I went and bought a bike trailer last wend so I can bring Delilah along on holiday with the family....you can imagine how that went down with the missus haha.... Having never used a trailer before the question is what should I be aware of? I strapped her on by the grab handles on the rear, and over the front yoke ( not the handle bars as I was told it may be possible that one can bend the bars) Is there a chance of damaging the shocks by tightening her down? I mean the shocks are under constant compression...? :smile:
When they recovered mine after amy puncture, they strapped it over the bottom yoke and suspension was under compression at the front, and on the rear it was strapped via the pillion footpeg area, again under compression. The front wheel was also in one of those holders that flips up once bike is pushed over it, bit like you can find on bike lifts and sone front paddock stands. I would say you can never have enough straps.
Buy a tyre down. Simply the easiest way to secure a bike. I use one for the mx bike and I've got a road bike version for the odd time I need to trailer either of them. I towed the mx bike 500 miles from Scotland to Essex 2 weeks ago and all I used was the tyre down and a single bungee cord and it didn't move or need retightening once. The best bit about it is it doesn't compress the suspension which is good from a multitude of points. 1) you don't damage fork seals. This happens all the time when you strap the thing down hard by the bars. (don't ask me how I know this...) 2) as the suspension is uncompressed, the movement of the bike cannot tighten or loosen the straps, which it can do if you strap via the bars. I tow the mx bike regularly for obvious reasons and the tyre down is simply the best thing I've ever bought for worry free towing, other than a decent trailer! They're not cheap, but nor is shagging your suspension or fixing the bike after it's bounced down the road... http://www.v2mal.com/tyredown/product/58 It's £89 for the sports bike one for larger bikes.
If you have the 'S ensure you put it in urban mode... Then strap her down as tight as can go. Mines been on a lorry about 4 times and thats the advice always given.
Yea, I would be careful with the front fork strapping down technique/method used. not on my mts but on my yam wr motorcrosser I popped the seals twice by strapping to handlebars and then yoke, bit annoying but I would be careful about that in particular. I quite like the hydra trailer by the way - Easy-Lifter Hydra Trail - Tel: 01509 268400 - £895 Inc VAT - side on, 250 kgs jobbie bugs
What sort of trailer was it? I am thinking of buying one, maybe a Moto-Lug. Are they any good? Motolug Collapsible Motorcycle Trailers - Home page
Another endorsement for the tyre down, excellent piece of kit. Towed Holland to southern Spain last year no issues.Easy to use along with the other benefits already outlined
I like that tyre down thingy....Dogs bollocks, no compression on the shocks!!! Like all the other trailer like thingy's but the price would have ruined the holiday. I managed to get a home build jobby for £150. the advantage is its totally flat, so one day when the sun shines I will put a box on top and use it as a normal trailer for carting the compost around!
Pete, I went with the two Bike trailer from these guys a few years ago, Motorcycle Trailers | Bike Trailers by Phoenix Trailers really great quality and price and after 3+ years stored outside, the galvanised finish is still good. Lots of variations shown on their site. They also claim the following: Nick Sanders write's about Phoenix Trailers........ "Before I left for Timbuktu, I looked around for a trailer that could carry up to three bikes along what I knew has one of the worst roads in the world on it's route. If we hadn't got the right support there, we'd be 8000 miles away from home and in a right mess. John at Phoenix asked me to road test one of his trailers and it was great. It passed the test. For ordinary roadwork I wouldn't hesitate to use a Phoenix trailer. After taking it to Timbuktu, it's got to be pretty good. Thanks John. No connection with the company, but very happy with the product - hope this helps
The Phoenix looks very robust and strong, but it does not seem to dismantle at all. The point about the MotoLug trailer is that is dismantles easily into small parts which you can carry in a car boot, or store in the back of a garage or shed. Dave Cooper also does ones which dismantle to a degree, but not apparently to the same extent as the Motolug ones. See: Bike Racks & Trailers Supplier UK - Dave Cooper There may be other types available, for all I know.
I have a MotoLug, it's excellently made and very quick to assemble. I normally use it with a Tyre Down on the rear and ratchet straps on the front with a Handle Bar Straps from R&G R&G Racing Handlebar Top Straps ST0001BL
I have now bought a MotoLug collapsible trailer. Looks good, goes together well. I intend to use it this week for Donington 31 July. Will post how it went, afterwards.
MotoLug Trailer did exactly what it says on the tin. Assembles/dismantles easily and the parts fit inside the car (estate car). Bike loads/unloads and is held securely. With the bike on, the whole thing is balanced and easy to wheel about. Trailer behaves OK on the road. Electrical connections work fine. I saw at least three other similar MotoLug trailers at Donington. This seems to be the answer.
