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1 Jan 2010
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 227
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Since the thread is becoming heavy on photos...
My own (slightly irrelevant) experience towing a trailer:
(picking up a new sidecar I got off ebay)
I'm not sure I'd fancy doing any distance towing a two wheeled trailer off a solo bike, but plenty of people do it and seem perfectly happy, so good luck to you!
My only (non?)constructive thoughts would be that by towing a twin-track trailer you lose the narrowness which is one of the key benefits of a solo motorcycle. Personally, I'd whack a sidecar on the bike instead, then your passenger can sit comfortably. But the only way to find out if something works out for you, is to try it. Don't let me or anyone else put you off giving something a try!
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2 Jan 2010
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New on the HUBB
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1
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Thailand trailer
Light steel frame, with plywood sides, 25kg, 70kg when loaded home made, simple construction with a ball and socket from a truck steering as the connection, mountain bike tyres, Same width as the bike crashbars, 810mm, 1mt long plus nose cone, done 10k to date all over thailand, new model will be stronger and aluminium, this was and expermental model, I cruse at 80 k max, no real problems towing, hass all the side clearance lights ETC.
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2 Jan 2010
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Registered Users
New on the HUBB
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Dubai/Yorkshire
Posts: 1
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Trailer project
A home-made trailer can be a satisfying project, but there are numerous technical difficulties to overcome (aside from manufacturing with limited resources). A single side swing-arm mount throws an extra spanner in the works.
Some of the challenges are:
1) Weight (overall and distribution)
2) Correct alignment with motorcycle axis
3) Stiffness
The other main lessons are:
1) Mock things up and try them before carving the design in stone (e.g. test drive with bag of cement in the back - how does it respond?).
2) Remain flexible/self-critical at all stages of the project.
3) Simplify whenever possible, and if in doubt go for strength.
4) Accept that you will probably not get it right first (or second) time. Developing the design is the most gratifying part of it.
Good luck - Guy
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2 Jan 2010
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: North Leeds
Posts: 20
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Lateral dynamics of motorcycles towing a single-wheeled trailer
This article by Stephen R James can be found in Vehicle System Dynamics Vol 43, No8, August 2005, 581-599
PhD Student Stephen James
This article compares (both in the field and by computer modelling) a number of one wheel trailer designs and concludes (I paraphrase) that the most stable trailer/hitch sytems where those that held the pitch and yaw axis of the hitch forward of the rear wheel and roughly the same height as the trailer loadbed. Using this method loads of up to 200kgs could be safely transported around speeds of 20m/s. The more the axis were moved rearward (as in the Trailtail design) the less weight that could be carriied with any level of stability. With a hitch axis to the rear of the rear wheel safe loading was reduced to some 40kgs. This may however may be adequate for most users.
Obviously there is so much more to the study and I have just attempted to give a flavour. I would recommend anyone seriously concerned with the safety of a monowheel trailer design to get a copy, after all even paid for it could save a serious amount of time devoted to trial and error in producing a viable unit
I hope to be producing a monowheel to carry camping gear with my Highland. The problems with standard load carrying systems for me are as follows:-
1. The Highland has an extreme seat height making getting on and off difficult and even more so when carrying a top box, tent and other articles in the pillion position.
2. When fully loaded I find it impossible to pick the bike up after a spill without assistance or removing some of the load (the pannier on the down side does help to keep the bike from laying flat however).
3. The luggage weight carried high up changes the riding characteristics and means I have to really concentrate far harder in the rough removing a lot of my riding pleasure. Watching the Trailtail river crossing video I have been convinced a single wheel trailer will substantially reduce the instability on rough ground making the bikes riding behaviour nearer to it's unloaded state.
A trailer that can carry up to 40kgs will be fine for me. I hope to fabricate a unit using steel tubing similar to that used in crash bars for motorcycles. The axis and suspension using rubber boot covered rose joints, a 20inch 48 spoke hd bmx rim with one of the heavier Maxxis tyre types and finally a suspension unit from a mountain bike. I know many members will hold up their hands in horror thinking that these component parts would not be strong enough. What I want to avoid is a heavyweight trailer that is a serious drag before the luggage is attached. Experience of these parts in seriously overloaded situations makes me think this is a good place to start. Comments welcome.
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"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -Bertrand Russell
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9 Feb 2010
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Gold Member
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wells, Somerset
Posts: 233
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A few miles down the road...
Well we've put about 2k miles on the RIG now, and it's been good fun. Obviously most of them have been road orientated, but there have been a couple of dirty moments.
On the road you (I) hardly notice that it's there, especially on a good surface at speed. Slow speed manoeuvres you can feel it, but not half as cumbersome as I was expecting.
Mileage is still excellent, it doesn't really seem to have affected (effected?) that at all.
We're now in San Felipe, Baja. With the torrential rains a couple weeks back, there were huge chunks of road missing on the route from Ensenada, which forced detours through sometimes deep dirt.
This wasn't such good fun on the big heavy old BMW with trailer in tow. It's do-able, but I realise that I very much enjoy off road, and this arrangement is simply not suited to the rough dirt at all.
I'll avoid the off road now, until I'm back on the Honda.
Thanks for the encouragement everyone, I really appreciate the positiveness of the response. A big part of this experiment is simply to try something interesting, something that most people don't bother with.
A couple of photos..
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9 Feb 2010
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Contributing Member
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Munich, the beer capital
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Quite a high centre of gravity, which might account for the bad performance on dirt roads.
At a bikers' meeting in Darwin I met a couple on a V-Strom 1000 with a self-constructed trailer based on a 44 gallon drum with a single wheel. The connection to the bike was similar to he bicycle trailer "Bob Yak". Centre o gravity was very low, allowing him to travel all dirt roads in OZ. Unfortunately no pics
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do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
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Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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