Trailer trash - towing behind a Fazer

[ChristoT]

Carried on from the "What did you do with your Fazer?" thread. Synopsis: I plan to get a trailer, and tow behind the Fazer, for my trip back to France via Holland - a trip of around 1,000 miles. To avoid thread rape, the discussion continues here. 

"The bike will lean better round corners" - are you sure?
Ok, I see it for a one-off trip where you'll be using mostly motorways, but I definitely don't see it improving handling. Plus, you said about your panniers being wider than your bars, yet you're going for a 2 wheel design, "max width"?

The main reason I mention the panniers' width is because they lean with me!! A trailer won't, the weight is purely a drag factor (in terms of cornering forces). As for the trip, it certainly won't be one off, but it should be a rare occurence. And the trailer will only be used as a "mule" - lugging large volumes long distances, not for anything exciting.

Also think Mickvp may be right about where you mount it from, although I also wonder about the strain on the rear wheel spindle with Luke's example.

I'm not keen on attaching to the swingarm as a) I want it detachable (no welds, or brazing on our ally swingarms), b) I want to tow not inconsiderable loads, and c) extra strain on the chain and axle. My swingarm is a bit focced - previous owner dented it, overtightening the axle bolts!! 

although, if your mounting to the pillion peg, wont that mean the trailer affects the rear suspension on the bike? if you mounted it to the swingarmlike luke it would be "lighter" as it is unsprung weight?

Micky - you are quite right, it is sprung weight. But because there will be an additional pivot (the trailer axle), the effective vertical force on the shock will be reduced, as the load will be shared by the rear mount and the trailer axle.

I look forward to seeing it anyway, sounds like an interesting build (I asume you will have some sort of "swivel" mounting so you can still lean over with it fitted?)

Just going for a standard car tow ball. I don't plan on going mad round corners with the trailer. The chap building me the bracket uses this, and leans his bike further than I do round roundabouts (sans trailer, let it be said though)!!

 I'm hoping to get a small car box trailer (ebay, gumtree etc) then do it up with better bodywork / a lid. Then use that. 

[rustyrider]

Just a couple of thoughts from someone that regularly tows around 3 tonnes behind a Range Rover.  The most important thing is getting the loading right to keep the nose weight on the trailer within limits.  On a car you should arrange it so that you have around 50 kilos on the tow hitch.  Your problem is going to be that with a hitch attached to the bike (pillion pegs), that sort of weight would be way too high and would be the same as carrying an overweight pillion.  So you would need to load the trailer so the weight on the hitch is as low as possible.  Unfortunately that will bring it's own problems.  Too little weight on the hitch will cause the trailer to pivot on the axle and rattle the hell out of the hitch.  Driving a car (even a Range Rover on air suspension) with a rattling tow hitch is both uncomfortable and bloody annoying, on a bike it will try to lift your back wheel off the ground!

[ChristoT]

Just a couple of thoughts from someone that regularly tows around 3 tonnes behind a Range Rover.  The most important thing is getting the loading right to keep the nose weight on the trailer within limits.  On a car you should arrange it so that you have around 50 kilos on the tow hitch.  Your problem is going to be that with a hitch attached to the bike (pillion pegs), that sort of weight would be way too high and would be the same as carrying an overweight pillion.  So you would need to load the trailer so the weight on the hitch is as low as possible.  Unfortunately that will bring it's own problems.  Too little weight on the hitch will cause the trailer to pivot on the axle and rattle the hell out of the hitch.  Driving a car (even a Range Rover on air suspension) with a rattling tow hitch is both uncomfortable and bloody annoying, on a bike it will try to lift your back wheel off the ground!

Thanks for the input!

The chap helping me build my rig tows loads behind his bike (albeit from a swingarm mounted bracket), but says the same about the forward load. I'm planning to go roughly 2/3s (maybe slightly less) of the load forward of the axle, to ensure decent nose-down attitude.

As for the weight, I'm used to heavy loads on the rear (HUGE sidebags). A trailer seems to be a more comfortable way around this, maybe even reducing the effective load on the tyre and suspension.

[Doddsie]

Is a small car box trailer not gonna cause problems when it bounces..... as they all do???

[ChristoT]

Is a small car box trailer not gonna cause problems when it bounces..... as they all do???

Yes and no.

Many small trailers have no suspension at all, so plays at being Captain Kangaroo (the Erde trailer Dad has at home for the minibus is like this). I'm hoping to find one with a bit of damping, which should absorb quite a bit.

Anyway, when heavily loaded, the trailer won't bounce as much, as the weight will keep it down.

The chap on the 125 has max size trailer, with basic suspension, and a dry weight of 60kg. Following him at 50ish, the trailer seemed pretty well settled.

[DryRob]

The rear axle is hollowed out, could you not attach via a rod through that? You might have to modify the connecting arm to rotate/flex as your bike leans through bends though but it would keep the weight off your suspension

[ChristoT]

The rear axle is hollowed out, could you not attach via a rod through that? You might have to modify the connecting arm to rotate/flex as your bike leans through bends though but it would keep the weight off your suspension

I'll have to check that in the morning, I thought it was a solid bar!!

The same applies as before though - I don't want it pulling on the back wheel, as it could knacker the sprockets & chain. And then I add in strength fears.

There's a chap on FB who will hopefully join FOC-U soon - he had a bracket made professionally for his 600. Which bolts directly to the pillion peg brackets. I suspect that this is the best place for it on our models.

[simonm]

I thought this thread was about towing girls who lived in trailers around.  My head is in a whole new universe.

This link seems to have decent advice: http://pbmotorcycletrailer.com/how-to-build-a-homemade-pull-behind-motorcycle-cargo-trailer-that-does-not-look-homemade/

The idea of a trailer on a Fazer makes me sad :-(  I thought trailers were only for Harley riders.  Slow heavyweight cruisers rather than lightweight high revving sport commuter bikes.

[ChristoT]

I thought this thread was about towing girls who lived in trailers around.  My head is in a whole new universe.

This link seems to have decent advice: http://pbmotorcycletrailer.com/how-to-build-a-homemade-pull-behind-motorcycle-cargo-trailer-that-does-not-look-homemade/

The idea of a trailer on a Fazer makes me sad :-(  I thought trailers were only for Harley riders.  Slow heavyweight cruisers rather than lightweight high revving sport commuter bikes.

Ta for the link!

You know the lads at MCN hold the world speed record for towing a trailer behind a bike? 139.5mph behind a Kwak 1100!! 

EDIT: It was an 1100, not a 1400, sorry! Proof.
 

[DryRob]

Probably gettin my axles or bikes mixed up, good job I'm not riding home

[rustyrider]

Is a small car box trailer not gonna cause problems when it bounces..... as they all do???

Some of the small trailers have Indespension units, a square tube, inside a larger square tube but with rubber in between.  The work fine when the trailer is loaded but may as well be solid when empty.  In saying that, even a half tonne car transporter trailer bounces when empty......

[DryRob]

Surely if you've got too much to carry on the bike alone then you should just give in an take the car?

[Dead Eye]

That's only an option if you have a car

[ChristoT]

That's only an option if you have a car

Or even a license for one...

[Punkstig]

Just my 2 pence worth but it maybe a good idea to put a bigger sprocket on the rear to make taking off from a standstill easier!?
And once its all built and sorted go for several rides with an empty trailer to get used to the feel of everything before loading it up!

[noggythenog]

Courier your stuff over to france & back,worth getting some quotes,


Trailer still sounds cool though

[DryRob]

Take less stuff?

[rustyrider]

No point trying it with an empty trailer, the difference will be so great it won't be anything like representative.  Unless you go stupid with the weight you put in it, it probably won't be much difference to carrying a pillion.

[ChristoT]

No point trying it with an empty trailer, the difference will be so great it won't be anything like representative.  Unless you go stupid with the weight you put in it, it probably won't be much difference to carrying a pillion.

That's my hope!

Dave - less stuff is unfortunately not an option.

Noggy - the amounts I lug would be expensive to courier, and a trailer is reusable. Plus, I need most of it regularly!

[slimwilly]

Are you importing small Romanian children or a drug runner?

[seangee]

I personally wouldn't do it but you should probably think about separate braking for the trailer (electric???)


Here's a thread on someone who did it on a different bike.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Time to see a photie?

[ChristoT]

Patience people! There will be ample time to mock me! 

The bike still needs a towbar, the trailer needs some small mods, and I need to repaint it. I have a black bike, I gots to have a black trailer! Not red.

Funny, I never used to think I was a fashion diva!! 

[fireblake]

I don't think we have to wait to mock you young nemesis

[ChristoT]

I don't think we have to wait to mock you young nemesis

Thanks for proving my point, Mickey!!