Is this wise??

[79 sh850]

Hi,

First post here (well, second really but who's counting?).

Anyway, my friend has a bike for me rotting in his car port, a GS550ES. It's a few hundred km's from here and I was thinking of going to get it since spring is on the way. I was going to rent a truck, but then I came across this:

http://www.networkupload.com/adsupported/motorcycletowing101/

If the tire and the bearings are in good shape, is this bad for your bike?

I'm wondering since I would love to save the cash and buy some parts instead. Your thoughts are appreciated, thanks.

-AB

[Zooks]

I'm going to be completely honest.

Incredibly dangerous, crazy, stupid and probably illegal just about everywhere.

I magine that thing getting the wobbles at highway speed. Rent a trailer or a ute (pick-up truck) and be done with it.

[Zooks]

BTW - Welcome to the forum.

[Dogma]

I think you're right Zooks, Not a good idea. Though I think it could be made to work, you'd have to get everything just right. I know there have been adapters for trailer hitches that tow a bike a lot like this, so the towing geometry is OK. But a bunch of tie-straps just would not be not robust enough to be safe, especially over a few hundred km's. Mechanically, if the chain and gearbox are in good working order (and in neutral, of course) there should be no damage to the bike until a strap shifts and you drop it in front of an 18-wheeler, destroying the bike and causing unknown damage and injury due to the ensuing pile-up, non of which your insurance will want to pay for. This would be what was going through a cop's mind as he pulls you over, writes a ticket for an unsecured load (a judgment call on the cop's part, but not likely to be overturned by a judge), then makes you pay for an emergency tow truck to get the bike off the road legally.

Having said all that, you're on your way. That kind of resourcefulness, coupled with the advice available here... you're gonna have a great bike there. Welcome aboard.

[scottp8113]

yeah from a law enforcement perspective... uggg so many tickets and traffic crash reports to fill out for people doing things like that...

[spyug]

Exactly what Zooks said and then some.

I picked up a front wheel tow unit which bolts to my vans reciever.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r239/spyug/towbar1.jpg

It looked sturdy enough and I even reinforced it and added some safety features to hold the front wheel more stable. It didn't work at all. The weight of the bike caused it to flop over in turns and it bounced uncontrollably even at very low speed. I think if you did manage to get it working you would ruin the head stock bearing in short time from all the motion.

Extremely dangerous and not recommended.

Rent a van or trailer.

Post pics when you get it.

cheers,
Spyug

[Ghostgs1]

Crazy adventure

That really brought back memories of my younger days, I think it was 1970. A friend of mine and I came home from Va. on leave in late summer with his Yamaha 360. We disassembled what we needed to get the frame into my '57 Chevy and crammed the remaining parts in everywhere else. We made it home to Colorado in good shape and as our leave time was drawing to an end, he came up with a plan to tow the Yamaha back assembled. We welded up a bracket that clamped to the top and bottom of the bumper and bolted together at a flange in the center. At the top of the flange was a tube through which the bike's front axle could pass. It bolted up very solidly and we hooked up a wire to the bikes brake lights and tail light, removed the chain and off we went. Made it all the we no problems, checking the bracket bolting at each stop, not trusting our engineering. The only casualty to the bike was the knobby rear tire, which after traveling that great of distance at 70 to 80 mph, was ready for replacement. We didn't have any trouble with the law, but I think we probably should have. Oh the adventures of youth, I would not even think of doing that again. Ray

[oldschoolorange]

I have seen a set-up where the front wheel was removed, and a special adapter was made that slid into a trailer hitch square hole. The axle was used to secure the forks to the adapter. If not you can make yourself a ghetto trailer out of some C channel, a front wheel drive car's rear axle and some square tubing. I made that for about $100 and towed my dirtbike around almost every weekend for several summers.

[Karl]

I own one of those deals that a couple of guys have mentioned that bolt to a trailer hitch. Used it to tow a Honda 650 to Minnesota and back behind a '70 Cutlass.

I have seen much better versions made today...the one I have is flimsy by these standards with no bracing. One strap on each side of the handlebars (strapped to the trunk lid!).

No drama. No flopping. I won't say it had a lot of confidence in the contraption, but it did get the bike there and back. I did remove the chain.

That being said, I would not recommend this to anyone.

[bryan]

yeah from a law enforcement perspective... uggg so many tickets and traffic crash reports to fill out for people doing things like that...

Scottp8113, since it sounds like you're in law enforcement, we should hook up for a ride on the River Road. Maybe you could keep us out of trouble if we accidentally roll on the throttle a little too hard :-D

Of course, it has to freakin' stop raining in the Metro area first. I'm about ready to build an Arc.

[hampshirehog]

December 1981, snowing and a 'new' GS750 bought cheap ('cos it didn't run). I had to get it from North Wales to Hampshire - so we wrapped a rope around the headstock and tied it to the bumper on my mate's mini. 200 mile run with me sat, frozen, on the GS 6 feet behind a mate who turns into a lunatic driving the mini. And we did it at night so the cops wouldn't see. I survived as I was a teenager and invincible but it's not an experience I intend repeating.

I'd get a van.

[Dogma]

December 1981, snowing and a 'new' GS750 bought cheap ('cos it didn't run). I had to get it from North Wales to Hampshire - so we wrapped a rope around the headstock and tied it to the bumper on my mate's mini. 200 mile run with me sat, frozen, on the GS 6 feet behind a mate who turns into a lunatic driving the mini. And we did it at night so the cops wouldn't see. I survived as I was a teenager and invincible but it's not an experience I intend repeating.

I'd get a van.

I've heard of that. I had an uncle who broke down in some desert in Idaho, or some crazy place like that. Some pickup truck came by with a rope (instead of leaving him in the desert). He wrapped the rope around the bars so that it would slip off if he let go of the rope. I guess he could have left the bike and come back, but my uncle always was a little... adventurous. I have a great story about him, my dad, a motorcycle, two oxen and a boa constrictor. I didn't just make that up.

When we were kids, we had a German shepherd/husky mix that would tow my brother's bicycle in a similar fashion.

[79 sh850]

Is this wise?? NO!

Hello,

Thanks to all of those that took the time to reply. Looks like I'll be renting that truck after all.

I thought it was too good to be true....Ah well....

-AB

[Zooks]

December 1981, snowing and a 'new' GS750 bought cheap ('cos it didn't run). I had to get it from North Wales to Hampshire - so we wrapped a rope around the headstock and tied it to the bumper on my mate's mini. 200 mile run with me sat, frozen, on the GS 6 feet behind a mate who turns into a lunatic driving the mini. And we did it at night so the cops wouldn't see. I survived as I was a teenager and invincible but it's not an experience I intend repeating.

I'd get a van.

I know a guy that did that on a BSA back in the 50's with rope wrapped under his arms. His mate in front was riding a Norton. Crazy, crazy!!!

[scottp8113]

well i just got hired as a cop finally, but been doing non-sworn roles since i was 16. so when i get my badge (hopefully soon... gotta figure out when i can get my firearms training done...)