Tow a Motorcycle
For when you need to tow a bike but are a little nervous how to get set up.
Steps
- Check that the vehicle you will be towing with has a trailer hitch on it. Some vehicles are not built to tow a trailer or additional weight on the back. If yours is not, you'll need to get a trailer hitch. Next, make sure that the trailer hitch on your vehicle is the right size for the trailer. If it is the wrong size, no worries, most hardware stores sell different sized trailer hitches that are easy to change.
- Make sure you can put your bike onto your trailer and that you have straps to hold it down. Size and weight capability is very important, so you must know the weight and dimensions of your motorcycle.
- Load your motorcycle onto your trailer. Have a friend or two present in case things go wrong or if you need help lifting the bike. Once you have the motorcycle onto your trailer, you need to strap it down. NEVER lay your motorcycle on it's side as this will lead to fluid leaks in the engine which will cause damage.
- Keep your bike upright when towing. If you have a trailer that has sides on it, it is important to make use of those sides by keeping your bike as close as possible to them without scratching the paint. If your trailer is a flat bed and has no sides, this won't be a problem. Make sure your kickstand is down and that your bike is secured properly.
- Strap the motorcycle securely. Now that you have the right placement, you will use your straps and/or bungee chords to hold your bike down. Key places to have straps secured include over the gas tank, over and through the seats and the main frame of the steering column. Once you have your bike strapped down and solid in place check to see if the bike is hanging out of the trailer anywhere. If it is you'll need to add brightly coloured flags or markers for safety. This is not likely since most bikes fit onto trailers and do not stick out, but if it does, adding marker flags can be anywhere from a driving courtesy to a law depending on where you live.
- Hook up the trailer and go. Now that you have all this done, retrieve your ownership papers and attach your trailer to the vehicle. You may need help backing up to the trailer, so have a friend help guild you. Once you are hooked up and all your signal lighting is set up, you may leave to you destination.
Tips
- It may be helpful to you to have a towel or blanket in between the trailer and your bike.
- Always have extra lengths of straps, if is better to have too much than not enough, especially when towing an expensive bike.
- Bring your ownership papers with you if you are selling your bike or if you get pulled over.
Warnings
- Check with your local laws and bylaws about towing. Some places require you to have a regulated number of straps and others require you to put brightly coloured markers on the item being towed.
