Tow Motorcycle with Speedster

Here is a pict.... 

The big question is what would you attach the hitch to.

Bob: Several people attending Carlisle have had trailers. One was home-made and weighed 600 lbs trailer only (looked the black 356 rear quarter, above), and a few have had motorcycle tag-along trailers. Those Speedsters had 2,110 or larger engines (one was a Subaru 2.2) and most of those used VW Sedan-style trailer hitches that attach to the transmission frame horns and the rear bumper mounts. However! I don't know of anyone pulling more than about 800 gross lbs. behind a Speedster.  I might try it if there are no appreciable hills on your route but a gross weight of 1,200 lbs. might be a lot, especially if you're running a stock clutch.

Hi Bob,  A few thoughts....  1.  Leave the bike at home and enjoy driving the speedy in and around that area. OR 2. pull the speedy with the motorcycle. hahaha..

All kidding aside.  I have been to the motorcycle races at Laguna Seca every year since 2003, with last year being the first year not attending.  And we, me and friends, would always ride our motorcycles from Reno down.  The year I did not attend, I drove the 912 over for a different reason and I have to say, it was much more enjoyable.  Wishing I would have made that trip in my Speedster when I had it.

Stephen

Bob - I've seen a hitch & trailer set-up at a PCA event. As you can see by the pic below, it wasn't that big or appear too heavy (click on pic to enlarge).

Even if you were able to put a hitch (to tow your motorcycle) behind the Speedster, I think the real issue would be the brakes on the car would not be enough to properly stop all that mass/inertia. 

I built a light 1 1/4" receiver type hitch for my speedster. It has an 1 1/2" square tube that bolts to the bumper bracket supports that bolt to the bottom of the 2x2 frame around the engine. I have a little Harbor Freight trailer that weighs a couple hundred pounds. I don't think I would tow more that about 400-500 lbs with a tongue weight of maybe 50-80 lbs. I would be leery of towing more than that with an 1800 lb car!

I've been eyeing the $379 134.5# aluminium trailer that Northern Hydraulics sells --- for behind my '16 Miata.  Being able to carry even 300# would be great. (I'd swap out the steel wheels for alloy ones and cut another 20-25#). It needs a 1/16" aluminium bed welded on and some holes drill for tow cinch straps. 

http://www.northerntool.com/sh...Ap2b5CszTxoCACXw_wcB

Some states will not accept the China MSO, here in PA. it's an issue now and then depends on the DMV clerk. ....best to check................Speaking of trailers,  I'll be selling my full deck 6.5 x 12'  single axle speedster specific trailer after Carlisle.

Aluminum trailer would just be cool!

Alan Merklin posted:

Some states will not accept the China MSO, here in PA. it's an issue now and then depends on the DMV clerk. ....best to check................Speaking of trailers,  I'll be selling my full deck 6.5 x 12'  single axle speedster specific trailer after Carlisle.

Is it possible to register a self-built trailer in PA?

If so, scrape the decals off..

In PA you would have to do a enhanced DMV inspection that runs about $150 in addition to the usual title,  tag and sales tax ( total is approx. $ 270 ) The forms are : MV426B...go to PENNDOT site for a full read.

One of things I don't like about the NH trailer is that it is bolted together - I would take it and have at least corners welded up.  Nice aluminium wheels (12" same as steel ones) are $50 each. I'd be real tempted to add a hinged tear drop lid made of 1/16 polished Aluminium diamond plate. Or add at least a wedged tool box. Welding may be my next senior citizen class (or beer making???)

I see a couple things wrong with this idea. Does that break-down motorcycle trailer have electric brakes? Adding 2/3 of the car's weight to the package without upgrading the braking is asking for trouble. Unless you have vented discs front and rear I don't think you're going to be able to panic stop from 50 or 60mph. And I don't know about the practicality/safety of pulling that much weight, given the car's weight (more specifically lack of it) and where the hitch mounts would be. 

I know I'm raining on your parade, but I really don't see this as a good idea. Al

" And I don't know about the practicality/safety of pulling that much weight, given the car's weight (more specifically lack of it) and where the hitch mounts would be. "

There's the rub.  The car only weighs a few hundred pounds more than the trailer and bike - not stable.

IndianBob,

I dont comment much, but the red pan made me do it. I actually have a personalized plate that went with a 63 panhead that reads"redpan" that I owned.

Would love to see what else you have in that garage.

Ok,back to your question...

Doesn't help that the Speedsters weight is in back with the lightly loaded front wheels doing 75% of the braking. Even an extra 200# tongue weight would further exacerbate the problem. 

That's exactly why this rig is no good. I'd do it, in a pinch, to get the bike and car across town if a wildfire was headed up my ridge. But not as a volunteer roadtrip proposition. Every time you go to brake, the tongue weight increases, pushing down on your rear end and trying to lift the front. The harder you try to stop, the more it levers you up and takes your stop wheels out of the equation. 

I think you could probably tow a dirtbike though. Even two. But the Hog is just too much heavy....

Aw, cummon'.

We  just aren't trying hard enough, here. It's really time to think outside of the box. If this man wants to tow a hog with his speedster, it's really only a matter of will and money. We put a man on the moon-- surely we can figure out a way to get this done.

How much does he want to do it?

I'm sure that Raby could build him a nice "Camper Special" Type 4 for about $25k that would more than handle the torque requirements. A nice 2.5 Subaru conversion at about 1/3 that much would also do it. A nice, rugged 5-speed for $5k or so ought to do it. I'm sure that a nice hitch could be crafted that would handle the tongue weight. I'm sure that he could get some CSP vented discs, and put about 300 lbs of ballast in the trunk.

Anything is possible, if you want it badly enough. 

Out of the box, indeed.

Bob, a quick Google suggests you could ship the hog Sacramento to Monterey, round trip, for under $500. No trailer. No hitch. No worries. Enjoy the drive!

Or, how about contacting the local Harley club to see if someone would ride the bike down there for you. Monterey in June is a pretty sweet gig.

And I see you're a neighbor of mine. If you want a cool backroads route from here to Monterey, with only about 35 miles of freeways, send me a PM.