Using bike as only transport with trailer

[JohanR]

I currently have an old Honda city express moped. It's ok, but sometimes I'd like to travel over 25 mph, and being able to carry a passenger without them having to get off and push on the hills would be good.

Occasionally I have a bit of a load to carry, usually bulky stuff that wouldn't fit in a backpack, panniers etc, so I'd like to be able to tow a trailer with the bike. The back rack is out as that's where the dog goes.

That requires a 125 or above - and pretty much every '125' I've seen is actually a 124 or below.

I don't really want to go above 125 at the moment, as I have a feeling insurance would start to pick up a bit above that, and I can (I think) ride a 125 legally at the moment. (32, CBT). I assume I'd need the full licence to tow a trailer

Another benefit of 125's is that they seem pretty fuel efficient.

So, questions.

1) Are they any 125s that are actually 125cc?
2) Who will insure a bike + trailer? So far I've got 'We won't cover that'
3) Small car trailers are too wide, and so heavy I'd only have about 15kg of load. Would a decent pushbike trailer be legal + sensible?

I like the looks of the old 70's CG/CB 125s, but their engines are just a few cc too small!

I don't suppose I need to justify doing this the bike way on these forums. I have a full car licence, but think that hauling around over 1/2 ton of metal with you is plain stupid. Plus, even my city express is more fun than a car.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice.
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[Slacker24seve...]

I was going to post a proper response to this but my brain won't allow me to until I've found out more about this:

[shereen]

[Themightyimp]

[Rogerborg]

[J.M.]

Wouldn't have thought you would need specific insurance to cover a bike + trailer.

It's no different really than towing a trailer with a car, you don't have to buy special insurance for that, do you?

Note, I've never bought car insurance. I'm just presuming.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[JohanR]

[Benno]

I think you DO need to get separate insurance for a trailer. I remember looking into getting a trailer for our mongol rally car this year but due to insurance and needing to take a separate test/training for it (I think) I decided I couldn't be ar*ed.

[WannaBeDude]

The Op is fucking awesome, and mad, but defo awesome !
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Jogging on, destination living.

[Thelostone]

[CaNsA]

[Going]

Put the dog in the front then the back is free

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fws1XkcTHys

[JohanR]

[Hokum]

I'd certainly look to a larger capacity bike than a 125CC for torque. The 125 pulling a load, even with a low first gear would have issues starting a trailer rolling.

Also the extra weight of a larger bike would allow better braking with the bike not getting pushed about by the trailer.

I think I’d probably crash from laughing if I was passed by a rider with a dog on the back.

Would a side car not be a better idea?
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Sane: To know when you are doing something crazy.

[Slacker24seve...]

Awesome thread. My bike is my only transport and I'd like a dog carrier for my Daytona.

John - Virus on here - uses a trailer behind his ratbike to transport beer. You might like to ask him about it
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[MG]

Step 5: attach trailer
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'03 Honda Cityfly 125 > '02 Honda CB500S > '98 Honda CBR600F

[Rogerborg]

On fuel, my 125 returned 100mpg. My 250, I never really checked, the 500 is too soon to tell.

The 305 gets 80mpg while used for a mix of commuting and (Careful Now) fun, falling to 60mpg when being shown the whip to keep up with bigger bikes on a ride out. If I rode it at the same speeds as the 125, I could likely better the 80mpg.

Thought about a trike?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3212/2680824412_7a11ece587.jpg

That's (most likely) a 150cc bike buried under there.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Matt B]

[Sako]

god i love this forum...never fails to amuse me.

taking the dog on the moped is awesome!

[MadCatLady]

for taking the dog out on the moped and pleased she enjoys it. Well cute pic
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CBT - 06/07/11 Theory passed - 19/09/11 Module 1 - 00/00/00 Module 2 - 00/00/00

Yamaha YBR 125

[JohanR]

Thanks for all the positive comments about the dog,

I don't want a trike. No real reason, just don't fancy it.

A sidecar might work... How easily detachable are they?

EDIT

[UnspeedySam]

Much karma for the dog.

Yes it is unusual in the UK because bikes are mostly used as toys and cars are used as transport for the dog and shopping etc. However it isn't particularly unusual in Asia.

Please go through with this. I would suggest getting something like a CB500 or GPZ500...should have enough torque to deal with the extra weight. However I suspect a 250 single would do alright too if the trailer was light.
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[phk6]

i know of a bloke who takes his dog to rallies on the back of his bike so your not the only one

apart from that i know nothing about towing a trailer with a bike o.0
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Current .. 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure ..
Before .. 2003 Yamaha Fazer 1000 .. 2004 Kawazaki Z1000 .. 2003 Suzuki Sv1000s .. 1999 zx6r Track Bike .. 1999 CB 500 Cup ..
/Phil

[Nick_Giles]

[Nick_Giles]