Tow dolly Thoughts

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Baysideintruder
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Tow dolly Thoughts

Post by Baysideintruder »

I just received as a gift one of those tow dolly that goes into the towing hitch on your truck and you put your front tire up on it to tow your bike.
It looks like it will hold the bike safely but my concern is having the back tire rotate (and everything else up to the trans.) while towing.
Can this be harmful to my bike? I know transporting on a full trailer is best but I live in the city and to store even a small trailer is difficult.
I don't plan on using this for long trips but will even short towing trips be harmful to my bike?
Thoughts and advice much appreciated.
Ride safe brothers.
:rock:

navigator
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Re: Tow dolly Thoughts

Post by navigator »

I can't see where it would hurt anything with the bike in neutral.
The rear gear would spin the same as when you are riding it.
Tire wear would be negligible without any weight on it.
JMO.

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Herb
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Re: Tow dolly Thoughts

Post by Herb »

I did tow my GT550 from North Carolina to Oregon and back, but I was taking the chain off when towing. I had made the hitch myself and it worked well. It was also a good thing

Not really sure of towing a shaft drive bike with this kind of dolly. Not sure of if the final output drive would get enough lubrication. I know the trans and output gets oil forced (splashed?) around with the trans gears when the engine is driving everything, not sure if enough gears would be moving to provide the lube needed. Kind of interested to know because I have thought of this type of tow for my bike and both of them are shaft drives. Seems like it should be ok because the angle of the bike would cause the oil to pool at the rear of the cases.
I can't seem to win the lottery. I think I have used up all of my good luck riding motorcycles.

old time rider
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Re: Tow dolly Thoughts

Post by old time rider »

Would taking the shaft off help or too much trouble?

navigator
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Re: Tow dolly Thoughts

Post by navigator »

old time rider wrote:Would taking the shaft off help or too much trouble?
Too much trouble IMO.
You need to remove a seal and a circlip.

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