Motorcycles are becoming extremely popular amongst people of all ages. They give you a sense of freedom on the open road, allowing you to travel with minimum effort and giving some ‘you’ time.
The only downside to being a motorcycle owner is the fact that you can only take a limited supply of items with you. They are not equipped for carrying groceries and this can become frustrating.
So can you use a motorcycle as part of your daily routine? Is there a way your motorcycle can pull a trailer to carry your belongings?
The answer is yes! Motorcycles can pull trailers however there are many factors to think about before hitching up any trailer such as the curb weight, GVWR, weight of any trailer you intend to tow, and the weight of the load.
A point to note is that the load you are towing should never be heavier than 1/2 the curb weight of your motorcycles.
As there are many different motorcycles on the market we will dig in deeper so you have all the need-to-know information about towing a trailer on your beloved beast!
In order to tow safely using your motorcycle, you need to ensure that you have all the relevant information such as:
To find the maximum weight you can tow you can use the following equation:
Total towing capacity of the motorcycle = Gross vehicle weight Rating (GVWR) – Curb weight of the motorcycle
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum safe weight of your motorcycle. This number is registered with the bike manufacturers. You have to know this number in order to safely travel whilst towing.
You can find it printed on the VIN plate or check out your service manual. This rating takes into consideration the curb weight, passengers, and accessories that may be on your bike already.
It is your responsibility to make sure that you do not exceed this weight limit. If you do the results can be catastrophic and risk you/your passenger’s safety, and damage to your bike/cargo.
It is also important to include the weight of any accessories, your bike gear such as jackets, trousers, helmets, etc. All of this has an added weight which will add to the GVWR.
The curb weight of a motorcycle takes into consideration exactly the weight of the entire bike. This includes fluids, hydraulics, fuel, etc. It is in fact the weight of your bike when it is ready to take to the open road.
Calculating this weight can be tricky as every manufacturer takes different aspects into consideration. You should look at the Dry Weight of the bike itself. This is the weight of the bike fresh out of manufacture.
It is not in the ready-to-roll state as it wouldn’t contain any of the necessary fluids in order to run.
Once all of the above has been obtained then you can calculate the maximum towing capacity of your motorcycle. Look at an example below:
The Harley Davidson FLH Series has a curb weight of 880lbs. The GVWR is 1360 therefore the maximum towing capacity would be 1360 – 880 = 480 lbs.
Many people may believe that motorcycles are unsafe, especially when pulling a trailer as this can put your motorcycle under more pressure. To help you understand what you need to do to ensure maximum safety and what to keep an eye out for we have put together a handy list.
As any road user, it is important to check your tread depth and any wear and tear on your tires. Any sight of uneven wear or damage and the tires must be changed before traveling. Also, ensure that you have the correct psi as hauling a heavy load can lead to prematurely worn tires.
Heading on the road with a heavy trailer can damage your bike if the correct maintenance is not carried out. It is recommended that you preload the forks and rear shocks to stiffen the spring. You can do this by mechanical adjustment or by adding air.
As you may know, chains and sprockets are the key components of your bike. Lubrication is key for them and good maintenance whether you are towing or not can increase the life expectancy of your bike.
Any vehicle user should understand that their car/truck/motorcycle will need the basic services. When looking at servicing your motorcycle you need to ensure that the valves are adjusted, spark plugs are serviced, filters are changed and coolant is checked.
Taking a heavy load on the back of your bike requires different levels of service and you will need to follow the guidance of fluids for severe or extreme conditions.
Now we have looked at what you need to be sure your bike will cope with the load. It is important to remember that under no circumstances should you exceed the carrying capacity.
Overloading your bike can result in poor bike handling making you a danger to other road users as well as yourself.
You may be thinking now, great I know my weight limits so now we look into the types of trailer available for you to pull.
It is all in the name of this type of trailer. A cargo trailer can give you the extra storage space you may need when packing more than what your motorcycle can carry in saddlebags.
Handy for the weekly shop or moving bigger items from one location to another. Take note that the cargo trailer isn’t recommended for long journeys.
This is the beauty that you will need for long-distance journeys. Use it to pack up and travel the country, get lost in the beauty of your surroundings whilst knowing you have everything packed safely in your camping trailer.
Not only are these beneficial for storing your belongings but they are fantastic for camping. They turn into an actual living tent! That is right! Your trailer can also transform into your living quarters whilst you are living the dream amongst the stars!
It may be worth shopping around as these lightweight beauties can come in at a hefty cost! Not something you will be too sad about if you are an avid camper.
Also known as utility trailers, the open trailer is more of a flatbed. It can be useful if you need to tow large objects including other motorcycles however be sure that you keep within your given weight allowance.
They also don’t protect your goods from the elements so maybe not be the best for upholstered items during the wetter seasons.
Many of us have furry companions and what better way to spend time with them than traveling to beautiful destinations. Taking your furry friends away with you is now possible as the dog trailer allows for their safe passage.
It is fully enclosed so they are protected from the wind and rain but with great ventilation and a window for them to see, you are sure to have a happy hound.
Riding any vehicle means you have a big responsibility, whether it is a car or a motorcycle. You as the driver need to ensure that you are being cautious and respectful of other road users.
Many bike users have the added responsibility of keeping themselves from harm. Helmets, riding clothes, boots, and gloves can keep a biker from serious injury if they had a collision.
Towing a trailer can be a fairly challenging task, especially when towing from a motorcycle. Not only does it add weight to the bike but it will affect the overall handling and braking distance.
The points below are things to remember, they will help keep you safe on your journey.
Motorcycles have various sizes of engines just like cars. It is recommended that a trailer is only towed from a larger bike. The minimum cc for towing a trailer is 600. Anything below 600cc will not have the power to pull the extra weight.
This is the weight that is on the hitch. The tongue weight has to be less than 15% of the total weight of the trailer. If unsure then using a weight machine is recommended.
It is paramount that you understand the important role of the hitch. As a motorcycle takes corners you know that you lean into the bike to keep a steady balance, well the hitch has to have a 360-degree swivel in order to take the corners safely.
Failure to swivel will result in your trailer capsizing and causing tremendous damage and may cause injury.
It is easy to forget that you have a trailer on the back of your bike so for this reason we recommend practice runs before completing a long journey.
By doing this, you will become familiar with handling the extra weight and also more confident with the extra length, especially when it comes to lane changes.
When towing a trailer with a motorcycle you must adhere to lower speed limits. The trailer itself must be under 1 meter in width and the weight should be no more than 150kg.
As long as you stick to the weight limits of your bike and hitch, trailers will not cause you any damage providing they are correctly loaded and attached to your bike.
Motorcycles used to tow trailers should have an engine size of at least 600cc bikes less than this will not be able to pull the excess weight.
Typically you can fit around four small bikes on a trailer that is 7×14.
It is evident that trailers can be extremely useful for motorcycle owners. Giving you the ability to go on longer journeys and not worry about what you need to take or if you have enough space on the bike for groceries is a relief.
You must ensure that you get the right trailer for your needs. We have looked at four possible types of trailers and each one benefits from different uses. Just ensure that the trailer you choose doesn’t exceed your weight capacity.
(Total towing capacity of the motorcycle = Gross vehicle weight Rating (GVWR) – Curb weight of the motorcycle)
If you are unsure about anything discussed in this article then pop to your local dealership and I’m sure they will give you the advice you need. Happy riding!
