so the damage was limited to how it looked anyway.

I carry my gs and enduro bikes on this, made this one myself and the design has been tested for a carrying capacity of 350kg when sent it for patent, when not in use it all folds away within 15mins and goes in the boot.

Non of this 2 plank, park facing down a hill bollox to load n unload .

This is how they secure motorbikes on the Autotrains so I guess it works.

 

[redhand]

Never thought this would generate so much interest, as a previous poster said when you havent done it before it is quite daunting, so it is good to have all that experience at hand for the novice to draw on