Motorcycle MX trailer carrier disadvantages? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Motorcycle MX trailer carrier disadvantages?

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subaron

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I am planning on using this hitch on a sedan to tow the fz6 about 4000KM one way.

Anyone know of any disadvantages of using this type of trailer? Other than the fact that the rear tire will have more mileage on it compared to the front? Any other issues for the motorcycle?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lightweight...ies&hash=item4856f46548&vxp=mtr#ht_7200wt_866

Also, does anyone know if this requires a separate permit/plate for Canada and/or US? From what I gather a proper trailer requires a licence, but nothing is said of this type of arrangement!
 
Looks like an interesting solution! I just checked as I'm also interested by I can only find a Class I hitch for my car. 2012 Elantra Touring.
 
Pulling trailers don't require any licence over your G until your past 4600KG. A plate on the trailer yes, but it doesn't get stickers and is easy at the licence office...

Disadvantage? Like you said, wearing down a rear tire while not riding the bike? Drive train spinning at highway speed in neutral? The crap your vehicle will kick up hitting the bike, at least a trailer might take some of the hits!

Seems sketchy! I would opt for a small light trailer over this setup any day.
 
Personally i wouldnt use it. This has been brought up before on here.

Too many things to potentially go wrong. And the wear on your tire, your rear bearings, wear on chain , the bike popping into gear by accident.. the list goes on.
 
mimico_polak said:
Looks like an interesting solution! I just checked as I'm also interested by I can only find a Class I hitch for my car. 2012 Elantra Touring.
Click to expand...

And a class I is fine for pulling a bike... see what your car can tow and keep it below that, tongue weight on a CI is 200lbs. I pulled my heavy trailer, bike and heavy generator to the track for a couple years with a class I hitch, never an issue. Pulled as far as New Jersey without a snag.
 
subaron said:
I am planning on using this hitch on a sedan to tow the fz6 about 4000KM one way.

Anyone know of any disadvantages of using this type of trailer? Other than the fact that the rear tire will have more mileage on it compared to the front? Any other issues for the motorcycle?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lightweight...ies&hash=item4856f46548&vxp=mtr#ht_7200wt_866

Also, does anyone know if this requires a separate permit/plate for Canada and/or US? From what I gather a proper trailer requires a licence, but nothing is said of this type of arrangement!
Click to expand...

You'd be better off getting one of these and selling it once you reach your destination

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...railers-MOTORCYCLE-TRAILER-W0QQAdIdZ499221165
 
172Driver said:
And a class I is fine for pulling a bike... see what your car can tow and keep it below that, tongue weight on a CI is 200lbs. I pulled my heavy trailer, bike and heavy generator to the track for a couple years with a class I hitch, never an issue. Pulled as far as New Jersey without a snag.
Click to expand...
OK thanks for the info. My car has a measly 750lb towing capacity. I know the dealer claims it'll do more, but that's still about 2x the weight of the bike. I need to find some reviews on this trailer as it would suit my needs perfectly...ie: little space (no garage) for storing trailer, and only for jaunts when the gf doesn't feel like riding 3-4 hrs to some roads.
 
mimico_polak said:
OK thanks for the info. My car has a measly 750lb towing capacity. I know the dealer claims it'll do more, but that's still about 2x the weight of the bike. I need to find some reviews on this trailer as it would suit my needs perfectly...ie: little space (no garage) for storing trailer, and only for jaunts when the gf doesn't feel like riding 3-4 hrs to some roads.
Click to expand...

What if you ride and she drives the car?
 
Only other thing I could likely see it needing is tail lamps that function with the tow vehicle. That being said I wouldn't touch it.
 
Rear wheel spinning and engine not running means that the transmission gears are spinning but the oil pump is not running (it's driven by the engine and has oil jets that feed all the bearings and bushings inside the transmission).

And that, plus the tire wear, means ... short distances and low speeds only unless you remove the chain (or disconnect the drive shaft on a shaft drive, if it is even realistically possible to do so).
 
The transmissions oil by spash, and with the front wheel in the air, all the oil will be in the transmission, just like when the bike is running ... so no problem there.
The wear on the tire will be minimal... seeing how the only weight on it is half the bike (meaning you would wear the tire MORE by riding or pushing it the 4000kms.
Wheel bearings same deal as the tire.
If I were using that device I would remove the chain... easy peasy.
Anything else? Oh yeah, be SURE your steering head bearings are in decent shape as you will be loading them in a weird angle they were not designed to be in.

Check a Europeon Hyundai site for max trailer weight, most car manufacturers publish stupid low trailering specs in North America. I wouldn't be surprised if the same car is rated for 1500# in Europe.
What licence do you speak of? Your drivers licence allows you to pull a trailer up to 4600kg/11,000# and if you use the device in your link you do not need a trailer plate or lights or safety chains as you are NOT pulling a trailer (I would still use a separate safety chain to the frame of the bike).
 
infernobuster said:
Personally i wouldnt use it. This has been brought up before on here.

Too many things to potentially go wrong. And the wear on your tire, your rear bearings, wear on chain , the bike popping into gear by accident.. the list goes on.
Click to expand...


Using this logic we should never ride our bikes. Just park them in the garage to look at... on stands.

Yeah yeah.... you're just trying to get the gig towing the OP's bike.
 
I made one of these and used it to pull my bike 400km two ways. It is sketchy as **** but it works. What I did was take my chain off so I wouldn't have to worry about it dropping into gear and wearing things down. Things I have learned are that you can not take a corner that is more then 90 degrees the bike leans and will eventually lean so far that it drags the back end. I missed my road to the lodge and under a rage attempted a U-turn and now my silencer is scratched to hell. As for tire wear I wouldn't worry its not under any torque and if you have to replace the rear a tad before the front who cares. One more thing when the OPP pulled me over, he stated that anything extending 5 feet from the car needs to have a working lighting system.
 
Keep in mind that you could get a ticket for obstructed plate if it sits quite close to the car. You may have to relocate depending on your vehicle.
 
U-haul also rent Motorcycle trailers. What kind of car are you towing with?

More info on this thread.
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...ul-motorcycle-trailers-First-hand-experiences

By 4000km one way, does that mean 8,000 km round trip? I originally interpreted that to mean you were
making a one way trip, not returning ;)

I would be concerned about tire wear on your bike even if it is only the weight of the bike on it.
 
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bitzz said:
Using this logic we should never ride our bikes. Just park them in the garage to look at... on stands.

Yeah yeah.... you're just trying to get the gig towing the OP's bike.
Click to expand...

LMAO. Did you read this thread at all and this is your best line?
 
I pull a trailer and bike with a toyota Echo. I can feel the drag of the trailer behind me even when it's empty.

Using anything larger should be gravy.

If you really want an example of Echo abuse somewhere on this site is a pic of my Echo with a rack I made bolted to the back holding a 125cc dirtbike.
 
bitzz said:
Using this logic we should never ride our bikes. Just park them in the garage to look at... on stands.

Yeah yeah.... you're just trying to get the gig towing the OP's bike.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think everything he pointed out made sense.
I doubt Inferno is looking for a 4000 KM job.
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