Towing a track bike with another bike?

[KA9099]

Is it even legal to tow a motorcycle trailer with a motorcycle? I've seen a goldwing do it, it might be a bit hard on an Africa Twin but is it legal though?

[FJRider]

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/motorcycle-road-code/about-your-vehicle/motorcycle-trailer-requirements/

[Temporary-Kiwi]

so if you observed the rules, it wouldn't make sense to make a trailer for the purpose of towing a motorcycle on it, as that will mean you'd be restricted to 40kph, unless you can find a 300+kg bike to tow a bike weighing less than 150kg, then you will be restricted to 90kph.
the only other option isn't practical as towing a motorcycle via a rope is not fun over any distance !

[rustys]

Pretty sure Karel Pavich used to tow her race bike to the meetings on a trailer, i may be wrong.

[slofox]

Years ago we towed bikes with other bikes. We used a simple rope BUT the rope was not tied to the towed bike. Rather, the rope was wound once around the steering head of the towed bike and held in place by the towed rider. Which meant that if you wanted to stop in a hurry, you dropped the rope and the tow stopped right there and then.

It was legal then but who knows what's what now...

[rustys]

Another good method is off the footpegs. Think KA9099 is trying to get a bike to the track on a bike trailer being towed by his bike though.

[sugilite]

I took the following approach - did a race day at Taupo, and went on a holiday afterwards :yes:
https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=114587&d=1230690108

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'm sure its possible - not sure about legal. The issue with the trackday bike is all the other shit you might need.... lunch, leathers, sunhat, tools, fuel, that comfy chair blah blah...

[Honest Andy]

I recall Kingsland Motorcycles (or was it Mt Eden Motorcycles?) used to have a sidecar rig that they used to pick up and drop off motorcycles.
Wonder if that's still around...? ;)

[Grumph]

Pretty sure Karel Pavich used to tow her race bike to the meetings on a trailer, i may be wrong.

She did. All over the country too.

Guy down here - now dead - used to tow a trailer with his race CB350 behind a Goldwing. Back in the day, more than one bike shop used a sidecar float - ie a flatbed - to recover breakdowns. The one from Whiting and Waltho in ChCh still exists.

Towing a racebike on a rope was feasible in the days of daylight warrants and farm bike registrations for racebikes. Everything had to be registered then. How many race bikes are registered now ?

If the weight restrictions as mentioned above are correct, a van is really the only practical way now.

[FROSTY]

Pretty sure Karel Pavich used to tow her race bike to the meetings on a trailer, i may be wrong.
Back in the TZR250 days she sure did. her towbike was an XJ900 RL custom painted to match her race bike.
She stacked the whole rig into a car onte way to a meeting. and had the frontend rebuilt.
Years later he bike had been onsold but the tell tale marks from it being a towbike were on the swingarm.
It came into Norwest motor mecanix for--go figure the drive shaft had exploded spectacularly

[BMWST?]

maybe if the towed bike was not actully on a trailer but a sorta A frame idea???,ie the race bike is just rolling weight,prolly a good idea to take the chain off

[Reckless]

so if you observed the rules, it wouldn't make sense to make a trailer for the purpose of towing a motorcycle on it, as that will mean you'd be restricted to 40kph, unless you can find a 300+kg bike to tow a bike weighing less than 150kg, then you will be restricted to 90kph.
the only other option isn't practical as towing a motorcycle via a rope is not fun over any distance !

Bang on you need to read this page as well https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/motorcycle-road-code/about-riding/towing

Item 6: If the trailer, including its load, is more than half the weight of your motorcycle, the maximum speed you can ride is 40km/h.


the only other option isn't practical as towing a motorcycle via a rope is not fun over any distance !

Thats 30K isnt it Temp?? Item 7 and 8:
=The maximum speed when towing a motorcycle is 30km/h.
=You must not tow a motorcycle unless it is mechanically disabled.