Towing with the C10

[x01660]

For those of you that tow; how much weight can I tow behind a C10, assuming I'm riding solo?

My idea is getting a DR650 set up for offroad riding, and towing that to the fun spots and riding.

I know I can just ride the DR there, but is it possible to tow a DR with a C10?

Or is that asking for trouble?

I'm even thinking about a trackday setup, if I ever get a track bike. Tow it to the track, ride, load it, ride back.

Feasible?

-Z

 

[connie_rider]

In my dirt bike days I considered doing that for the fun of it. But never got around to doing it.
I think it might be feasible, but you would have to be "very" careful of the weight.
I think you would want the towed bike to be as close to the ground as possible and secured to the trailer so that it would not lean if the suspension compressed.
ie; Turnbuckles.

Ride safe, Ted

Found this;

towing a motorcycle with a motorcycle - Search Videos

Watch videos instantly on Bing—enjoy direct playback, discover related clips, and dive into trending content all in one place.

www.bing.com

 

[x01660]

In my dirt bike days I considered doing that for the fun of it. But never got around to doing it.
I think it might be feasible, but you would have to be "very" careful of the weight.
I think you would want the towed bike to as close to the ground as possible and secured to the trailer so that it would not lean if the suspension compressed.
ie; Turnbuckles.

Ride safe, Ted

Found this;

towing a motorcycle with a motorcycle - Search Videos

Watch videos instantly on Bing—enjoy direct playback, discover related clips, and dive into trending content all in one place.

www.bing.com

HA!! I didn't realize Zack and Ari did that!!!

Love that pair!

And that's a good proof of concept. I think if I kept the speeds down, and figured out trailer brakes, I should be ok.

Hmmmm......


-Z

 

[ron203]

Time to trade up to a Goldwing. They’ll do it. Used in Japan as tow trucks or so I have been told. (Want to buy an ‘08?)

 

[Bud]

Proof of concept with an 1800 wing towing a lightweight dirt bike. I'd feel better if it was a lighter bike being towed. But, with money, lots of things become possible.

 

[ron203]

Proof of concept with an 1800 wing towing a lightweight dirt bike. I'd feel better if it was a lighter bike being towed. But, with money, lots of things become possible.

Google it

 

[Bud]

I've done plenty of questionable things in my life, but that's a bit much for me.

 

[Jorge]

I'm glad to read that you're thinking about trailer brakes ; that would be my biggest concern.
The other one is the trailer pushing the rear out in a turn, especially if you had to swerve.
Most MC trailers are a couple of hundred pounds or less and have a very low center of gravity, a DR650 would be relatively high CG and heavier.
Fortnine towed a small Boston Whaler with a GW! It can be done, but should it?

 

[x01660]

Its actually got me thinking; if I'm gonna be riding the slab on Nyx, it means I can go with a strictly offroad style bike.

A CRF300L weighs 311 lbs. A CRF450L weighs 289 lbs (literally less than me ).... A minimalist trailer with brakes, and no faster than 55 in the slow lane? I think the old girl will do it!

Edit: When doing calculations for towing, do I have to take into account the load rating of my tires?

-Z

 

[Jorge]

Its actually got me thinking; if I'm gonna be riding the slab on Nyx, it means I can go with a strictly offroad style bike.

A CRF300L weighs 311 lbs. A CRF450L weighs 289 lbs (literally less than me ).... A minimalist trailer with brakes, and no faster than 55 in the slow lane? I think the old girl will do it!

Edit: When doing calculations for towing, do I have to take into account the load rating of my tires?

-Z

Zach, you beat me to the punch! I was going to ask if you'd considered a lighter dirt bike!
I don't think you'd have to worry about tires' load rating.
When you consider a heavier passenger (say, 180-200 lbs), that weight is almost 100% on the rear tire.
Even a 350 lb trailer (with bike) will only have 40-60 lbs tongue weight, much less than a passenger.

 

[x01660]

Zach, you beat me to the punch! I was going to ask if you'd considered a lighter dirt bike!
I don't think you'd have to worry about tires' load rating.
When you consider a heavier passenger (say, 180-200 lbs), that weight is almost 100% on the rear tire.
Even a 350 lb trailer (with bike) will only have 40-60 lbs tongue weight, much less than a passenger.

So the Metzeler I have on my rear actually comes with two different load ratings. I got the heavier one (77, or 906 lbs) vs the stock. And the front tire is a 58, or 520 lbs. So I should be good. Minimalist trailer with some brakes, and a lighter offroad bike. Perfect!

-Z

 

[greenie]

I've had two new rear tires fail below the 441 lb capacity (riders and luggage 440 lbs)... Good major brand tires too. Motorcycles and tires may have optimistic maximum load capacities. As Jorge says, much of the weight is on the rear tire.
Considering what an empty trailer can do to a 7,000 lb pickup under the wrong conditions.....

 

[connie_rider]

In the video, the bike is roughly 300#.
Their pulling a trailer that probably weighs 200#.
The trailer hitch is about 25#.
Hauling gear (including tents) on the bike or on the trailer increases that by mebbe 75#.
So, you're looking at roughly 600# of towing weight.
NOTE: Adding brakes would add another 25#.

With that in mind, (and trying to think out of the box) I have an idea that I'll throw out.
That idea is to use a trailer dolly instead of a trailer.
It would look something like this but could be "much" smaller and lighter for towing a motorcycle.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Ride safe, Ted

NOTE: Weights are done by SWAG.