KX Riders
General => In General... => Topic started by: Danger4u2 on March 19, 2009, 04:47:29 AM
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I want to build a trailer for hauling my dirt bike behind my Kawasaki Concours motorcycle. It will look like this, the Port-A-Chopper trailer.
http://www.portachopper.com/features.html
It will be one piece construction not a take apart. Please look at the links and see if you can come up with ideas and suggestions. I will run 8" wheels. Port-A-Chopper weights 275 pounds, I am shooting for my trailer weight near 150 pounds 175 max. Width on the Port-A-Chopper is 5 ft. I'm thinking 4 ft. on my trailer.
I called Dexter Axle in Elkhart Indiana and low and behold their manufacturing is done in El Reno. Just west of Okla. City. They will build an axel made to my specifications. I will use their Torflex suspension axel.
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1080235/f/Torflex_Information_4-04.pdf
I want to use aluminum any where I can. The U shaped channel for the bike wheels and most of the trailer frame work. The U channel will make up the main structure of the frame. I'm not planning on using fenders. Or if I do, maybe I can find plastic fenders that have the tail light mounted in the fender.
I will remove the front wheel and bolt the front axel to the trailer to lower the center of gravity. I got the idea from the shipping crate from Kawasaki. Weight of the motorcycle is 250 pounds ready to ride. Total weight of bike and associated items like service tools, 2 gallon plastic gas can, chain lube, small ice chest and tie downs not to exceed 300 pounds. 1 and 7/8 inch ball. As you see from the pictures this trailer will not need to be much bigger than the shipping crate. I will dress in my moto cross gear ready to ride to eliminate the weight of a change of clothes.
Any of you fabrication guys that have some pointers will be appreciated.
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As I picture the process of loading and unloading the bike I realized I will need to have my bike stand to get the wheel off and set the bike down. The whole procedure will have to be a one man operation. I always try to be self sufficient when I ride. I don't want to be the guy that ALWAYS needs something at the riding area. We ALL know one of them. I will need a small ramp and some kind of kick stand at the back of the trailer so I can leave it hooked up to the towing bike. I will actually lock it to the tow bike.
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My uncle alwas told a story of a old friend of him.
The man had his bike behind his car, the front wheel and rear chain of. On some sort of way he
connected his fronttubes to his towing hook( if this is good englisch).
After google I found some pic's like this and a porta trailer ripoff.
Dutchie
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Dutchie, man you fixed me up with all the cool stuff. Thanks. I have seen the front wheel type but that would cause tire wear on the knobbies. Might be to much tongue weight for a motorcycle towing vehicle. My friends ride their dual sport bikes to the meets. I transport in my truck because the knobbies wear to fast when you ride 4 and a half hours on the interstate one way. I have only ridden the bike to one event. All other times I used the truck. With a trailer I can bring some gear with me and have the fun of riding with my buddies but the comfort of my street bike. The picture of the blue trailer is exactly what I have in mind. Do you have a link to their site?
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I'm looking for you, but what about this one?? :-D
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d**n dude is it a small world? Because of your pictures, I went around the world to find the trailers are made in my "backyard".
http://www.bikelug.net/info.htm
Bike lug trailers is less than 1 hour right up Interstate 44 near Tulsa Okla. Just got off the phone with the salesman. Said I could bring my bike and test one of their trailers. Stock trailer with no add on options weights in at 170 pounds (77.27 kilos).
Again Thanks Dutchie.
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I plan on buying a trailer from http://www.bikelug.net/info.htm
I can't build one any cheaper, if you count time as money.
By the way the guy that owns the company is from England.
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That is awesome, I wonder if they could mount a flat surface behind the tire or something so you could carry some extra fuel...
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Well Danger I'm glad to hear you found it!!!
We want to see some pic's if it(or doesn't) work behind your Concours.
Dutchie :-D
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hi danger .i like the wheel chalk for the trailer hitch for cars or trucks . how about a tow hitch wheel chalk with wheels to the side . this shouldn't wieght more than 40 lbs and you could pull the chain off the bike to cut down on wear . lenght 3 feet and about 3 feet wide. 12 tires with the bottom of the wheel axle about 3 inches off the ground to keep the center of gravity low to help the bike handle better while pulling it . two L brackets ( make these taller with rubber on top to hold your boots . the tie straps could hold the boots down )with wheeel spindles and a wheel chalk with a trailer hitch welded to it at the hieght to make it run level. get some plastic that could be heated and molded into fenders and a brace over the tire to hold the fender and at the end a loop to hold t he straps for the handle bar tie down.just a quick thought . you could strap your chest protector to the front tire of the dirt bike as the motorcycle will create enough air deflection to keep it from blow it off.
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This is the link to pictures. http://www.bikelug.net/index2.html
Look at the animated assembly and disassembly video. That's the unit I plan on using. As for the riding gear I will just wear everything if it's local or a day trip. I hope transporting a bike this way is safe with the wheels on the dirt bike. I have not ruled out, for long distance trips, removing the front wheel and bolting the front axel down. That way I would not have to have handle bar tie downs.
Another plus with bolting the axel the suspension would not be compressed. The dirt bike would "give" a little when I hit bumps in the road. I'll just need to secure the back wheel down to the trailer and strap the front wheel. I'll put a piece of plastic the thickness of the front disk between the brake pads. Then wrap the hand brake to the handle bar with a few rubber bands to hold the brake pads in place during transport. The only draw back there is needing a jack or help to remove the wheel and set the bike down. It's no fun to arrive and have to work on a bike before I could ride. So I'm hoping for a stable ride without removing the front wheel. I think the guy is going to let me bring the bikes to his shop and do a test drive.
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How's the trailer going Danger????
Dutchie
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Put the Concours in the shop for a 10,000 mile valve adj./check up, new tires, radiator flush and general once over to make sure it is road worthy. I hope to go on a muti-state cruse this summer. Carb bowls are leaking and they had to order new gaskets. Should come in Tue. or Wed. Then I will load the Concours, KX500AF and my KLR650 on a 16 ft. flat bed trailer. I want to test with the KX and I think it will work. And test with the KLR, it might be to heavy. I'll post up some pictures of the test in a week or two depending on the gaskets.
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I hope it works great and would love to see those pics!!!
Dutchie
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I found and bought a trailer that I'm thinking will work for pulling the K5AF (240 pounds) behind the Concours. I hope I can pull the KLR also (355 pounds). I can pick the trailer completely off the ground by myself. Not real easy but I can do it. It weighs between 130 and 170 pounds. I'm going to find a scale to get a true weight after I paint, redo the lights, bearings and seals.
It's called the Tuff n Lite by Unique Functional Products.
Here are the other crazy people, many pictures.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213034
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Got the Concours out of the shop today, picked up seals for the trailer. Pulled apart the hubs on the trailer, cleaned everything, repacked the bearings, installed seals and put it all back together. It's late and I don't have lights on the trailer but I had to test it. Still need new tires, I didn't want to go over 40/45 mph. Plus it's dark and I can't see the trailer behind me very well. I know I can use it with the KX500AF 230 pounds. KLX250 on the trailer weighs 265, it feels ok on secondary roads. I'll check out the high way when I pick up tires tomorrow. I need to adjust the bike on the trailer, looking for 40 to 50 pounds of tongue weight. It's tongue heavy in the picture.
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Why didn't I think of that. Now you can get two more chiks to ride with you! :-D Present that to your GF....HA....NOT
Looks great.
Jerry
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Got the bath room scale out and set it the same height as the trailer would ride on the ball. The hitch part can be adjusted, I moved it down one bolt hole to level the rail the bike sits in. For testing purpose's I used short pieces of 2x4 to move the bike back on the trailer. Tongue weight was 67 lbs. 3 blocks of 2x4's made tongue weight 43 lbs. Moving the hitch down one bolt hole made the tongue weight 37 lbs. ADVrider member suggested tongue weight of 20 lbs.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9641924#post9641924
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Looks like a great setup. I need to get me a nice street bike.
Just a thought I had regarding tongue weight: If the tongue weight is too light wouldn't you be concerned about going over bumps (example:rail road tracks) and having the movement of the trailer possibly pull up on the ball, reducing traction of the rear tire, maybe even lifting it off the ground for a split second? I know that having the correct tongue weight for trucks pulling trailers provides stability. Not enough tongue weight can cause jack-knife accidents.
Have fun with your setup and ride safe.
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Looks great Danger!! Take the bike out for a ride is getting a new meaning now :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Dutchie
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I think one of the guys in our shop used the tire gauge on a tire that had slime in it. The gauge is way off and I only had 15 psi in the tires. Got may gauge from my truck and put a true 50 psi in each tire. What a difference. I ran 50 mph and it felt somewhat safe. I'll have new tires tomorrow and do a real test. The original tires are weather cracked and I don't trust them. Here's a day light picture.
I adjusted the hitch another bolt hole down to get the rail close to level. Tongue weight is 37 pounds. Seem to be a good weight so far. I just don't like the idea of a 20 pound tongue weight. And AZdr75 yes the weight does freak me out. Only jack -knife I want is in my pocket. I think if I had a Gold Wing this would work well with the KLR650. With the Concours I might keep to secondary roads with a 40 or 45 mph limit. I'll know for sure tomorrow with the new tires.
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I've come to the conclusion that the motorcycle pulled motorcycle trailer is not going to work on the interstate highways.
I installed the new wheels and drove 55 mph. I felt Ok but I'm still kind of squeamish. My intent was pulling the KLR650 to the dual sport rides I attend out of state. I like riding with my friends but it wears out the knobbies. Plus the comfort of the street bike would be a big improvement over riding a dual sport for 4 and a half hours one way, then ride it all day at the meet.
I will use it to go motocross at the local riding areas. I can stay on the secondary roads with a 45 mph or less.
When I get my MX bike back together I'll post how well it works.
Thanks for the input,
Danger.
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Nice work! When I was a kid, I had a '86 TLR200 and fabricated a trailer that bolt to my swingarm so I could pull my mower around the neighborhood for lawn work. I was absolutely in love with my setup. Brings back all kinds of memories.. If I did not have to travel major highways during rush-hour, I'd ride in everyday..
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If you guys don't know. I'm also a CR500R rider. And I like it. The K5 and the CR5 are both great bikes. They both have there place. CR is more fun in the tight woods I ride in. KX is more fun in the open. Both can be the DEATH RIDE in the wrong hands.
Yes, I'm a member of CR500Riders, here's what I posted at CR500Riders:
UPDATE: I loaded the KX500AF on the trailer behind the Concours. I spent some time on getting the balance correct. Man what a difference. I made the tongue weight at about 25/30 pounds by adding small 2x4 blocks in front of the front wheel. I checked the weight with a bathroom scale on a bucket. At a later date I will make an adjustable wheel chock. With all the lights installed and working I felt more comfortable on the road. I took secondary roads to the riding area. I ran 50 mph and all felt good. Did my ride, loaded and took the same route home no problems. I have a 97 CR500 I have owned for more than a year and have done nothing with it. 2 weeks a go I took it to Shawnee Honda in Shawnee Oklahoma with my truck, for repairs. It's 45 miles from the house. I went to pick it up with the Concours and trailer. This was to be the real test. Returning on Interstate 40. The first 10/15 miles I was doing the white knuckle grip on the handle bars. Once I got used to the loosey goosey feel of how everything worked together, I felt a little more comfortable. I just had to loosen up and go with the flow. 18 wheelers blowing by adds to the turbulence but not any thing to get excited about. All things considered this is the MX riding ticket for me. I dress in my riding gear, unload the bike and ride. If I get muddy no problem. I go wash the dirt bike and it's easy to sweep the street bike at the same time. I get some wild looks on the road. Anyone into bikes gives me the thumbs up as they go by.
Nothing like motorcycle riding to go MX motorcycle riding.
Full story here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213034
P.S. I've been a 2 stroke junkie for years. KX500 that is. I own http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php But I have always been a Honda guy at heart. If Okla. City had better Honda dealers I would not own 10 Kawasaki's and 1 Honda. I wish I had fixed the CR500 a long time ago. It's really starting to grow on me. It's a much better bike in the woods than my stock KX500's. The CR handles like my KX500AF from Service Honda but it puts more power to the ground. This is my experience not my opinion. I've been a member here for a long time but since my CR5 was not in good riding condition and I haven't ridden it much, I didn't have allot to say. I was just kind of a lurker or site surfer. Now I can't get enough of the CR. Now I want a Service Honda CR500AF to match the KX500AF.
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That's a cool trailer Idea Danger. I also am a very big honda fan :wink:. At one time, along time ago I raced BMX and I had an idea similar to yours but for a bicycle. I wanted to make a small light weight aluminum trailer with shifter kart tires that had a floating axle and a universal joint for a hitch so it would lean with the bike. I thought it would be cool to show up to the races pulling my 24" SE racing floval flyer behind my 93 gsxr1100. It was one of those late night loaded in the garage ideas :-)
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Danger , maybe you just need a little bigger tow bike. Maybe a Voyager or my choice would be a KZ1300. I don't have one yet but would like to add one to my 6cyl. collection . Something with a little more weight. Also I was raised a Red Rider and didn't run the Green machines until we started racing them and I was buying them used cheaply. So its alright I think most of us have seen red every so often :-D CBX