[Closed] carrying a bike on a motorbike....hear me out please!

There is a guy in the states doe it with a tandem with no issues

here the issue will be legal.

Im sure you could have a side car created, My grandad often told me how people pre war would attach there scrambler bikes and tools to side cars to get to and from events

sidecar platform with a bike rack on it??

or a trailer like the ones you see pulled by goldwings with the same.

the way you mention is a tad bonkers

I didn't see him but my mate said there was a guy at the Inners Winter Series with his DH on a motorbike.

here you go Brycey

[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5942776419_bdd7801f5f_m.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6025/5942776419_bdd7801f5f_m.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/48247502@N07/5942776419/ ]bike bike[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/48247502@N07/ ]valley daddy[/url], on Flickr

I saw a bloke on a BMW GS1150 with a bike across the back, wheels on. It was attached to the top box/rear rack but I don't remember how. The GS is a tall bike, though, and it needs to be to get the bike high enough to lean it over without the wheels touching down.

I remember seeing a guy in a mag with a mtb on the back of a KTM Adventurer.

Don't see why not, may need an extra numberplate/light for the UK?

I know of a guy who carries his road.bike to sportives on his touring type motorbike. will try and get some details.

Greg Herbold went through a phase of carting his Miyata about like that...mid 90's that was.

good point on herbold. they toured s.America like that iirc.

One of the lads over at retrobike carries his bike around on a scooter IIRC, might be a motorbike, not 100% sure, but it is one or the other!

Can't remember exactly how he does it though

www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2011/05/motorcycle-bike-rack.html

the way you mention is a tad bonkers

because you will go quite quickly and it will likely affect your balance/stability. I am not sure how much of an issue this would be but imagine say a puncture.
I am sure you could do it I am less sure why you would want to do it
Why not a side car or a trailer?
or for your crazy plans bike as the base for the side car [attached using epoxy and carbon sheets] and your ego in the side car 😉

Al, once again, I like your style, its been doen many times just copy what has been done in the link above. I cant actually see a legal issue as long as its secure and deosnt interfere with your no plate, lights etc. And take it easy.

because you will go quite quickly and it will likely affect your balance/stability. I am not sure how much of an issue this would be but imagine say a puncture.

Roughly translated: I know nothing about this but I'll offer an opinion based on pure fantasy to try and sound clever.

Never ridden a motorbike have you?

I cant actually see a legal issue as long as its secure and deosnt interfere with your no plate, lights etc.

In Spain at least there's a legal requirement that whatever you carry on the bike can't overhang the sides by more than 25cm, don't know if that's also true in the UK but it's something I'd certainly look into. If it is a sidecar type trailer would be an option.

not towing a bike as a tag along NO - done that on a cycle and it does have an effect on stability.
I have had a bike licence for 23 years - though not driven regularly for a while.
You now going to claim a two wheeled vehicle towing a one wheeled "trailer" has no affect on stability/balance ? As i said it has an effect - is that untrue? as to how much as I said I dont know.
Perhaps you could put forward an opinion yourself as to how good it would be rather than make false claims about me.
Seriously why not just say what you think rather than gently attack me? That wont help al now will it.

http://velocitramp.blogspot.com/2008/09/mountain-bike-moto-tour-2009.html

Bloke near us used to turn up at time trials with his bike on a rack with the wheels out its not that wide

Seriously why not just say what you think rather than gently attack me?

I did. TBH I thought you were on about carrying it on the bike, not towing it though.
Perhaps you'd like to explain why its any different to carrying a passenger, lots of luggage, or towing a trailer as some bikes do?

Let's see, what effect is 15kg of bike going to have on the combined weight of around 300kg of bike and rider? Not much. What is going to happen in the event of a puntcure that won't happen without? Not much.

There's plenty of people do all sorts of things with bikes you know.....

Seriously why not just say what you think rather than gently attack me? That wont help al now will it.

Something like this?
[url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5943103241_602caa6a3b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5943103241_602caa6a3b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/63916749@N02/5943103241/ ]stwChallenge FMC GP Cadetes 020411 106[/url] por [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/63916749@N02/ ]kala y simon[/url], en Flickr

http://2x2cycles.com/products/

One of Santa Cruz's designers has an SV650 with a bike rack on it.

It wouldn't be at all hard to do tbh, if you can weld or know someone to weld it up for you. But, it's still not going tobe all that practical- you don't just need to carry the bike but also all the assorted Bike Crap, and when you get there you have to do something with all the assorted Motorbike Crap. Helmet, leathers and boots take up a huge amount of space.

Also changing back into the motorbike stuff while sweaty and muddy isn't a barrel of laughs.

So what you'd want to do is, mount it inline on the back, wheels off. A bit like on that Monster up the page, only a little more vertical to lower the centre of gravity would be a good idea. Mount the wheels up alongside the frame for compactness. And use 2 big (big) panniers. It won't massively affect the ride- the actual weight isn't massive, less than a pillion.

There'll be no legal concerns with this approach as long as it's safely mounted.

But I have to say, I thought it was a sufficiently hassly idea not to do it even whenI had no car licence. Buying a motorbike with the plan of using it as a load lugger doesn't seem like a good idea to me. And this is from someone that used to do things like this:

[IMG] [/IMG]

(that's 10 6-foot loft insulation boards)

Al, once again, I like your style

Yeah there's something really appealing about someone so desperately seeking attention isn't there?

It wouldn't be at all hard to do tbh, if you can weld or know someone to weld it up for you. But, it's still not going tobe all that practical- you don't just need to carry the bike but also all the assorted Bike Crap, and when you get there you have to do something with all the assorted Motorbike Crap. Helmet, leathers and boots take up a huge amount of space.

True. Panniers would do it though. We use a coil lock through the motorbike then through our lids, and the arms of our jackets though, it's all you need. 🙂

As a tag-along trailer, I'd be concerned over the longevity of your wheels. If you've ever seen an un-damped, empty trailer behind a car at any speed, you'll see that it bounces around rather a lot.

PeterPoddy - Member

We use a coil lick through the motorbike then through our lids, and the arms of our jackets though, it's all you need.

Til it rains 😉

PP fair point it is abut unclear and I actually meant a puncture using the bike as a tag along cycle if you are doing say 50 [ 120 in your case -another joke- ]. I am not saying it cant be done just that it will be less stable than not towing. Most mbike trailers have two wheels and base rather than one for stability. Is there a one wheeled one used by Mbike like say a tag along or a bob trailer? I am not aware of one.

Just use a trailer like hundreds of other do. Seperate you push bike from the tarmac. As the meercat says....

clubber - Member
I know of a guy who carries his road.bike to sportives on his touring type motorbike. will try and get some details.

clubber's referring to a mate of mine in London. He has no car, his only transport is an ageing (late 80's)BMW (R80 possibly?). As clubber says he has transported road bikes to sportives on the back of the Beeemer for years, including down to the Alps for La Marmotte.

He has hard panniers, takes the wheels off the road bike and bungees the frame to the pillion seat / panniers with the wheels on top. The bike is no wider / longer than the panniers so really no issues at all, very slight overhang at the back (over the rear light / number plate) but that's it. He's never been tugged or had any problems, other than once one of the tyres was (unbeknownst to him) rubbing on something and ended up blowing.

So it's definitely do-able, though I reckon you need good size hard panniers to do it safely.

Al - I assume you'd be looking at something bigger than the 125cc M/cycles you were asking about previously?

Til it rains

Bin liner. 🙂

The bloke who is the brother of the bloke who is a Prof at Lancaster and whose name I dont rememebr used to appear at trailquests with a bike on the back of his bike.

im being buged by this atm as im currentley on a scooter but doing test for a big bike but still suffer the problem of bike carridge if someone can give a 100% yes/no as to wether this is legal in uk and is there any legal limits to the fitment of rack.

edit- just watched the 2x2 vid and i have to say id be happy having that on the back of the bike seems nice and secure and well thought out

I haven't been to the Birthday Rides for a while but there used to be a guy (I think from Yorkshire) who put a different rear wheel in his bike and towed it, using a bit of a Heath Robinson attachment, to the event behind a Harley. No doubt a [i]motorcycle[/i] could be used to do the same thing.

I wouldn't like to think of the effect on the cycle of all the bouncing about at funny angles even though it would not affect the motorcycle.

Thanks most...I've not ridden at 60mph much, but suspect that 15 kg of tag along bike won't affect the stability of 200kg of motorbike and rider. I get the point about luggage and storage.

I can see it would skip about quite a bit, still not convinced that would be an issue.

Seems like the legals need researching.

OH and druid 125 for time being.

I doubt the legal side would be a problem as long as all the lights and number plate are visible. But I don't see it being good for hubs. I'd want it off the tarmac without a doubt.

Hub would spin like it always does ..with no weight on it.

Aye - but it would be bouncing around like crazee!

i love the thought of a bike wheel doing 70+mph for a couple of hours, right until the bearings collapse and seize 😆

I don't think that spinning an unloaded wheel would be that detrimental to the hub.

Oi Al, I can make you one.

perhaps not. but that doesn't seem so funny in my head! 🙂

😆

Mavic carry a shed load of bicycle wheels on a touring scooter in the Tour de France.

cynic-al - Member

Hub would spin like it always does ..with no weight on it.

Non-stop, at higher speeds, for longer durations.

So?

You worry that it might be an issue but you don't know why.

Druid...how so? Tarmac is mostly quite smooth?

cynic-al - Member

You worry that it might be an issue but you don't know why.

Er no, I've already explained why.

AS I said at the beginning there is a chap doing this with a tandem in the states and it is no issue. The wheel does not explode, the bike does not bounce around, its not a issue.

teh problem here will be the various trailer regs - construction and use as I think the bike would effectively become a trailer and thus need to meet the regs - including a plate with its load carrying capacity and so on

First trip to les gets about 10 years ago met a danish guy on an old guzzi with home made rear rack. Dh bike mounted on rack at bb with fork on bracket over pillion seat with front wheel and all camping n riding gear next to it . Rode from Denmark with it totally secure

Would anyone else be interested in one? I'm thinking of making up a few...

NW you have not explained why any of those factors might matter.

Duration...hubs are being ridden continuously for 5+hours daily.
Speed...many have hit 60mph or close. That's 3 times a normal average speed, any overheating issues would be down to grease I expect.

Ta TJ I thought that's where it might end up

cynic-al - Member

NW you have not explained why any of those factors might matter.

Do I really have to? 😕 What wears out bearings? This is lots more of the same.

Also, if 20mph is your average speed, take up racing.

Oh and sorry about the sand in your vag grum, I didn't put it there tho

Quite common in the USA. I've seen lots of bike carrier stuff on advrider.com

[url= http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233245 ]One of many threads...[/url]

SO NW your point is bearing wear? I think I can handle that.

20mph or thereabouts on many rides, racing is quite a bit faster.

cynic-al - Member

Druid...how so? Tarmac is mostly quite smooth?

Seriously, have a look at how an undamped trailer bounces around over every road imperfection. That's why folk run trailer tyres at ludicrously low pressures (which might be a partial answer for you).

please promise you will start a what tyre thread for this 😉

The bloke who is the brother of the bloke who is a Prof at Lancaster and whose name I dont rememebr used to appear at trailquests with a bike on the back of his bike.

It works and is no problem. they are using a different wheel with no casette. No bouncing around, no problems with the hub. [img][url= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5944568010_d6a008fe46_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/5944568010_d6a008fe46_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/5944568010/ ]Image1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr[/img]

The dog increases the awesomeness by a factor of mega!

yeah but look how much weight it keeping the rear wheel on the floor lol

cynic-al - Member

20mph or thereabouts on many rides, racing is quite a bit faster.

Average speed of the Tour is 24mph. Average speed of the "super fast" world cup XC round at Pietermaritzburg was 12.4mph. And they only had to do that for an hour and a half, so go get 'em 😉

Two wheels being carried, so that looks like a "special" rear wheel to be used whilst towing.

In previous discussions with TJ, we already covered the idea of carrying weight on the towed bike (panniers) in order to reduce the bouncing. It also looks like that tandem has suspension, which would, again, reduce the bouncing issue.

NW - even I can average 20mph on a decent ride (and I'm not as fit, young or gnar as Al).

Jeez Northwind what's your problem? Your first point kind of fell apart now you're flogging this one?

If you knew anything about road riding you'd know how much harder 24mph is over 20...and even 4th act races can average 24mph.

So go flame 'em 🙄

I take it none of you have ever ridden a bike with an unladen tag along?

for once Drhuidhd is right

I once read somewhere, and I can't remember where it was, about someone carrying a bike on their back using a modified rucksack of some sort. This would circumvent all trailer issues, although it's not the most practical. In fact, of the bike was anything like my old monocoque frame Enduro, you'd probably fly off the back of the bike due to the increased drag...

Not sure on the trailer idea though, mainly for hub and tyre wear.

cynic-al - Member

Your first point kind of fell apart

When did that happen? Even you've admitted it'll increase bearing wear. Mounting it wheels-up is a better way to do it. Obviously wouldn't work with a tandem though which is presumably why Mr Goldwing up there is going through all that extra complexity, mucking around with extra wheels etc. (he's got the real world experience here, and he doesn't want his regular rear wheel on the ground) Mounting it similiarly to what I described earlier will be much more compact too, and no thinking about bouncing around, or worries about legality.

As for the racing- last year in the XC world cup, only Dalby was over 20kph average. Champery was 16.71kph. Are you only talking about road riding or something? Might be worth mentioning it if you are.

🙄 This is Singletrackworld. [i]Of course[/i] he means road riding!!

Heh. How stupid of me.

20mph mtb riding heh I'm fast...but that would be super human and therefore a bit silly!

I don't accept bearing year would be a problem, just that I understood your point. I run cup and cone rear mtb hubs, never worn one out in 25 years of riding.

Well it looks like the rack is the better way, given towing requires >125cc
http://www.mono-trail.co.uk/single-wheel-trailer-law.html

Even though you called me fat I will stick in my 2 pennies worth.

Towing would need a chunky bike (or laden down a bit) for some stability. I don't think bearing wear on the wheel would be a major issue but I reckon tyre degradation would be, ala standard road tyres on turbo trainers delaminating and generally falling to bits.

Carrying on a rack deffo betterer.

could you (*and I'm suggesting this might have some flaws):
- take mbike pillion pegs off
- add a decent mbike rear rack
- make (*get made by a pro) an upside down U shaped solid mount that bolts from pillion peg mount across seat behind rider (and possibly also bolts to rear rack)- that had QR clamps on the sides of the U to mount the bike wheels sort of in same plane a mbike rear wheel but higher (ie get U mount right shape to put things where you need)
- U has a qr mount in middle of U (ie on rear seat behind rider)
- add an upright pole etc to mbike rear rack with a qr at top
- bike goes behind rider from U to top of pole
*mabe a one piece upside down U with a reveresed L stuck to it so you could just bolt it on/off as a oner (using pllion peg mounts and rack etc)
stability and wind impact unknown,
other idea is, again using pillion pegs, wheel mount on each side as before but leave bike attached to rear wheel and again have a pole off a rear rack etc

Its for tyre wear and to prevent drivetrain wear that the folk above use an different wheel when towing.