Is it me or...

[malber]

...does this thing seem just a little, what's the word? Stupid?

http://maine.craigslist.org/mcy/252599511.html

[GIXXER 711]

especially stupi when hooked up to a pickup with an empty bed!

[TomB]

Here in the UK the Breakdown Recovery boys have them for towing bikes home for you, they work well and as he says fit in the boot of your car (sorry, trunk to you lads)

I've driven 200 miles towing a trailer to buy a bike only to find it's a heap of crap and driven home with an empty trailer, wish I'd had one of these then.

I don't think I'd buy one for that price though, easily fab my own up for $20

[malber]

It just doesn't seem all that stable. Wouldn't trust it with my bike. I question the visibility of this compared with a real trailer. There was a link on here about a trailer that fit in a duffle bag. That seems like a much better option than this.

But what I find most amusing is that the ad tells you that it doesn't add any miles to your bike because the odometer reads on the front wheel (true, but is this really a plus?) and it won't add any wear and tear to the back wheel and tire (yeah right!).

[Goin Commando]

I wonder what would happen to the gears and bearings in the middle drive on our bikes, if you pulled one for any amount of distance at that angle? I mean where would your 12 ozs of gear oil be sitting, would it still be on the bearings? And the oil in your final drive would be way away from the out-put bearing. Only took 35 miles for Maximans mid drive to start eating itself with no oil in it.
On a chain drive bike, might be a neat idea. Just unhook the chain and you will truly NOT put any miles on your drivetrain.
Would be a groovy way to pull your dirt bike to the woods also, if you dont have a truck.
And if your bike broke down and thats the only way you had to get it home, it would be a better idea than pushing it.
But like TomB said, I would make one before paying that much for it.

[TomB]

Thats a good point Commando

Doesn't it say somewhere in the XS owners handbook, not to freewheel too far because of gearbox lube issues, even with the bike level.

Does the oil pump supply the gearbox bearings at all, that would be a reason not to freewheel without the engine running.


I've often wondered how the wheely stunt riders get away with screaming their motors with the bike upright.

[John]

I think the concern is for the pinion bearing. With the front of the bike elevated, the bearing would be out of the oil bath, and would have to rely on what ever oil is being slung by the ring gear.

[rover]

These things are very stable, and work very well, except on bikes that lube the transmission with engine oil, the trans bearings will not withstand a long trip at highway speeds. Don't ask how I know