Perhaps my dumbest idea ever

[BradfordBenn]

I know that I am going to the Rally in Spokane, but I can not decide what bike to take.

So has anyone succesfully trailered a motorcycle behind a motorcycle?

The idea being I can ride the RT for the super slab speedy parts, but have the GS (F650) available for the off road fun.

Comments?

[jgr451]

Shouldnt be impossible.You know Rev Willie is planning a truck shipment?I got my RT from Michigan to Portland OR that way.

[BradfordBenn]

Yup,I am thinking about the truck... but I am also planning on spending about three weeks getting out there wandering the country and would like to have both bikes.

[Gnome]

Ride there,trucks are for harleys.:bliss

[BMWBeauty]

Only Harley's are for trailers:eek

[RevWillie]

Originally posted by jgr451
You know Rev Willie is planning a truck shipment?

I didn't know that I am planning a truck shipment!

I would recommend that you talk to GREAT HAUL II about getting your bike to Spokane by truck. I'm getting there via a Class B RV (without a bike).

I do trains, not trucks.:burnout

[jgr451]

OOOPPPPSSS!!!!!!:eek

Sorry to give your name in vain,my bad.Thanks for the correction!!

;)

[widebmw]

Build a flat bed sidecar. Tie down the 650 on it.
Or if the sidecar fits both bikes you can - ?
:dunno :help

[Cliffy777]

abilities oh mighty martini man. With the proper libation for inspiration, aka mental lubrication, you will assess the situation and make a computation.
(Thats all of 'em I can come up with)
You can do it, dude. Make a trailer for your 650, betcha can!

[BMWBeauty]

Cliffy, last time I looked, I am definitely NOT a man.:D

[MarkF]

Originally posted by widebmw
Build a flat bed sidecar. Tie down the 650 on it.


Saw that once. Airhead with a sidecar was hauling an airhead racebike. Cool pic! Maybe it was in the ON.

MarkF

[Cliffy777]

Originally posted by BMW Beauty
Cliffy, last time I looked, I am definitely NOT a man.:D

Uhhhh, I believe I was directing my remarks toward the individual, heretofore and hereinafter known as Bradford Benn. And HE has made references to HIS love for all kinds of martini products. Thus the monkier "martini man" was included in my post.
I was trying to encourage him to follow his dream and build a trailer for his 650, but alas my meaning has no meaning.

[BMWBeauty]

.....Aww.... :confused: .....So Sorry my friend....:)
Blonde Moment......:eek

[oldcarkook]

Brad: I think you will find the load gets old quickly. While having the option of going two ways is appealing, I think after you drag a load as big as another bike around you will not like it. Weight wise it's a HUGE load to pull and your performance will show it.

Send the 2nd bike on a trailer and plan to use it exclusively while it's there, then go back to the cushy RT for your touring.

I would think that the weight of a 650 and trailer would exceed any practical pulling capacity of the RT anyway. I've never seen anyone pulling anything larger than a small tag along or sidecar with any bike, irrespective of how big it is.

:idea Maybe it's time to look into one of those bikes with a small block V8 in it. :D

[Gnome]

I think BradfordBenn should consult the "Myth Buster" guys about the Motorbike-Motorcyle hauler. Trucks and trailers are still for Harleys, you tellum BMWBeauty!!!
:idea :D

By the way I concur with Oldcarkook,the load on the bike will really hurt the performance and SAFTEY of the bike you're riding. Pain sucks,and I'm allergic to it,bet you are too.

[BMWBeauty]

Wll Grome......If you can't ride them....Haul Them.....:D

[BradfordBenn]

Like I said, possibly my dumbest idea ever.

I agree Motorcycles are for riding.

It seems like the risks are too great for this to work succesfully, however I do think I am going to call Mythbusters and see what they can come up with.

I might also call BMW and see what they can come up with, we all know how responsive they are.

So this is beginning to become a next question... which bike to ride out to Spokane?

[kbasa]

RT.

[Gnome]

Tell ya what I'll do BradfordBenn, the man who lives in the shadow of "SKULLBONE" . Since I just live down the road from you,and we're both going to the Spokane Rally...I'll leave my K bike in the garage and I'll ride one of your bikes up there. You ride the other. When we get there we change bikes. Or I sit it out at the beer garden. Whatdya think?
:idea
:D

[YB in IN]

Originally posted by KBasa
RT.

I'm going with Kbasa on this one.:drink

[RebeccaV]

Keep It Simple BradfordBenn. Take the RT and be done with it. Messing around with 2 bikes on a long trip sounds like a major PITA and not worth the off-road ride or two. It's not as if you'll have a shortage of spectacular on-road riding available.

BTW - what does your wife say on the subject?

[BradfordBenn]

She is the one who gave me her F650.

So now comes the question... Was I having fun or is this serious?:p

[Gnome]

You're getting some good advice from the campfire,and I'll agree with them. Ride the RT.

[lorazepam]

You could give me the 650, and then you would have to take the RT. It would end all your problems.

[dzimbric]

RT
When are you returning. I can't take three weeks going out there but was hoping to blitz it all the way home.

[BradfordBenn]

It is the RT.

I will be leaving Sunday and will probably blitz back as well.

[sgborgstrom]

Take a look at a map of Washington State, the powers that govern road building here have left a sizable chunk of the roads here unpaved. Sure they mostly start out paved but follow them up into the hills a bit and they turn into dotted lines....the F650 would open up more opportunities to explore, unless you like pounding the heck out of your RT on washboard fire roads.....

Having crossed the Great Pains multiple times, if I had to do it again it would be on US Highways, 20 is probably easiest to get to from Indiana but 2 is also nice and runs you past Glacier. At the very least you get to do more real riding on the old highways. Superslab is nothing more than torture for me, multiple days of straight ahead droning over the horizon.....yech

Steve
(looking to trade 1977 GL1000 for GS type bike)

[jdcoffman]

Take the rt and after your there take a demo on an f650 and get kinda lost.....:bliss

[basketcase]

But you might not want to go to all the hassle.

Anyway, take a look at the link below:

Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com)

When you get to the home page, click:

Automotive / Trailers

After you click on trailers, you will see the trailers and the rail accessory further down on the page.

Now, Gold Wingers regularly haul things like ... unbelievably full, overstuffed cargo trailers. And sometimes, I've seen them haul things like pop up campers behind their motorcycles. Fully loaded, the popup campers can weigh in at more than 800 pounds.

Granted, your RT does not equal the weight of a Wing, but it could work.

The right hitch.

The right trailer.

The motorcycle tied down properly.

Having pulled a cargo trailer, for me, the big question would be, "Is it worth the hassle?"

For example, if you stay in a motel, do you want the worry of someone taking a bolt cutter to the lock on the trailer hitch, and then driving away with your GS in tow?

Next, pulling a trailer of any type increases the wear and tear on your tow bike, cuts down gas mileage, increases tire wear, and exacerbates the matter of hazard avoidance.

Also, you increase the number of tires that can go flat, bearings that can go out, and other things that have to be checked, maintained, and fiddled with.

As far as the mechanics of the RT pulling the GS, it is certainly doable, but for me, it would not be worth the headaches (i.e., to tow another motorcycle for my use).

And yes ... I'm a hypocrite. When I can get around to it, I plan to put a hitch on the K so I can again use my Harbor Freight, homegrown stuff hauler to haul my tent ... chair ... coleman stove and lantern ... comfy cot ... sleeping bag ... three pillows ... extra tools ... and ... and -- well, you get the picture. :brow

Just my $0.02

Ha! I finally got that stinkin' link to work. Good night to all!