Bike trailer/Towing a bike

[Inkognito]

I'm thinking about taking the bike with me when i go to denmark next month but i don't have a trailer licence so can't really do it like that.

I can however get my hands on one of them little bike towing bracket things that hook onto the towball and you put the bikes front wheel on it and secure it.
The back wheel is then on the ground and the bike is just being towed behind the car.

Are these classified as trailers also or can anyone use them?

Something like this
https://www.oldinc.com/rhmc1-2b.jpg

[Walloper]

[Inkognito]

That's what i'm trying to find out.
I suppose when i've got the bike on tow my car licence plate will not be visible as it's in the center where the bike will be.

If i put an extra licence plate on the back of the bike then it's classed as a trailer?

Thing is i have no idea is these are classed as trailers.
As i'll be driving 300+ miles from here to the ferry i don't fancy making it halfway to get pulled and told i can't use it. Get a fine and not be able to drive further with the bike. Thus missing my ferry to denmark lol.

Or this one. To me it seems ok to use it without a trailer licence but i suspect that's not the case.
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIKE-MOTORCYCLE-TOWING-DOLLY-CARRIER-/300480283659?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item45f605440b#ht_4167wt_1139

[Walloper]

[Inkognito]

Yeah it won't be a problem getting it on the ferry.
I'm only worried about the legality of me using it on the roads

[Kickstart]

Hi

Never seen these in use in the UK.

I am not sure whether they are legal or not. However trailers have various requirements as far as plating goes, and the bike wouldn't be plated as a trailer so probably not legal.

However I think exactly the same applies to the towing of cars. Such as when people tow a small car with their camper van so they have sensible transport when they park up. As I understand it this is technically illegal in the UK and Europe as the car is not plated as a trailer. But still seems to happen quite a bit.

Last point, looking at that picture I am not sure how it attaches to keep the bike upright. Might be that you unbolt the tow ball and bolt on the mount for that attachment, but a tow ball couldn't hold the bike upright.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Inkognito]

I'm not really sure how that one bolts on either. That shouldn't be too hard to do though.
I may have to pop in the local coppers and ask what the deal is with these.

[Kickstart]

Hi

It might be a bit specialist for their knowledge.

I also suspect there might be separate issues for its use in other countries.

One slight issue would be the weight on the tow bar. A normal trailer should be balanced to an extent to avoid putting much weight on the tow bar (forgotten the exact amounts). However that is just going to put around half the weight of the bike on the tow bar, pushing down the back of the car. That said I think there are mounts to allow a bike to be carried across the car on the tow bar so I might be worrying a bit much (or might just want to check the tow bar installation a bit more!).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Kal]

They should use a different colour other than black for it in the pictures. The device is like a reversed mudguard - just a pain to make out against the black of the tire.

You would think that it is surely no different to towing any other vehicle on the road? However.

I'd say this was the bike equivilant of an Aframe/Towing dolly. It seems that they are currently only legal to recover a broken down vehicle to a place of safe haven, but are not legal for transporting.

Apparently despite the prevalence of them in motorhome culture there still hasn't been a test case and the police don't appear to want to push it.

Dumb really as they as it is a great device.

Nevermind me waffling.

My googlefoo is strong... https://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/factsheetaframes.pdf
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Kickstart]

[Inkognito]

Aye but i think the one in the ebay link would be better as it seems sturdier and it will keep the forks straight and thus the bike aswell.

If they're legal it would be an easy way to tow the bike after the car.

How are the trailer laws? Do i need the licence for any trailer? Or just if the trailer is bigger than X and weigh more than X?

[Kal]

Nevermind me waffling.

My googlefoo is strongt today... Department for Transports view
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[elky]

Am I missing something, whats a trailer license?

I've towed trailers in the past, and didn't think I needed a license for it. Have I been a naughty boy?

[elky]

Ignore my previous post, a quick google found it.

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564

I passed my test in 95, so haven't been naughty at all

[Inkognito]

Hmm it's looking like i'm leaving the bike here then
Bollocks.

[Ol]

[The999Kid]

[Inkognito]

[The999Kid]

[Tavares]

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521

if you passed your test after 1997 you must not have a combination of car and trailer of over 3.5tonnes MAM.
However the trailer must not weight more than 85% of the towing vehicle weight.

Theres is quite alot to it but if you look in the link above it makes it slighty clearer.

To sum up anyone with a car licence can tow a trailer depending on the weight of it.
____________________
2006 Eurostrada RX8 125(sold)>2004 Kawasaki ER-5(sold)>2002 Honda CB600F Hornet

[supZ]

was going to say..

theres no way a car + bike + trailer is going to exceed 3.5 tonnes. (unless its a goldwing or something )

so no extra licence required.
____________________
CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[Inkognito]

Well. I drive a kia carens.
So with a tiny trailer only having the bike on it i should be fine to tow it yes?

[Tavares]

Taken from www.direct.gov.uk

[621andy]

Yes...

https://www.stema.de/stema_anhaenger_gb_97.html

I plan to do the same to Turkey next year...But I do have a full licence for trailers anyway.
____________________
'93 Africa Twin RD07, C-90,MTX-125,H-100,XL-125, a 125UAG(CG copy!)

[Ol]