What are the legalities of towing a bike with a towrope?

[Gazz]

Always wondered about this, but always when I am away from a computer so I cannot post on here.


Hypothetical situation: you run out of petrol for example.

You, the bike, and all the paperwork are all fine, etc and so will the car be that is towing you.

So would it be ok for a car or another bike to tow a broken down bike?


*I am sure I seen this on TV before (cannot remember where though) but not sure if it was a bike being towed by a car or by another bike.* The technique used was to wrap the towrope ONCE around the handlebars and hold it in place by your hand then if anything goes tits-up the rope comes away easily enough.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Many years ago I was told it was legal to tow a bike with another bike, but not tow a bike with a car like that.

However I have seen nothing to back that up

All the best

Keith
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[The Artist]

This would be insanely dangerous. Even if you use the technique you say, it something does go wrong, it will be too late.

[Bubbs]

Cant imagine it being very stable. although could be wrong, might be like wake boarding.
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[Gazz]

Wish I could remember where I seen it now.

I am almost certain it was a dirt-bike that was being towed, by cannot remember anything else about the situation, etc.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Kickstart]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Sam_Y_93]

Probably why you shouldn't do it click
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[Nope.]

Even more reason not to:

Click
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[Kickstart]

[Martay]

I tow'd a moped behind my car. Well, it was MY moped AND car!! My friend was using it, blew it up, and couldnt get it the 5ish miles home. Towrope and some recovery strobes, 35mph down the busiest Aroad i could find All was fine, apart from a dead dear passing under the car, then under him
EDIT: Other problems included, it was dark and the moped had no lights as they were ran straight from the engine, so he dragged the rear brake the WHOLE WAY HOME. Also, i forgot and gave it a full bore launch from some traffic lights, then quickly remembered he was hanging on for dear life
Was stable though. Would have been happy at 60.
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[Fairies attack]

Done it a few times with various bikes.

When my front sprocket lock nut decided it didn't want to work any more, and leave rather quickly, I got towed home form Louth , by my mate with his SV650, was pretty funny going down the A16 with him towing me, and seeing the look on peoples faces as he tonked it past them pulling me, and I was just sat there arms crossed and doing nothing.

Hardest part about it is doing junctions. To get ot my village you have to cross the A16, and we both struggled to get across, because the rope was tied to the grab rail of his bike, and the forks of mine, it was trying to pull us over.

Other than that it was all good fun.

Nearly killed his SV, when my dads CB decided it wanted to lock the brakes and die.
He turned up to my house, with a very nasty clutch burning smell, and was promptly told to sod off for half hour and give his bike a hammering to get some air through it, and then come back for his tea.
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Ariel Badger said - Ever tried Chinese preserved (100 year) eggs? Man are they rank, like eating fart flavoured snot.

[Fairies attack]

Ther is a thread on here from about 4 years ago when I towed my bothers GPZ305 home with a CB125, we didn't have rope so used locks and stuff to attach them. He fell off about 1/4mile from home, and my little CB dragged his bike right to the front gate before I noticed he was missing, was pretty funny at the time.
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Ariel Badger said - Ever tried Chinese preserved (100 year) eggs? Man are they rank, like eating fart flavoured snot.

[Efes123]

[Rogerborg]

[truslack]

Done it lots of times but still not sure of the legality. Managed to melt an Aprilia RS50 piston using it to tow an H100
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[pinkyfloyd]

[Going]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Sako]

[1cyl]

In 03 I was towed 20miles on my shoddy 50cc cruiser by my mate on his RS50. rope round my forks and round his middle!!
(can't hardly believe what i've just typed!)

I don't think he felt to good after, but we made it back fine. and it was dark.
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The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[andyscooter]

i tow bikes most weeks on my quad

but we are not on the road so this is no use
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