Windsurfing Trailer Behind Motorcycle? (KLR) | GTAMotorcycle.com

Windsurfing Trailer Behind Motorcycle? (KLR)

M

MaksTO

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So I've done a bit of research on the topic. Seems surfboard on the side of the bike is (obviously) incredibly dangerous and is only sort of ok for short jaunts at low speed with a small board. Wouldn't work with a windsurfing rig since I have a mast/boom/sail as well.

I know trailering behind a bike is also not a great idea, but I am thinking of doing it just within city limits. Likely no highway use for obvious reasons. Would be upgrading my front brake for this as well.

Wondering if anyone here has any experience attaching trailers to motorcycles? Making one yourself? Getting a pre-made one? Anyone here live the windsurf life without a car before?

Hard to have a hobby like windsurfing without a car (not to mention the gear I just bought takes up a large portion of my bedroom - a price I am happy to pay), but figured if there's a will, there's a way. For now I'll just be tagging along with people who own cars. Hope to have a trailer solution made up by next spring if it is at all possible.

Worst case I'll be making one for my bicycle maybe. Or get a better job and buy a panel van lol.
 
MaksTO said:
So I've done a bit of research on the topic. Seems surfboard on the side of the bike is (obviously) incredibly dangerous and is only sort of ok for short jaunts at low speed with a small board. Wouldn't work with a windsurfing rig since I have a mast/boom/sail as well.

I know trailering behind a bike is also not a great idea, but I am thinking of doing it just within city limits. Likely no highway use for obvious reasons. Would be upgrading my front brake for this as well.

Wondering if anyone here has any experience attaching trailers to motorcycles? Making one yourself? Getting a pre-made one? Anyone here live the windsurf life without a car before?

Hard to have a hobby like windsurfing without a car (not to mention the gear I just bought takes up a large portion of my bedroom - a price I am happy to pay), but figured if there's a will, there's a way. For now I'll just be tagging along with people who own cars. Hope to have a trailer solution made up by next spring if it is at all possible.

Worst case I'll be making one for my bicycle maybe. Or get a better job and buy a panel van lol.
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Talk to TWC and see if you can rent a space in a seacan. Much easier to do that than hump everything around the city (and take up half your bedroom). Also, that way your entire quiver will be safely at the beach so if the wind changes, you can adapt and overcome. I wouldn't be leaving a bunch of sails on a trailer while I went out (sun is bad for them and some asshat will steal them).

I agree, carrying a board on the side of your bike will probably cause you to crash when you hit a gust of wind. The board needs to be low and flat.
 
GreyGhost said:
Talk to TWC and see if you can rent a space in a seacan. Much easier to do that than hump everything around the city (and take up half your bedroom).

I agree, carrying a board on the side of your bike will probably cause you to crash when you hit a gust of wind. The board needs to be low and flat.
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I used to teach there a while back haha. I'm in talks with someone there regarding getting a slot for next season. Guess I can pick up gear from there if I go with other people to other locations. Really wanting to launch off Humber Bay Park West too. Wind seems cleaner over there and the waves are a little more fun.

I know slots are in demand there, but that's my no.1 plan for the spring for sure. Hoping to get some sailing in before the winter too now that weather is getting good (just bought my first rig of my own finally!).
 
where do you surf??
make friends at a local yacht club and store your board there , most have paddle board, canoe, kayak racks. Not all are snobby , blue blazer places, 'water rats' in the port district is about as grass roots as it gets
 
To answer your original question, years ago I made a trailer with a Yakima box on it and pulled behind a Goldwing. It was very aerodynamic compared to what you might be building and i was pulling with a 4cyl 700lb bike.

At some point you run into the legal ramifications of length of trailer? and weight compared to the tow vehicle possibly. I haven't looked up laws on this and I bet you could get around town and be just fine. Until you get a fine......
 
crankcall said:
where do you surf??
make friends at a local yacht club and store your board there , most have paddle board, canoe, kayak racks. Not all are snobby , blue blazer places, 'water rats' in the port district is about as grass roots as it gets
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Good point, If I was to go the outer harbor route, I'd probably just go to TWC though. Used to teach at Toronto Centreboard Club occasionally too. Those clubs along the cherry strip are great!

Yakima box would be cool. Though my board is a 133L, so over 2m long. Not sure if they make them that big.

And good point re the legality. Never looked into that, might have to.
 
MaksTO said:
Good point, If I was to go the outer harbor route, I'd probably just go to TWC though. Used to teach at Toronto Centreboard Club occasionally too. Those clubs along the cherry strip are great!

Yakima box would be cool. Though my board is a 133L, so over 2m long. Not sure if they make them that big.

And good point re the legality. Never looked into that, might have to.
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There may be a solution that will be legal but I would try it out first with a piece of plywood to see how it handles so you don't hurt your board. Some people carry a bicycle with a fork mount on the rear rack and an arm to support the rear wheel way out the back. You may be able to make a similar support to carry your board flat out the back at seat level. Red flag or blinky light on the back and off you go. As I said, I'm not sure what that does to handling in the wind and try not to have much weight that far out the back. In a crash, I expected most of the windsurfing gear will be destroyed.
 
what about a bicycle, or an e-bike as the tow vehicle?
wind is less of a hazard if you're going slow
less issues with trailer rules, GVWR etc and the law


nNMC55G.jpg
 
I used to teach tennis in the 80s. I would have this ball hopper strapped to the back of my motorcycle, a tennis bag with 3 rackets by my side. I never really gave it much thought on how safe it was. The cars on the road would look at me like I was nuts. When you're young you don't care.
 

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Klaatu said:
I used to teach tennis in the 80s. I would have this ball hopper strapped to the back of my motorcycle, a tennis bag with 3 rackets by my side. I never really gave it much thought on how safe it was. The cars on the road would look at me like I was nuts. When you're young you don't care.
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Ready for deployment james bond style if you get chased by the golden helmets?
 
J_F said:
what about a bicycle, or an e-bike as the tow vehicle?
wind is less of a hazard if you're going slow
less issues with trailer rules, GVWR etc and the law


nNMC55G.jpg
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THIS is exactly what I was thinking. Any link to a tutorial on how to manufacture one of those? I remember reading about PVC racks, though some say the sun will degrade them?

Also, I am wondering as to the safety of my stuff while I am out windsurfing. Outside of Toronto not too worried, but with a bicycle I would likely be going to west end (where the yacht clubs are). Would have to leave my bike, rack, clothes etc. Would probably double bag my keys and wallet and keep it inside my life jacket. A little worried about the rest of the stuff. Even if I lock up the bike obviously.
 
MaksTO said:
THIS is exactly what I was thinking. Any link to a tutorial on how to manufacture one of those? I remember reading about PVC racks, though some say the sun will degrade them?

Also, I am wondering as to the safety of my stuff while I am out windsurfing. Outside of Toronto not too worried, but with a bicycle I would likely be going to west end (where the yacht clubs are). Would have to leave my bike, rack, clothes etc. Would probably double bag my keys and wallet and keep it inside my life jacket. A little worried about the rest of the stuff. Even if I lock up the bike obviously.
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Another reason to make friends with a yacht club. They may let you toss your travel rig inside the dinghy cage.

Pools are plumbed with PVC exposed to the sun for decades and pressurized. Obviously the piping doesn't get hot as it is liquid cooled in the summer but I don't think white pipe would get that hot even without the water. I would seriously look at a big pvc pipe (12"?) as the backbone.The mast, sails etc could travel in there and with a little ingenuity it could be a lockable compartment for your stuff. It might be too heavy or expensive but it would be a cool idea if it worked.
 
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^ if it were me, and something that I'd use long term
I'd build it out of aluminum and incorporate a locked box attached to it
then lock the bicycle to the trailer, should all fit in one parking spot
 
Cool! :cool: somebody even more crazy then I am (y) @MaksTO have you ever thought about getting into ice boats? They use to be a huge thing in Toronto at one time.
 
Trials said:
Cool! :cool: somebody even more crazy then I am (y) @MaksTO have you ever thought about getting into ice boats? They use to be a huge thing in Toronto at one time.
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Never did ice boats! Just sailing / windsurfing. I like getting the living crap beaten out of me by mother nature under sail power. Probably my favorite thing in the world honestly.

Just such a pain in the ass being into motorcycles and windsurfing when I live downtown in a tiny apartment. Those two don't compliment each other in any way. Bit the bullet on a moto last year, and finally said F it and in the process of getting my windsurfing kit sorted out right now. For now it lives in my bedroom.

Seems I should be starting to look to rent a floor of a house with garage access... Would make my life so much easier... Otherwise I still have to figure out where this damn trailer goes too lol... F***....
 
You need to setup somewhere on Toronto Island.
 
Trials said:
You need to setup somewhere on Toronto Island.
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Good luck with that. Unless his grandparents got on the waiting list the odds are he will never get a spot. Its like the parliament hill canada flags. I signed my newborn son up for one and there is a very good chance he dies before he gets a flag.
 
Robbo said:
How about a sidecar?

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I was just on the toilet thinking about this!

Would also make my idea of commuting in the winter much easier. Bike would be more stable, and I would minimally have to use public transit which is a HUGE plus these days.

Wonder if it's possible to make a removable sidecar... I know its a huge pain to make them though, no? I hear you're supposed to have a brake on that wheel? or can it just be free spinning?
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