Towing Options

[MurderedBuell]

I go to College and live at a apartment complex that doesn't allow trailers. I have needed to bring my bike to a shop a couple of times without a way to get it there. I found this towing option and wanted to see if anyone else has tried it or what everyone thinks about it.

Option #1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPORT-BIKE-...es&vxp=mtr&hash=item1c22b2c66d#ht_4940wt_1037

Option #2
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOTORCYCLE-...ies&vxp=mtr&hash=item20abffcd2a#ht_688wt_1270

 

[flaya564]

for those prices, rent a truck or borrow a friends. I'm assuming you don't have a truck.

 

[JOEL9]

what kind of vehicle do you have? that option #2 scares the hell out of me.

 

[vance580]

Number 2 is very crazy. There is no pivot point so every turn your going to be sanding your tire as it goes sideways on the pavement. Thats if you have it mounted good at the front. I really cant see that one working out to well. Do you live on the ground floor and have a patio. If so you might want to check something like this out. The guy I bought my bike from had one in his garage up against a wall for his track bike.
Folding Trailer

 

[vtech007]

flaya's advice is indeed worth considering if you only have need to move the bike on a more or less rare occation.

I too have considered getting one of the two types of carrying/towing devices you are contemplating. Inexpensive, easier to store, easier to use and manuver, and no tax, tag and lighting as with a trailer. I always thought it would fit the bill for my uses. Not just for taking the bike to the shop, but for trips or vacations where you are traveling with the family or others but want to have the bike to ride when you get there, or the same for track days, etc.

The type of vehicle you have is a factor and can dictate which of these will work for you. I think virtually any passenger car with a trailer hitch will have the capacity to handle option #2. For option #1 your vehicle and hitch system will have to be rated to carry the total weight of the device and your bike, so check the owner's manual for these capacities.

If you have a vehicle with a high enough capacity, I would go with option #1. It is the same price as option #2 and it gets both of your bike's wheels up and off the road.

I would also like to know if there are any Buellers who have any experience with either of these to know their opinion.

 

[lifestar]

Ive been looking at option one for a while but would love to hear from anyone with experience in this matter

 

[beamacvt]

I borrowed my buddy's Harbor Freight version of "Option 1" to get my bike home when I bought it. Worked well enough to make me consider buying a heavier duty version for vacations etc. I haven't purchased one yet, but will in the spring.

 

[ct1200]

I bought one of the Trailers in a Bag and have used it a few times for track days and what not, works pretty good and pulls apart easy enough.
I got one of the dual rail ones for 2 bikes and haven't had any trouble behind my Mazda3 yet.
One could store it in an apartment closet, I'd say it would prob take about 1/2 of a normal sized closet, or a corner of a garage if your lucky enough to have one.

 

[cb750]

I have considered something similar to option 2. Provided the front wheel is held securely I don't see any problems other than backing up. Any up and down movement (hills, bumps ) are handled by the bearing in the wheel, and turning is allowed by the neck, so no unnecessary tire wear.

 

[user_deleted]

#1 is a great piece. tens of thousands of them in use. load capacity rating is critical on these. don't exceed it...ever!

#2 blows.

 

[Alfatango1]

The last time I needed to bring my bike to the shop I rented the smallest U Haul with a ramp drove it up and set the stand and strapped it to the side rails. It was $19 a day plus mileage. Less than $30 total I think.

 

[MurderedBuell]

I have a 2000 Blazer ZR2 4x4.
I live on the third floor.
I would also be using it about once a month to travel home. (50 miles)

 

[upthemaiden]

uhaul rents trailers for about $20 and I don't think they count mileage. If you already have a hitch, renting a trailer for the trip might be the way to go. Zipcar also has a line of Toyota tacomas, and it's super cheap to sign up. I think it's about a $65 sign up fee, and after that it barely costs you anything. I haven't checked that one in probably almost a year so I don't remember the details, plus would only work if you're anywhere near a zipcar. Otherwise I'd definitely go with option 1, just make sure you get the heavy duty one that's meant to carry a street bike, and not one made for a dirtbike.

 

[anrkizm95]

i've used #1 numerous times with no problems.

tens of thousands of them in use. load capacity rating is critical on these. don't exceed it...ever!

[up]

#2 no freaking way,not me

 

[cpatt]

#1 is probily your best bet. i remember a thread about some one using one on a jeep i think and it all worked great.

 

[shaylay]

#1 is good. thats how me and my buddy day trip to the mountains. I trust my bike on it.

 

[Ralph S]

I used a hitch carrier(option #1), took my XB12R from WA to FL and back without any issues. Wrote a pretty good review on it here along with a couple of pics. One thing i will say though is that i wouldn't use a carrier like that with a a Blazer. Wheelbase on it is to short, your steering will be light as hell. I used it with my Suburban and wouldn't recommend this type of carrier for anything smaller than a Tahoe or a full size PU truck.

 

[vtech007]

uhaul rents trailers for about $20 and I don't think they count mileage. If you already have a hitch, renting a trailer for the trip might be the way to go.

Once you haul your bike ten times with a rental trailer, you could have paid for the carrier, and not have made 20 round trips to the UHaul place to pick up the trailer, do the paper work, etc. etc.

And as far as the traler-in-a-bag suggestion, yes it will store in a relatively small space, but the COST - it costs way, way more than one of these carriers, then there's the title fees, and you still have to pay annually for tags, then there would eventually be maintenance on the trailer (tires)....

 

[GoFASTER100]

Sorry to revive an old thread. I'm searching online for information about this topic. I still haven't heard any substantial problems with #2. Just people who probably have never tried it saying it blows.

 

[squidbuellie]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It will work but, it will put a lot of stress on your front end and straps and can break.....that is if your going over 1mile.....

Now just some food for thought, I don't know if you read the whole eBay post but it has a funny little quote:

"The Common Law of Business Balance is a meditation on price attributed to John Ruskin. It reads as follows:

“It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money -- that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot -- it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.”

John Ruskin
1819-1900

I think it should answer your question......