towing

[mandoguzzi]

Hi...does anyone have any experience w/ the trailer hitch pull behind tow rack? (Fr tire in the saddle, rear on the ground) Thanks

[twhitaker]

Used one of them back in 1974. They are quite limited in load capacity. My 350 Honda was close to the limit. Be very, very careful making tight turns as the bike will go sideways and down. Don't ask me how I know. 

[Mike Harper]

The best advice here is DON'T

[Rotten Ralph]

Had one in the late 50's. Not so good - especially turns. Also had to disconnect the chain. Of course with a shaft drive that isn't a real option.

Not recommended.

[rocker59]

The best advice here is DON'T

 :1:

[Moto]

I've done it successfully on long (1000-2000 mile) trips with both a Triumph 650 and my T3. The warnings given by others are well justified. You can easily back over your bike. I rigged up a warning beeper on one trip to tell me when the bike was going off at an angle. On other trips I just paid attention.

I towed the Guzzi from Wisconsin to Seattle and back, for a year's relocation there. On the way out I removed the drive shaft, but on the way back I didn't bother. I just opened up the rear drive this spring and it all looks just fine. No transmission trouble, either.

For occasional use it's fine, and nice in that it doesn't require your vehicle to support more than half the bike's weight. My own hitch is a custom-made bracket that accepts the front axle instead of resting the wheel in a saddle. The wheel goes in my car.

In one long-ago move I used this bracket to tow my Triumph from upstate New York to Idaho, behind a 938cc Morris Minor sedan. Worked well. (The Morris Minor did not work so well, but the reasons were completely unrelated to the Triumph.)

I'd be careful in evaluating any commercial hitch.

Moto

[rocker59]

I strongly recommend a lightweight trailer that gets both the bike's wheels off the ground.

Buy a used one for a few hundred off Craigslist.

Much better for the bike.

[not-fishing]

Heck you can rent a trailer from U-Haul for $30 / day so why bother?

That being said I'm probably going to get a used Kendon stand-up for emergencies.  Rolling my Griso up into a pickup would be problematic.

[rodekyll]

I've done it successfully on long (1000-2000 mile) trips with both a Triumph 650 and my T3. The warnings given by others are well justified. You can easily back over your bike. I rigged up a warning beeper on one trip to tell me when the bike was going off at an angle. On other trips I just paid attention.

I towed the Guzzi from Wisconsin to Seattle and back, for a year's relocation there. On the way out I removed the drive shaft, but on the way back I didn't bother. I just opened up the rear drive this spring and it all looks just fine. No transmission trouble, either.

For occasional use it's fine, and nice in that it doesn't require your vehicle to support more than half the bike's weight. My own hitch is a custom-made bracket that accepts the front axle instead of resting the wheel in a saddle. The wheel goes in my car.

In one long-ago move I used this bracket to tow my Triumph from upstate New York to Idaho, behind a 938cc Morris Minor sedan. Worked well. (The Morris Minor did not work so well, but the reasons were completely unrelated to the Triumph.)

I'd be careful in evaluating any commercial hitch.

Moto

+1 on the warnings.  I used to drive tow truck.  We'd respond to a handful of squashed bikes from that tow method every year.


When I was in high school a friend thought he'd surpass the funkiness of my MGA with a Morris Minor sedan.  He, I and the owner piled into it for the test drive.  My friend said if it would hold a forward direction at the speed limit going over a particular bridge in a sidewind he'd buy it.  We drove over the bridge and it failed to hold a line, the lane, or the speed limit.  My friend bought it anyway.   

[Moto]

I think Morris Minors pick their owners, like Guzzis. I hope he survived!

[Scud]

No personal experience - and that's because I would not want to square-off my rear tire tread from towing long distances. I agree about using a trailer (or truck) instead.

[rodekyll]

I think Morris Minors pick their owners, like Guzzis. I hope he survived!

I don't know how he made out.  Shortly thereafter he pissed me off by taking some liberties with my sister and I haven't had contact with him since.   

[pete roper]

If you are thinking of towing a V7-II in this manner don't even consider it unless you want to destroy your gearbox.

Pete