Topic: Towing a motorcycle with a motorcycle

[Laminar]

Just posting the idea here, looking for suggestions and discussion. Say there's a bike I want to buy that's 230 miles away. I have metalworking tools, a welder, and a mechanical engineering degree. What do you think about fabricating a way to tow a bike with another bike?

[Raef]

I know guys that tow campers with motorcycles.

I'm thinking a 2 wheel dolly, a smaller version of one you would use to tow a car


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footprint, two bikes back one on a dolly


and since the forks rotate there would be no need to make the wheels on the dolly turn .

[myhondas]

Take the chain off the towed bike and put the front wheel on a small dolly. Your biggest problem is tipover of the towed bike. You will either have to have a wide spread on the front dolly or hook up outriggers (training wheels on the back of the bike) to prevent tipover.

[Laminar]

Just go to Pensky or U-haul and rent a PU truck for the day.  Make sure you get unlimited mileage.

I did that for my last bike and don't want to again. For the cost of a day or two of truck rental, I could get a hitch for my car and just get a trailer for $15. I have a couple friends with pickups but one needs an exhaust and one needs a new hub.

I'm looking for something unique.

Take the chain off the towed bike and put the front wheel on a small dolly. Your biggest problem is tipover of the towed bike. You will either have to have a wide spread on the front dolly or hook up outriggers (training wheels on the back of the bike) to prevent tipover.

The towed bike has a shaft drive.

[Gordon]

How 'bout just building a small, one-rail trailer?  Seems with your knowledge and tools it could be done fairly easily. 

[Steve F]

How about this? 

[myhondas]

Just go to Pensky or U-haul and rent a PU truck for the day.  Make sure you get unlimited mileage.

I did that for my last bike and don't want to again. For the cost of a day or two of truck rental, I could get a hitch for my car and just get a trailer for $15. I have a couple friends with pickups but one needs an exhaust and one needs a new hub.

I'm looking for something unique.

Take the chain off the towed bike and put the front wheel on a small dolly. Your biggest problem is tipover of the towed bike. You will either have to have a wide spread on the front dolly or hook up outriggers (training wheels on the back of the bike) to prevent tipover.

The towed bike has a shaft drive.

Just have to make sure it is in neutral then.

[TwoTired]

The towed bike has a shaft drive.

Make sure it has an oil circulation pump attached to the shaft then.  Or, you will ruin the trans/shaft gears operating it without lube.

[Gordon]

Okay.  For the rear, make a two-wheel dolly that clamps to the wheel to get the rear off the ground so you don't have to worry about removing chains or destroying a shaft drive.  Then for the front, instead of a typical ball hitch, make something that bolts to the rear axle and has a bar that you can clamp the bottom of the forks of the towed bike to.  Of course then you'd have to make a mount somewhere to put the front wheel. 

[Duke McDukiedook]

I would only recommend towing for a significant distance with a Goldwing-sized bike or larger.
I'm not sure our 750 trannies are up to that kind of task.

I would recommend the U-haul truck rental route also.

[BobbyR]

After you finish building dollies you will probably get in a wreck anyway. Find a good ole boy with a pickup.

[Laminar]

I would only recommend towing for a significant distance with a Goldwing-sized bike or larger.
I'm not sure our 750 trannies are up to that kind of task.

My Sabre has 120hp/75lb-ft tq with a 3.40 Nighthawk rear end - it wouldn't have any issues pulling another bike.

I would recommend the U-haul truck rental route also.

Well, that wasn't my question.

[myhondas]

what size bike are you planning on pulling?  The only problem that I see you having is the shaft drive still connected to the tranny. I still believe that a wide front dolly or a narrow one with rear outriggers will do the trick.

[MidTNJasonF]

flat bed side car rig. Front wheel chock on the back of the platform and a channel for the wheels. Put the towed bike on backwards so its bars are over at the rear of the tug bike.

I have seen that setup at least twice and have part of a platform built and hanging on the shop wall. I am just waiting to get my hands on a good tug to set it up on. I had the crazy idea to take my race bike to the track on it. I will probably try and find a older wing as a tug.

[Laminar]

what size bike are you planning on pulling?

Ascot VT500FT. Under 400 lbs.

[the technological J]

i think it is possible but... i would reserve a moving truck at the location of the bike ride my bike there and throw them both in the back of the uhaul... then drop it off once i get home

[myhondas]

I don't think he is asking for advice on how to get it to wherever. I think he is aware of options like u-haul and trailers and pickup trucks.... what he wants is a way to tow a bike with a bike. Keep the non-productive solutions to his question to yourselves. 

[gregimotis]

Sidecar

[the technological J]

ride up with someone on the back of your bike that can drive it home!!?  
 just kidding.... hows this for some inspiration
http://www.retriever-na.com/Retriever_gallery.htm

[Grnrngr]

Wish I knew where to find it, but back in 72 or 73, in one of the motorcycle mags (Big Bike?) there was a pic of a guy towing a 24ft sailboat with his Honda 750. No doubt the power's there, it's the braking ability you need to be aware of, but a bike on a trailer should be a lot lighter than a sailboat...

http://www.becauseweride.com/links/cycle/trailers.htm

[KeithTurk]

Guzzi Doug used to pick up bikes from out of state with a side car rig....   motors for it varied from 550's to 750's but always Hondas... cause he wanted to get home....   he brought back all kinds of junk on that contraption....  Fun stuff...

He's also featured on Adventure rider as "wrong way around "....

[Laminar]

I don't think he is asking for advice on how to get it to wherever. I think he is aware of options like u-haul and trailers and pickup trucks.... what he wants is a way to tow a bike with a bike. Keep the non-productive solutions to his question to yourselves. 

My gosh, you actually get it!

[mlinder]

We towed a bike with a bike last night, only a couple miles, though. Just wrapped a rope around the steering neck and tied the other end to the center-stand lift handle.

That said, no way would that work for 230 miles, and we had to have someone (me) ride the towed bike.

Seems to me a set of wheels off both sides, about 2 feet out, a fork brace with a tow attachment (ball joint) a couple inches in front of the axle, a 4 foot long solid bar and a way to activate the brakes on the towed bike is all you'd need. (and, of course, a tow attachment at the center of the back of the towing bike with a ball joint.)

[Gordon]

Sturdy tow-rope.  Wings securely mounted to the towed bike. 

Just don't slow down or stop until you get home.

[joerizzo0]

I like the side platform idea!! i want one!

[Laminar]

More research:

[Gordon]

That seems like a lot more work than I thought you were going for to just occasionally tow a bike.  Are you going to dedicate one bike just for transporting duties or are you looking to build something that can be quickly and easily attached and removed?

[cb650]

Many years ago on the back of CMN there was a BMW pulling a trailer with a 350 track bike on it.  Someone here found it and posted it.   That was awhile back though.

[OWilde]

The one sidecar I've ridden/drove didn't steer/handle like a bike at all--took some re-programing of my skills.  Plus,  IIRC the tires were square shouldered--not typical MC tires.

I have seen even EX250's pulling small two wheel travel boxes (like the kind one mounts to a car roof,  with a home made frame for tow bar and wheels.) 

Gotta believe somewhere in Europe they sell a rig to have a bike tow a bike--wouldn't know the best Goog search terms though...Good pix would lead to a build direction...

EDIT--Hmmm,  this looks pretty interesting and simple.  Steel tube,  wood for deck/ramp...








http://www.evolutioncycles.com/Sidecars.htm

Down the page a spell...


Geoff

[KeithTurk]

There was a guy who came to an ECTA meet at Maxton a few years ago with a Rebel 450 towing a Rebel 250 race bike on a trailer.... it was VERY a cool set up...

[Laminar]

EDIT--Hmmm,  this looks pretty interesting and simple.  Steel tube,  wood for deck/ramp...

Very cool stuff, exactly what I was looking for.