Towing another Motorcycle with my Harley.
#21
08-27-2024, 04:12 PM
Advanced
I'm looking at getting a 2nd bike that can handle Dirt and Track.
As nicely built as my fat boy is, it's not a bike I can really take to the track.
So I want to get a bike that can handle track, but also is capable of riding dirt.
That's the thing my fat boy cant really do is track and dirt.
So I'm looking into getting a bike that can do both, and I've landed on the Versys650 or some other ST/Mini ADV bikes.
I'd like to tow said bike for getting to the track if if there's a problem with it or something like that, and I'm curious now, has anyone else here built up a motorcycle towing situation with your Harley?
I'm thinking an M8 making 110/125 rear wheel is probably capable of hauling a 500lb motorcycle behind it, and I have a massive retire and ofc the standard big rear brake rotor for dealing with stopping the extra weight.
I've seen plenty of people haul 100lb trailers loaded with stuff on their baggers. I was thinking maybe a platform hitch where the front wheel of the towed bike sits in it and is strapped in straight and level, then the rear wheel rides on the ground, and I disconnect the chain so it can freewheel and not spin anything but the rear wheel.
Is this a genuinely stupid idea? Or is this something people do and it just requires creativity and better riding skills?
As nicely built as my fat boy is, it's not a bike I can really take to the track.
So I want to get a bike that can handle track, but also is capable of riding dirt.
That's the thing my fat boy cant really do is track and dirt.
So I'm looking into getting a bike that can do both, and I've landed on the Versys650 or some other ST/Mini ADV bikes.
I'd like to tow said bike for getting to the track if if there's a problem with it or something like that, and I'm curious now, has anyone else here built up a motorcycle towing situation with your Harley?
I'm thinking an M8 making 110/125 rear wheel is probably capable of hauling a 500lb motorcycle behind it, and I have a massive retire and ofc the standard big rear brake rotor for dealing with stopping the extra weight.
I've seen plenty of people haul 100lb trailers loaded with stuff on their baggers. I was thinking maybe a platform hitch where the front wheel of the towed bike sits in it and is strapped in straight and level, then the rear wheel rides on the ground, and I disconnect the chain so it can freewheel and not spin anything but the rear wheel.
Is this a genuinely stupid idea? Or is this something people do and it just requires creativity and better riding skills?
"Can my vehicle pull this?" is rarely the issue. "Can I stop this" and "how will this affect handling" are far more pressing.
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#22
08-27-2024, 08:01 PM
Club Member
I'd love to see a picture of this. I've been wondering if it was possible to tow a small camping trailer with my RGS. I do have a tent and sleeping bag for carrying on my bike.
#23
08-28-2024, 06:49 AM
*snip*
Tire pressure becomes an interesting game with a motorcycle cargo trailer. Mine weighed something like 40 lbs, so that trailer tires were ridiculously overkill. I ended up at something like 2 psi in them to get a ride that wasn't bouncing everywhere. Maybe something like 4-6 psi when loaded up fairly heavily.
*snip*
Tire pressure becomes an interesting game with a motorcycle cargo trailer. Mine weighed something like 40 lbs, so that trailer tires were ridiculously overkill. I ended up at something like 2 psi in them to get a ride that wasn't bouncing everywhere. Maybe something like 4-6 psi when loaded up fairly heavily.
*snip*
#24
08-28-2024, 09:30 AM
It was something I'd never heard of, nor ever ran into again. Don't remember the name.
It was a clamshell design, smaller than most car top carriers. Thin fiberglass with a minute thin walled square tube "frame" under it. A thin inverted U axle and a single leaf spring on each side. The trailer wheels were the heaviest thing about it.
It was awkward, but I could easily handle the weight and carry it around. In fact for some time I used to carry it in and out of my apartment, to keep it from getting stolen.
It was a clamshell design, smaller than most car top carriers. Thin fiberglass with a minute thin walled square tube "frame" under it. A thin inverted U axle and a single leaf spring on each side. The trailer wheels were the heaviest thing about it.
It was awkward, but I could easily handle the weight and carry it around. In fact for some time I used to carry it in and out of my apartment, to keep it from getting stolen.
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Goose_NC (08-28-2024)
#25
08-28-2024, 12:58 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
#27
08-29-2024, 09:24 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
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#28
08-31-2024, 07:06 PM
Gonna be looking into towing ebikes instead. My emoto is a converted ebike, and I know of some great offroad tires for it that are cheap, I got an offroad E kick scooter, and prebuilt eMountainbikes are looking like better and better trail riding options for enjoying where my harley reaches the end of the road.
#29
09-01-2024, 12:34 AM
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Paintslinger16 (09-01-2024)
#30
09-01-2024, 12:56 AM