Motorcycle hitch carrier, review coming up soon

[Ralph S]

I'm going down to FL for 8 months and want to take my XB with me. Got me a hitch carrier, the SMC 600 from Discount Ramps. Wanted to get peoples opinion or reviews of it but found none. I guess i will be the first one to use it and give you guys an actual review and not a speculation. Leaving on the 21st and should be in FL by the 25th, so stay tuned. It's going to be a 3000 mile drive so we'll see how this turns out.

[konarider94]

cool ive been considering one of these. hadnt narrowed down a specific one yet but i look forward to your thoughts.

i was also thinking about getting one of these kits to go along with it

http://www.airliftcompany.com/

[Oysterman]

I've been lookin at those carriers also... Can't wait to hear how it works out for ya!!

[Rebel_CafeRacer]

nice let us know how it works out.

[Ralph S]

So i have arrived in FL without any issues. Pretty happy with the carrier, can't beat it for $300 shipped. Nothing moved, came loose, broke or bent. This was a 2900 mile drive at speeds between 65 and 75 with some pretty crappy roads going through couple of the cities. I did use the optional wheel straps to keep the wheels from hopping around. Ride wasn't to bad with all that weight hanging off the back. Suspension sagged a little but not to much,my ride is a Suburban with 1/2 ton suspension. I definitely wouldn't recommend this type of carrier for someone with a small P/U truck or small(er)SUV. Also i ended up welding my hitch solid to the frame with 2, 2" welds on each side of it for a piece of mind. I have a class 3 hitch which made it a little under rated. Here is a couple of pics of the bike on the carrier. http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/8134_20110325165009_L.jpghttp://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/8134_20110325165108_L.jpg
Now onto the couple issues that i had with this carrier. Due to the short wheel base of the XB the round bar part of the front wheel chock had to be moved towards the center and new holes had to be drilled. I moved it in 2" but it wasn't enough. I would recommend moving it all the way to the carrier frame and moving the other part of the wheel chock to the 4th hole. That should balance the bike perfectly.http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/8134_20110325165329_L.jpg
I ended up having to put some tape on the corners of the aluminum track. That was after i gouged my tire and chipped the paint on the back rim a bit.http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/8134_20110325165514_L.jpg
Loading and unloading could be sketchy. It's best to have someone help you to be on the safe side. If you have a lifted truck or even a truck with a factory off road package i strongly suggest it. For one the track is not very wide, 180 tire fits, 190 should just make it. Problem is that you have to get the bike rolling on there perfectly straight. Once you are half way on and realize that the back tire is little off, the other person should be able to lift the back and readjust it. Could be rather difficult if you are by yourself, if you tried to roll the bike back rear tire would end up rolling off the ramp. It's also good to have someone give the bike extra push when you have to roll the front wheel into the wheel chock. It can be done solo but you have to get a good running start and make sure the bike is going on perfectly straight.
Anyway, overall i am happy with it and it was well worth the money. Seen couple carriers that were twice as much and i don't think they would have been any better. If anyone has any other questions feel free to ask.http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/8134_20110325180504_L.jpg

[onelogue]

Nice write up!
Thinking about one of these for the Subaru haha, jk ill stick with my trailer. Glad you got that beautiful bike home safe.
http://www.buellxb.com/buell_images/3100_20101201072618_L.jpg

[Riderdie]

Hell yea that is pretty slick!!

I had one for my dirtbike years ago I bought from pepboys for around a hundred. Reading this thread before I saw pics I thought there is no way even though the ramp was rated to 500lbs

The 200 lb kdx moved back and forth a bit but was sturdy ass hell.

Ralphs, was there any movement even with the tie downs?
Might have to pick one up but at 300 I could prob get a nice ramp to sefely put the bike in the bed.
Anyways thanks for the writeup and pics!

[Oysterman]

Cool, thanx for the info. I'm gonna get one so that I can take my bike on family trips. That way I can still get some riding in and keep the wife happy.....

[JohnnyD]

I've looked at those myself - I installed a hitch on my wife's vehicle, but being a smaller SUV, I don't think it would work for me :( I would really like to have one though... Guess I'm stuck using the trailer.

Good info and write up [up] BTW, is that your MKV in the background?

[Ralph S]

Squidbuellie
Bike was almost centered, it was little off, barely noticeable. If i moved that one piece of the wheel chock to the frame of carrier it would have been perfect. The carrier came with a anti tilt device which worked great. Kept it nice and solid within the hitch. As far as the vehicle itself, it was pretty solid side to side. Steering would get a little light going over some bigger bumps with a full tank. It didn't handle as bad as one would think it would with all that weight on the back.

[Ralph S]

Riderdie
Bike itself didn't move at all. Between the front wheel chock, wheel straps and tie downs it was solid. I had the tie down straps pretty tight, but they still allowed suspension of the bike to move a bit. I didn't have to adjust or tighten the straps the whole drive. Only movement was from the carrier and and the hitch flexing a bit.

[Ralph S]

Johny D
If you have a small SUV definitely stick with the trailer. I guess it worked good with my vehicle because it's a long ass Suburban and it has a full size truck frame and suspension. Oh, and the Jetta is mine, originally it was supposed to be anyway, now it's the wife's daily ride.

[iman501]

I'm really wanting one of these due to living on base an having no room to store a trailer.

Only issue I'd have would be my vehicle. I have a yj wrangler with the 4.2 in it. I don't currently have any towing package on it, but would be willing to work out the $$$ for a good one.

Has anybody used a wrangler with one of these?

Or is that just a horrible idea?

[netty2424]

Ballsy for sure! I don't know that I would've trusted it for some reason! Glad you made it with bike in tact! [up]

[cincybolt12]

I had one a little different on my Cherokee and it made thr ride fine from as to oh so I would definitely recomend these as long as you don't have horror frame rot you should be fine

[vtech007]

Excellent review. This is appreciated from you. I have always wanted to get one of these. I know they have been in use for some time, have seen sport bikes on them, and feel I can trust it. Certainly need a vehicle that is rated to hold that amount of weight on the hitch. Thanks again for the write up.

[iman501]

After my last post I did some more research on them. Some people love them and others hate them...

I would def have to get a hitch set up that would handle the thing, but even then I wonder how well my leaf springs woul handle it, and how much it would effect my front steering.

I did think about getting a jet ski trailer and modding it to use, but I don't really have room for a trailer so oh we'll

[robao]

How long did delivery take?