Motorcycle Hitch Trailer. Would it damage the transmission?

A

ai_fan08

New member
No frickin way. Many bikes rely on oil pressure to lubricate the transmission, primary, and kick start idler gears. Since the engine is off there is no oil pressure. No oil pressure = seized trans. I've seen this a few times over the years from this method of towing and also costing down a mountain pass with the engine off.

Now if you took the chain off there is no problem. But as most bikes use a riveted master this is almost impossible.
 
Understood but then you have to tie the chain up somehow and shield it from scratching the swing arm,sprocket etc. Having been in the bike biz for many years I've seen bikes carried in this manner. The best one was the bike with a seized trans that skidded the rear wheel down through the tire and ground away at the rim. His servicing cost him a lot more than he intended. Tire/rim/engine rebuild. Wish I still had the pics of that one!
Yet I've seen some models with the front wheel in the trunk of a car and it was towed 50 miles to the store with no adverse effects.

Truck or trailer is the only way.
 
Like i stated to begin with, that rig wouldn't be my first choice either. He told us his situation and i was trying to give him the best way to follow through if that's what he was going to do anyway.
 
If you are brave enough to use that thing (personally I would not), I think the next most important question you should ask is "will my insurance cover me with this thing?".

Ross
 
I bought one of these folding trailers which stand-up and save a lot of space. With a Condor it works perfect:
http://www.sportutilitytrailers.com/LongChih/749TC.htm
(I found the exact trailer new, on eBay for $329)
 
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