Towing an XS

[Hepcat]

Ok, I'm pretty set on towing the bike about 1000 miles. I've been trying to figure out if I need to disconnect anything. If the bike is in neutral, it should be just like running the motorcycle down the road from the U-joint back. The transmission would be disengaged, so the engine wouldn't be turning over. Is there any sort of an oil pump running to the transmission that would endanger parts if it were towed without the engine running? The plan is to tow the bike with the front wheel supported by the hitch.

That should pool the oil toward the rear of the bike, would that immerse the gears on the transmission enough for them to throw oil up on themselves? Isn't that how they're lubricated under normal conditions?

Let me know what you guys think. I wasn't thinking about this when I tore into the 2nd gear problem so I don't remember how it was lubricated.

Thanks!

[dntemp_ca]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't recommend motorcycle towing unless they've improved towing devices a lot in the last 20 years. I tried towing a bike in the '70's with a trailer-hitch-mounted bracket which elevated and locked in the front wheel. Straight line towing seemed ok, but in turns the bike made exaggerated lean angles (almost out of sight from the rear of the car) putting lots of stress on the front wheel, forks, steering head, etc. Backing up was impossible. Anyway, I tossed the bracket and strictly trailer now. A small utility trailer capable of around 1000 pounds cargo can be had for a couple hundred bucks. Maybe our bikes aren't worth a whole lot as far as resale value goes, but mine is priceless to me! My $1700 XS11 tourer gets lots of compliments, has never let me down and can run with almost anything on the road today. I'd be nervous about towing mine. Just my 2 cents.

[2fast]

Just curious, but where are you going to tow it 1000 miles in Hawaii? Aside from that, I have heard many cautions about towing shaft drive bikes with the rear wheel down. Most have recommended removing the shaft so it is not spinning anything forward of the rear wheel. I would second the motion to trailer it, better all the way around.

[xssiveone]

I can't see this being a good idea unless the drive shaft is disconnected and removed. If you don't remove it, the yoke will turn against the mounting plate on the middle gear box and might cause some damage.

The only thing that gets lubed by the splash method is the middle and final drives. The engine and transmission are lubed via oil galleries that are presurised by a pump. If you aren't running the motor, the pump doesn't pump. Parts of the transmission will be moving while you are towing it and there will be no oil cirulating.

[Pat Kelly]

Even the owners manual cauthions against XSive coasting.