Can a motorcycle tow a car?

[trmptrmrk]

Just ran across this by accident and thought I'd share. (http://www.ama-cycle.org/features/2003/towbike.asp)

[BradfordBenn]

Actually saw this on something like the Discovery channel or TLC a while back. Pretty funny.

[YB in IN]

Check out the set of driving lights on the Volvo!

[username]

the answer is, with all questions like this, it depends.

depends on the bike, depends on the car, depends on the cars rolling resistance. i can push a car on a level surface all by myself. not very fast, not for very long, but i can do it. if i can do it, my motorcycle can do it.

which leads to the question: how long till i fry my clutch doing it?

[riderR1150GSAdv]

:jawdrop What more is there to say? :dunno

[GeoffMiller]

Ok, I just can't leave this one alone. I am a railroad conductor and I just had to run over to the calculator to compare towing requirements. A very common train weighs approx. 6000 tons (yep, tons!). We regularly tow a train of this size with one 4400 horsepower GE locomotive weighing in the neighborhood of 250 tons. Doing the math, it works out to .73 horsepower per ton. That's right, less than a single horse per ton to start and move the train. Unless grades are encountered, we can keep it rolling at 50 to sixty miles per hour. Granted there is less rolling resistance with steel wheels riding on steel rails but even so, I find it completely believable that a Gold Wing in the 100 hp range should be able to move a 2 ton car. Lowered gearing would put to rest any concern about frying clutches. :thumb

[SheRidesABeemer]

I just love it when someone does the numbers!

[manicmechanic]

I remember a few years ago seeing a picture in a M/C mag of a dresser H/D pulling a stranded motorhome. FWIW

[James O]

I don't know about towing, but I remember an article in Cycle Guide back in the 80's when California Highway Patrolmen were switching from Harley's to Kawasaki's and their only complaint was that the H-D would push a disabled vehicle off the road, with no problem, while the Kaw would bend it's frame trying to do the same. Other than that I still keep AAA insurance and I would be glad to call to help someone out of their predicement, but would not sacficice my motorcyle to pull them.

Jim

[Kenny2]

Ok, I just can't leave this one alone. I am a railroad conductor and I just had to run over to the calculator to compare towing requirements. A very common train weighs approx. 6000 tons (yep, tons!). We regularly tow a train of this size with one 4400 horsepower GE locomotive weighing in the neighborhood of 250 tons. Doing the math, it works out to .73 horsepower per ton. That's right, less than a single horse per ton to start and move the train. Unless grades are encountered, we can keep it rolling at 50 to sixty miles per hour. Granted there is less rolling resistance with steel wheels riding on steel rails but even so, I find it completely believable that a Gold Wing in the 100 hp range should be able to move a 2 ton car. Lowered gearing would put to rest any concern about frying clutches. :thumb

And what does it take to stop it???? :)
Inquiring mind, wants to know.....

[kbasa]

I don't know about towing, but I remember an article in Cycle Guide back in the 80's when California Highway Patrolmen were switching from Harley's to Kawasaki's and their only complaint was that the H-D would push a disabled vehicle off the road, with no problem, while the Kaw would bend it's frame trying to do the same. Other than that I still keep AAA insurance and I would be glad to call to help someone out of their predicement, but would not sacficice my motorcyle to pull them.

Jim

How can you push a car when the furthest forward point on a bike is the front tire? :dunno

[username]

another cop rode on the handle bars and leaned out over the wheel.

i saw this on CHiPs several times. ;)

[YB in IN]

another cop rode on the handle bars and leaned out over the wheel.

i saw this on CHiPs several times. ;)

CHiPs is possibly the finest television show ever created.

[username]

i agree, until they added harlan, the frizzy haired whiz-bang mechanic.

my theory is that he is the same guy that played the great gazoo from zetox on the flintstones, which i believe signaled the beginning of the end for that series.

[Grey Matter]

CHiPs is possibly the finest television show ever created.

No kidding that Eric Estrada. What an actor.

[Kenny2]

No kidding that Eric Estrada. What an actor.


Isn't he doing soaps in Mexico? :dunno

[BradfordBenn]

my theory is that he is the same guy that played the great gazoo from zetox on the flintstones, which i believe signaled the beginning of the end for that series.

That was Harvey Korman. :thumb

[BubbaZanetti]

believe it or not, i saw a late 70s airhead (r100rs to be exact) towing a citroen 2CV at the international citroen rally in 2002. i'm not sure if it was a long distance rig or not (i wasn't a diehard airhead guy at the time and didn't check it out in detail) but it sure was unique

[YB in IN]

Isn't he doing soaps in Mexico? :dunno

Yes is is. He also did a season of the Surreal Life on VH1 a year ago or so.