trailer towing

[SFSPECBIKER79]

does anyone have any ideas on how to make and mount a hitch on a 79 xs special sf ? any picture or ideas would be welcome. i have looked at jerrys on this website. it looks ok. but wanted to see others before starting my project. i'm sure someone can help me on this. thanks for a helpful place where all us xs owners can share there thoughts and ideas on this great motorcycle.thanks

[Crazcnuk]

The one on my Shadow was 1 1/4" muffler pipe bent to a U shape, and flattened at the ends. There was a hole drilled in each end that bolted to the lower shock mount. Then two flat steel arms were welded on that went up to the grabrail bolts on each side.

Then a piece of 1/4" plate was welded at the bottom of the U behind the back wheel, with a hole in it for the ball.

You can kind of see it in this photo.

[SFSPECBIKER79]

trailer hitch

thanks, for the picture, i need to see up close to get a good idea of how i could make it work on my xs 1100. nice shadow you have there. i also have the shadow vt800c i like it but not as good as the xs. do you have any idea who makes a manufactured type setup for the xs yamaha. or any links to any pictures of a hitch setup? im thinking of using the swivel type tongue on my trailer. it's almost complete. i can hardly wait to hook up and give it a trial run up to the ohio river. soon as the weather permits. its snowing up the road 50 mi or so here.

[crazy steve]

If you want a pic of a hitch, send me a personal email at crazies@Ywave.com and I'll send you a detailed pic of the unit I built for my '78. I'd sell you this one, but it won't fit your special.

Mine was built out of 1/4" x 2" flat stock and some 3/4" tubing. It attached at the muffler mounts by using longer bolts and the uprights bolted to some 'accessory' threaded holes on the frame. Worked great....

'78E original owner

[fredintoon]

The one on my Shadow was 1 1/4" muffler pipe bent to a U shape, and flattened at the ends. There was a hole drilled in each end that bolted to the lower shock mount. Then two flat steel arms were welded on that went up to the grabrail bolts on each side.
Then a piece of 1/4" plate was welded at the bottom of the U behind the back wheel, with a hole in it for the ball.

Hi Craz,
you sure about that? The loop was bolted to the lower shock mounts that move with the suspension and the arms were bolted to the grabrail that don't?

[CatatonicBug]

Hi Craz,
you sure about that? The loop was bolted to the lower shock mounts that move with the suspension and the arms were bolted to the grabrail that don't?

Instant hardtail!

[Jerry]

Here is a side view of the Concours hitch. it attaches to the rear set (footpeg) bracket and two arms drop down from the rear of the frame.



Hard to see from this angle, but the hitch is wider at the rear set mounts, bends in toward the wheel, then straight back. This hitch is variation on a reciver hitch; the ball and chrome mount is held in place with a removable pin. The ball and mount it is on drops out of the hitch proper when you remove the pin. Hitch is manufactured by HitchDoc and retails (with shipping) for around $275.00. I got mine off eBay for about $120.00 with shipping.

HitchDoc does not list a hitch for the XS on their web page, but you might want to contact them and see if they have one. They claim to build hitches for '69 models and newer. Web site is http://www.hitchdoc.com, phone number is 1-800-446-8222 Monday thru Friday from 8am to 5pm CST.

[LVTom]

Trailer Hitch

I have a hitch for an XS that I bought on EBAY sometime last year. I should dig it out and mount it anyway, so if you would like I can take a few pics prior to mounting it(probably this weekend). Please send me a private message and let me know where you would like me to send the pics. Tom

[CatatonicBug]

let me know where you would like me to send the pics.

Post 'em here! That way, if anyone else is interested in the future, they will show up in a search.

[TopCatGr58]

My concern with the attachment points of the rear of the frame is that several folks have posted about just luggage racks and back rests that have stressed the rails that run from the shock mounts back for the fenders and turn signals, and that they have stress fractured and broken!

I would think a trailer would put more stress than just a luggage rack, and so I would think you would want to devise a support frame that would utilize the upper shock bolt mounts, vs. using points so posterior to that. OR if you can weld, put some gussets along the inside edge/bottom of the fender rails to provide more stress support at their junction with the frame, so that you could then feel more secure about using the other bolt points in the rails closer to the rear of the bike/frame! JAT.
T.C.

[Crazcnuk]

You could also go to the upper shock mounts.

It's the lower tube that takes all the towing force, the two bars that went up were to keep the hitch from dragging on the ground!

You do have to watch hitch weight, at all times, with a bike.

I would assume that anyone that has stressed their frame using a carrier, carried one of thier friends on it !

[acof911]

trailer hitch

I can get a NOS Hitchco trailer hitch that will fit the XS1100. Around $125 plus ship for the 9 pc kit w/ fasteners and wiring.
PM me if interested, thanks.

[SFSPECBIKER79]

trailer hitch

i want to thank everybody for their thoughts and offers to get me and my trailer riding the byways. they have been some good advice and offers. right now, i'm waiting to see some pictures of a couple hitches. topcat i think you are right about the stress on the frame, that it would be a good idea to add more anchor points and fastening to the top shock stud. right now i'm gonna wait to see some pictures of other members. if anyone else has any suggestions and you don't mind, i'm all ears this kind of new to me towing a trailer with a bike seems like driving a overloaded tractor trailer. i want to do it right the first time. you know that they are always that chance you may not get to do it again. if you know what i mean..

[crazy steve]

My concern with the attachment points of the rear of the frame is that several folks have posted about just luggage racks and back rests that have stressed the rails that run from the shock mounts back for the fenders and turn signals, and that they have stress fractured and broken!

T.C.

I ran my hitch and trailer off and on for 7 years and never had a bit of trouble. As was stated, all the 'stress' is front-to-rear, and as my tongue weight was around 10-15 lbs the load on the upper attachment points was close to zilch. Much lighter load than the stress of an adult passenger leaning their weight into a sissy bar or a loaded box levering against it.

'78E original owner

[Crazcnuk]

I built my trailer in 1989 and still have it. I pulled it all over the NW US and Western Canada.

It never stressed anything on the bike frame. Even if you put 50 lbs on the hitch, the frame back there is designed to hold up a 200lb person so I can't see it hurting anything.

I hauled the trailer AND my girlfriend on those trips, so I had both.

I hauled a Clothes washing machine on it once, behind the bike, and the heaviest load was a 3 room canvas tent that had been rained on all weekend, with some lawn chairs and luggage for 4 people.

One bonus, when you have the trailer and a passenger, the rear brake becomes much more useful as it brakes more before you can lock it up!