Towing motorbike

[Nicholas Cartwright]

Hi,

 

I have a Hobby Optima On Tour Edition V65gf (phew long title!) and have had a tow bar fitted  . I am  thinking of getting a motorbike/scooter to tow behind, which gives us more flexibility when pitched up, to access towns and cities a bit further away than pedal cycling distance.

Does anyone have any experience of towing/ legislation on the European continent, and also any experience of which trailer is best (build and ease of use). Also, any bike/scooter recommendations (was thinking of Piaggio MP3). Any other considerations that I should be aware of most welcome!

Thanks

 

Nick

Topic

[Michael Hoare]

Hi Nick, I am a biker and Hobby-ist and I carry a Honda SH300i scooter on the back of my 750 Toscana (because I don’t want to tow one of my Goldwings).

Weighting in at 170kg I’m pretty sure an SH300i will be too heavy for a single rear axle moho but the lighter and very popular SH125i at 137kg I’d have though would be okay.  Need to remember though that the rack and scooter form part of your payload capacity and rear suspension capacity.  Whereas if you tow only the tow bar and noseweight of the trailer contributes towards your payload/suspension capacity.

Carrying rather than towing is the key for me:  (i) Manoverability especially reversing.  As towers know, reversing a long trailer, e.g. a caravan, is a doddle, but small/short traliers have a mind of their own; (ii) Speed limits when towing are lower and you’ve motorway lane restrictions; (ii)  A rack means no towing charges on the ferry or at the tolls; and (iii) No additional storage issues/costs on site.

There are scooter rack specialists around the country but the guys near me are http://www.lnbtowbars.co.uk.

As for towing in Europe, whilst tow-dollies are allowed in the UK which involve hitching up the front wheel(s) only, they aren’t permitted across Europe so you would need a full blown trailer to carry your scooter/motorcycle if you prefer to go that route, in which case, to keep the additional length to a minimum, you might want to consider a trailer where the scooter/bike loads across the trailer as apposed to in-line although I think that reversing with one would be fun!

Hope this helps.

Regards

Mike

[Peter & Christine Runagall]

Hi Nick,

I am only replying to show you that we do read these posts, unfortunately I do not ride a bike/scooter or tow a trailer. Also I cannot think of any member who has attended one of our meets in recent years who has had a bike trailer either.

Sorry not to be of any help on your question. Obviously you can get lots of information on the internet regarding regulation on foreign trailer law and bike/scooter reviews. No doubt you have already gone down that route.

Good luck in your quest.

Regards

Peter

[Author]

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