To trailer your Beemer (Harley way) or not

It has recently come to my attention that a certain longstanding member of the club recently loaded his beemer on a trailer and transported it in this way to his destination, where the beemer was offloaded and used as a beemer should be used. A cardinal sin when one rides a beemer.

Now the question here is - should one trailer your bike or not - especially if the bike is healthy and fit and ready to roll. Is this not the type of actions one would expect from a Harley rider. Without denigrating all the Harleys out there.

Second question - is this individual about to go over to the dark side and act on this new found way of getting his bike (New Harley????), about. Because one cannot do that to a Beemer and not have your Beemer rights recinded.

Your thoughts on this matter is awaited.

Well,

Another member of the club, and this forum, also towed his Beemer (1150Adv nogal) all the way to the coast, but with good reason.

If he was selfish, he could have rode his bike down and leave his wife to drive ALL the way to the coast, ALONE with the small children in the car. See, I think this is being a good father and husband.

So it has nothing to do with riding a Beemer or Harley or KTM, it depends on the situation.

If you want to trailer your bike, trailer it, if you want to ride it, ride it. Really........ who cares ???

Just my 2 cents

I sometimes trailer our bikes to a destination because of circumstance. An example - last year January we had a 4 day weekend at Saddle and Trout in the Midlands and trailered the Dakar and Dorothys 200cc Skygo with the intention of riding some dirt roads while we were there. Spend 2 days riding various tar/dirt roads in the area.

Another instance last year - was in KZN on business the week of the Buffalo Rally. Trailered the Adventure and Dorothy's 1150R down to Kingsburgh the Sunday. Conducted business there Monday - Wednesday. Dorothy flew down the Wednesday night and on Thursday we rode from Kingsburgh to Aliway North by bike (693km). The route from Centurion would have been 647km - so we in fact covered more distance on the bikes from KZN than people did from Pretoria

After the rally we went to Port St Johns and then to Glenmore Sands for 5 days. Did 1600km from Kingsburgh to the Buff and back to Kingsburgh and then trailered the bikes back to Centurion. The distance we covered on the bikes is probably more than most of the people that rode from Jhb to the Buff and back.

So you can see, sometimes circumstance arises when it is necessary to trailer the bikes.

Sharkie wrote:
If you want to trailer your bike, trailer it, if you want to ride it, ride it. Really........ who cares ???

Just my 2 cents

Agreed, however to trailer your bike to a rally...... I mean really!!! The Rhino this year was like a damn car park in the campsite. Even cars driving between the main tent and food stalls. Some guys even trailered their bikes right into the campsite - and most were superbikes!!

Had no shame!! They could at least have offloaded their bikes 10kmk away and rode into the rally site!!!

Rejuvenated DaveS wrote:

Sharkie wrote:
If you want to trailer your bike, trailer it, if you want to ride it, ride it. Really........ who cares ???

Just my 2 cents

Agreed, however to trailer your bike to a rally...... I mean really!!! The Rhino this year was like a damn car park in the campsite. Even cars driving between the main tent and food stalls. Some guys even trailered their bikes right into the campsite - and most were superbikes!!

Had no shame!! They could at least have offloaded their bikes 10kmk away and rode into the rally site!!!

+100000000000000

Am currently in Durban and have to admit that I trailered my Sprint here. Had a lot of stuff to bring down but did not want the wife to drive on her own. Otherwise I would have ridden down.

Trailered the S once to Golden Gate, couldnt fit 2 people and all the camping equipment (and pitbike) in a different way

Reckon the superbikes mentioned earlier were trailered cause not comfy enough to ride far

OK, will start running ...

I think that trailers are for boats!!

If you can't fit all the gear on the bike, you've got too much stuff...!
If you can't fit the whole family on the bike, then trailer the bike and convey the family in the cage.
At least that way you will get to ride some of the time...

I have a trailer….one with 195 x 16” MOMO mags………..and I love it and it seems so do the thieves as they stole my first (custom) trailer.

We use the trailer at least once a year to transport the bikes to a holiday destination. That way we can fit all family members and luggage (including golf clubs) and all are happy that way.

Sometimes circumstances dictate the action. We had a 5 trip earlier this year to Knysna and I wanted to ride whilst there. If we opted to ride down, it would have left 1 day of riding in paradise. We opted to trailer the bikes down and were able to maximise our riding time to 3 days……..works for us

I have no problem whatsoever to trailer my bikes

This was a Jibe at a very good friend of mine (Club Member) and we (both) had a very good laugh on it before i did the posting. You all make very valid points, and yes your circumstances determine when or if you want to trailer your pride and joy.

He wanted to put a sticker on the back "No sidecar for mother in law" as a reason why his beemer was on a trailer (1st time). But i also agree with Dave - that you dont trailer your bike to a Rally. In 2006 we joined the club at Mosselbay for the Buffalo Rally, and even then there where lots of cars and caravans in the rally grounds.

Going for a ride to Robinson Pass we saw a Harley being trailered to the Buff - if you and your bike can't make it on your own you should not attend any rally.

LeRoy Olivier wrote: - if you and your bike can't make it on your own you should not attend any rally.

+1

Could not agree more !!!

fwiw I’m in agreement in so far a rally is concerned.

As for the rest, I’m a bit of a non-conformist by nature and frankly the do’s and don’ts to fit in with the culture of certain brands are not for me. Had some friendly cager coming to talk to me once at a filling station and he said I passed him whilst he was doing 100 and plenty and he always thought BMW riders/bikes are suppose to be old, slow and quiet. On the old part he might be (partly) right ok ……. then again it’s all relative…..he was 30.

Maybe I am giving the brand a bad name but I’m so passionate about my bike/s, I refuse to miss out on anything just because the “rule book” or if you like the opinion of the hard core fraternity states it is off limits.

I also think it’s very funny to see Harleys trailered to Parys for a breakfast run only to off-load 10kays outside town, but if it works for them, let them be......……..part of the freedom on offered by biking and it is for pleasure after all. At least the bike stays clean that way and if I had to clean all that crome.......well the idea does not sound too bad anymore .......you can fit in 5 breakfast runs without a clean

Except for all the dust that gathers when parked in the garage. And no - i dont think anybody in the club damages the brand name by our way of riding, or for that matter your way of riding (Jamie) - on the contrary.

I heard that Harleys that do more than 2000km per year are regarded as 'high-milers' and drop resale value dramatically...

Thought it was 1000km

Ek het simpatie met die Harley manne. Dit is net soveel makliker om sekere fietse op 'n trailer vas te maak as ander. Indien ek 'n LT of 'n 1200GS gehad het sou ek hom ook eerder gery as getrailer het - dit neem net soveel minder energie. Wanneer ek egter eendag 'n superbike en 'n Harley gekoop het sal ek hulle ook trailer omdat dit net soveel makliker is om hulle op 'n trailer vas te maak. En buitendien die meisie wat saam met my ry se bagasie is net te veel vir sommige fietse.

So - the best solution is dont regress to a Harley - then the trailor wont be needed.

I would agree with Sharkie, it depends on the situation. But as a rule I would avoid a trailor, infact I have only once transported my bike somewhere and that was when I bought a new bakkie, went to the dealer on my bike, signed the papers, loaded the bike on the bakkie and went home.

I must also say that it is quite the laugh under the other brands when we see the BMW okes trailer their bikes. Don't get me wrong but I hardly ever see a guy on KLR or DRZ traler their bikes to a event or meeting place, and if anything I would trailer them first. They tough it out.

Went to Fouriesburg a while ago, and sure as hell there was 1200 GS's being towed into the camping site, why? I thought they were comfortable... Then again I forgot how my bike got home, one of the BMW okes offered me his spot on his trailer and took my bike home, cause I had 10 stitches above my eye and couldn't get a helmet on.

Anyways, trailer the bike if it for instances down to holiday distination with family in the car, but PLEASE DO NOT TRAILER YOUR BIKE TO THE GS CHALLENGE THIS YEAR!! YOU LOOSE STREET CREDIT!!!!!!