Using a GS as a towing mule

[High-Tower]

Bit of a left field idea this one, even for me, but has anyone out there ever tried to tow a bike trailer behind there GS.

I really fancy a trials bike but don't want to road register it (a right faff with paperwork, plus the local practice area's too far to ride a low geared trials bike to). So, seeing as I don't have or want a car how feasible does the collective think it is to have a bracket made up to tow a trailer behind my 650? The weight isn't an issue as the total weight of trials bike and trailer is no more than a hefty pillion.

I'm thinking of removing the centre stand and using those brackets to take most of the load and having some box sections welded up to run from there parallel with the swingarm and then a plate at the back to join them up and mount a towball to. 2 more box sections would run up and mount off the boltholes on the subframe that the grabrail is attached to.

I know the Goldwing crowd regularly tow trailers, but does anyone out there have any experience of towing using a smaller bike as I have no idea how stable the whole rig would be and I don't want to risk my very tidy GSA just yet? The 650's a bit of a shed and I'm happy to use it as a guinea pig.

Also, any ideas regarding the legality of the whole idea?

Feel free to ridicule me if you think I'm a barmpot but please don't suggest I buy a car/van. I've got no desire to go back to driving a tin box. Your opinions please.

 

[vilguy]

legally, your stuffed, your only allowed to pull up to a 1/3 of the total bikes weight on a trailer.. im sure ive seen that somewhere.. correct me if im wrong someone!

ive seen some pics of a gs with a small trailer on though.

Way to do what you suggest is to have a sidecar modified so the trail bike sits beside you. Some guys on the vstrom forum had done this and was dragging his trail bike around next to him! And its completely legal

just buy a cheap sidecar off ebay (around £150 or so) and have it on quick release brackets.

 

[High-Tower]

Vilguy, thats not just a good idea, its inspired. I've had a good look at the mounting points on my bike and I reckon it's fairly straightforward to have something made up using a trailer wheel. It not only looks easier than my original idea it'll save me the expense of buying a seperate trailer. I knew the GSer collective would have a plan.

Still open to any other brainwaves or refinements to Vilguys idea though.

 

[Steve]

legally, your stuffed, your only allowed to pull up to a 1/3 of the total bikes weight on a trailer.. im sure ive seen that somewhere.. correct me if im wrong someone!

There are regs covering length and width too. Lengthwise, it wouldn't be possible/legal.

 

[vilguy]

There are regs covering length and width too. Lengthwise, it wouldn't be possible/legal.

yeah about a mtr wide isnt it?

Aside from that.. i wouldnt really fancy 100+ kilos pushing my bike from behind in the wet....

Pick up a sidecar from off ebay cheap enough hightower, then just rip the top off it and all the hard works done

just got to check out the legality of your insurance and would you have to change the status of your vehicle.. i.e is it therefore a trike with regards to class... insurance "is the vehicle modified in any way"... not as far as im aware.. im pretty sure its totally standard...

Ill try and find that geezer who had converted his bike for you when i get a few mins

and if you do yours.. maybe ill do mine

I need a way of transporting the crm250 around... i think taking the wheels off and bunging it in the back of her feista might just get me murdered

 

[Packer]

If a trials bike and trailer is lighter than a porky pillion why not forget the trailer and have a frame constructed so that you can hang the trials bike on the back of the GS?

 

[vilguy]

i think there might be some technical issues with the loading and unloading of said vehicle... in a similar way to fat f*****s have getting on the pillion seat

 

[Steve]

From the BMF webiste:


Trailer Information

Motorcycle Trailers Regulation 84 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

All motorcycles
A motorcycle may not:-

* draw more than 1 trailer, carry any passengers in the trailer (unless it is towing a broken down motorcycle)
* draw a trailer with an unladen weight exceeding 254kg (unless it is towing a broken down motorcycle).
* Learners cannot tow trailers.


Solo Motorcycles
2 wheel motorcycle without sidecars may not (unless it is towing a broken down motorcycle)

* If not exceeding 125cc draw any trailer
* If exceeding 125cc draw a trailer which exceeds 1metre overall width, allow the distance between the rear axle of the motorcycle and the rear of the trailer to exceed 2.5m, draw a trailer, the laden weight of which exceeds two thirds kerbside weight of the motorcycle or a maximum of 150kg
* and must display kerbside weight on motorcycle unladen weight on trailer. As for Europe.
* Standard trailer lighting regulations apply including reflective triangles, two for twin wheel trailers and one for single wheel trailers.
* Also breakdown companies will not give cover for home made chassis. You can buy a factor chassis and put your own bodywork on it. It does not have to be rubber block suspension. Radial arm and telescopic suspension that does not shake up your camping kit so much is available.

Technically if a trailer is legal in the UK it can be used in any other EU country even if trailers are not road legal in that country. Riders who want to tow trailers across Spain can do so, there are limitations though.

Motorcycles may tow trailers or sidecars only if they do not exceed 50% of the weight of the towing vehicle. Trailers can only be used during daylight and in conditions that guarantee good visibility. The speed of the motorcycle must not exceed 90% of the posted speed limit, and trailers may not in any circumstances be used to transport people.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Whip the front wheel out and mount it like a kids tag-along cycle

 

[vilguy]

if your cunning then.. using those regs.. you could whip the spark plug out.. plonk a thin trailer on the back and tow it with the gs as a lithe dirtbike will only be around 120kg. ... scratch that.. its a trials isnt it... not trail ... so more like 80kg.....and the 2/3 weight will allow you to pull up to 175 ish.

Id still rather not have that shoving me from behind to be honest though.

the force acting through the moment on the bike would mean that the braking effectiveness of the bike would be reduced due to the bike "sliding" forward rather than diving down and digging in. So you have loads more weight and worse brakes....

Probably going on some twisty lanes as your going to be pulling it a fair way to somewhere like wales and the like or else you could just tide your dirt bike there.

 

[Packer]

But H-T is only looking at a trials bike about 70-75Kgs plus fluids.

If the trials bikes only about 2m long it looks as though the trailer option would be OK. Use over-run brakes like caravans to assist in the stopping department.

I still think that a clever rack on the back of the bike would do the job. How hard can it be to lift a tiddler like a trialler?

 

[vilguy]

Got that a bit wrong there, its a trials bike isnt it so the weight will only be around 80kg.

Whip the wheels off, and strap it on the pillion area sideways doddle

Gimme a shout when you fancy going offroading hightower.. i saw your pics from last time you were in the peaks.. made me larrrfff

 

[LiquidLAN]

legally, your stuffed, your only allowed to pull up to a 1/3 of the total bikes weight on a trailer.. im sure ive seen that somewhere.. correct me if im wrong someone!

ive seen some pics of a gs with a small trailer on though.

Way to do what you suggest is to have a sidecar modified so the trail bike sits beside you. Some guys on the vstrom forum had done this and was dragging his trail bike around next to him! And its completely legal

just buy a cheap sidecar off ebay (around £150 or so) and have it on quick release brackets.

I'm sure I've seen shots of someone here doing a similar thing with a side car

 

[LiquidLAN]

Feel free to ridicule me if you think I'm a barmpot but please don't suggest I buy a car/van. I've got no desire to go back to driving a tin box. Your opinions please.

horses for courses... but I'm not sure I understand your thinking on avoiding the van option.

once you've slapped a trailer or sidecar on a bike you've lost all the advantages of the bike and all you are left with is the opportunity to get cold and wet while you trundle along with the rest of the populace doing sub 50

but it's your call...

 

[vilguy]

I wont get a van because

Extra insurance, tax and mot - Around £700-£1000 a year for me.
Something else to have to look after, takes up alot of space...

 

[Mick_rw]

You could always get one of these.....

 

[vilguy]

bet filterings a bitch.

 

[High-Tower]

Thanks for the ideas guys (and the ridicule). The more I think about it and considering whats been said here a trailer seems like a bad idea. I don't want a van for the same reasons as Vilguy.

I do like the sidecar idea though, it looks like a winner. I'm thinking of having something made up by a bloke at work who's handy with a welder. Basically, a bit of beefy box section from the centre stand mount and a bracing bracket from the subframe. This can be attached to a small wheel from a scooter/trailer. Then a U shaped section for the front wheel of the trials bike to lift into which can be ratcheted down to keep it in place. It should then roll along on its back wheel next to and slightly behind the 650.

I'll let you know how I get on and see if I can work out how to post pics if it works.

 

[digga]

Was'nt there a side car for Learners a few years ago??
IIRC wasn't it to allow riding bigger CC. bikes without doing a test...?

 

[Packer]

I'm thinking of having something made up by a bloke at work who's handy with a welder. Basically, a bit of beefy box section from the centre stand mount and a bracing bracket from the subframe. This can be attached to a small wheel from a scooter/trailer. Then a U shaped section for the front wheel of the trials bike to lift into which can be ratcheted down to keep it in place. It should then roll along on its back wheel next to and slightly behind the 650.

One of the early posts indicated insurance problems with a home made sidecar chassis.