Motorcycle trailer

Jeandr · Jul 15, 2010

I am putting together a motorcycle trailer of my own based on lots I have seen on the net. I needed something I could store in my shed which means it had to be taken apart, not to mention I did not want to tow a trailer when I didn't have to, so this is what I came up with:

I bought a set of wheels which came with the hubs and stub axles. Of course, the axles did not fi the square tubes I bought and my first idea was to have the tubing opened to the size of the axles but my second idea was better because I could do it myself, just turn the axle until it fits in the sqare hole.

Axles welded to tubing and coupling also welded

Main beam in three pieces

Coming together

I have a few more thing to do like making the rails, the front wheel chock, put some fenders on, lights, hold down points, a ramp and paint the whole thing so it looks nice.

Jean

prmurat · Jul 15, 2010

Jean..tu me tues avec ton ingeniosite!!!!
Philippe

swooshdave · Jul 15, 2010

prmurat said:
Jean..tu me tues avec ton ingeniosite!!!!
Philippe

Whatever he said was probably right on the money!

britbike220 · Jul 28, 2010

Looks nice and simple, did you finish this project?

Jeandr · Aug 2, 2010

britbike220 said:
Looks nice and simple, did you finish this project?

Here is an update...

I will post updates soon, I have to finish it this week :wink:

Jean

grandpaul · Aug 3, 2010

THAT IS THE COOLEST INVISIBLE BIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN!!!!!!

Did the stealth cloak not fit the whole bike?

britbike220 · Aug 4, 2010

Thanks for the update. The perfect trailer for space challenged people.

Jeandr · Aug 23, 2010

I did some work today on my trailer. I still have some welds to finish up, run the wiring, add safety chains, at some point add fenders, get a license plate and paint the whole thing. I think I will paint it RED because no one has a RED trailer and it is more visible than dull ordinary black and it will remind me of the little red wagons from my youth. I will take a few trips around the block before going far to make sure everything is cool. I didn't keep accruate tabs, but total cost so far is less than $500, the most expensive pieces being the wheels and tires.

Jean

I loaded my ginea pig Yamaha all by myself and tied it down without any help, this is another goal I wanted to acheive in addition to being able to store it im the shed.

swooshdave · Aug 23, 2010

Yes, you definitely want to take the trailer up to 125mph with the Yamaha before putting something important like a Norton on it.

grandpaul · Aug 24, 2010

I have had my 6-bike stick-welded / converted boat trailer fully loaded up to 99 MPH with no issues (my truck cuts off at 100 MPH). It was way out in the desert with a nice, flat, straight road; other cars kept whizzing past me at well over 100.

willh · Aug 24, 2010

Is low air pressure enough to keep it from bouncing? Just wondering as it looks like a cool idea. Jean take it over the bridge at speed with the Yamaha and see how it handles the expansion joints. I remember crossing the Champlain bridge with a 23' boat hopping 1' high at each joint. Hate to see your Norton being subjected to that with it's suspension strapped down.

Jeandr · Aug 24, 2010

swooshdave said:
Yes, you definitely want to take the trailer up to 125mph with the Yamaha before putting something important like a Norton on it.

That would be the fastest ny RD400 has ever gone, but I seriously doubt my car would be able to go that fast.

Jean

panorton · Aug 24, 2010

i'm not sure about your neck of the woods, but over here on the west coast there is a law that trailers have to have suspension. that may prove to be an issue when you have to get it registered. hopefully you already have "registration" or the law is different there.

Jeandr · Aug 24, 2010

willh said:
Is low air pressure enough to keep it from bouncing? Just wondering as it looks like a cool idea. Jean take it over the bridge at speed with the Yamaha and see how it handles the expansion joints. I remember crossing the Champlain bridge with a 23' boat hopping 1' high at each joint. Hate to see your Norton being subjected to that with it's suspension strapped down.

I have seen at least one commercial trailer with the same setup, small wheels with low pressure and no suspension. If it's OK on our roads, it will be OK everywhere :wink:

Jean

britbike220 · Aug 29, 2010

So how'd the test ride go?

Jeandr · Aug 30, 2010

britbike220 said:
So how'd the test ride go?

Not done yet, I only went around the block empty when I had all the wiring done. Guess I'm too busy triying to reach my bicycling short term goal (6,000Km) in order to go for a record year. You will see for yourself, once you retire, there is no time to do anything.

Jean

Jeandr · Nov 30, 2010

Took a long time, but finaly I used my trailer to haul my café racer to its winter storage and retreive my old Commando. The ride went very well, everything stayed tight. I could see the bike and trailer bounce on the biggest imperfections in the road (there are many here) so I guess the low pressure (I used 10 PSI) tires did the job of absorbing the bumps. To be perfectly legal, I would need to add fenders (mudguards), but I have seen so many trailers made without any respect for the rules that I don't think I would be bothered if I don't put any on. Even with a bad back (lumbago attack yesterday morning) I was able to load and unload all by myself which is the reason I built it in the first place.

Jean

bwolfie · Nov 30, 2010

Sorry to add this in, but can you tell me more about your belt final drive and alternator.

britbike220 · Nov 30, 2010

Jean that trailer really did turn out nice. Glad it works as well as it looks.

rocker1 · Jan 16, 2011

Hi Nice but in the UK it would have two issues.
First our trailers must have suspention but we don't need damping. Secondly we must fit mudguards (fenders?).

I am building a dismantalable single bike trailer but I started with a 10g steel channel.
I am planning to have a folding tow hitch and two piece axle with folding triangulation braces and indispention units.
will post photo's when dry assembled.
We tour Europe in our Camper van and I need somthing I can take apart and stow inside along with the bike to keep the ferry fare down, once in France out with the bike, assemble the trailer and tow it away.