Ironhorse flip-top, fully ENCLOSED motorcycle trailers

Ironhorse Motorcycle Trailers and Carriers | Ironhorse Trailers - Premium Motorcycle Trailers

I've recently been searching the Web for a high quality, lightweight, aerodynamic, and fully enclosed trailer for my VFR, and I believe I've found what may be the best product currently on the market, that being Ironhorse's Flip Top 1 trailer. This trailer has an empty weight of ~850 lbs, and it appears to offer excellent all-weather protection. Plus, it can easily be moved about by hand because it is so nimble and light.

On the other hand, it is very expensive (~ $7000.00 when optioned with front tire chock, spare rim/tire, electronic brake, etc.) Not cheap, but probably the best in its class, and they hold their value quite well on the used market, if you can find one, which is rare.

 

That's an insane (high) price for a very ugly trailer. I haven't done the research that you have, but I can't imagine what could make it worth that much when you can buy the plain white box trailer for less than $2000.

 

It's a great looking trailer, but I would not spend that much. Hell, that's 80% of the cost of my '08 new purchase price. Actually, I think it has many great features: it is low to the ground, the on ramp is wide, and the tie down system is well thought out. I have a Kendon single bike trailer and I have a system where I can load the bike by myself, thus, I speak from experience when I say this trailer has good design features.

Ron

 

It's just another grown man's accessory for his toy. If your racking in 200k+ a year, then why the hell not. If you aren't, think of all the more important things 7k could get you. Having a trailer for your bike thats worth more than your bike is a crime in some states.

 

Wait a minute here... I say if you have money to burn... GO FOR IT!!! Just make sure you get the paint to match your Bugatti Veyron :tongue::crazy:

 

Other than taking a non-running bike to a repair shop, just how much use would a motorcycle trailer get that it would justify a $7,000.00 expenditure for a device to occasionally haul your bike around? I ride my bike - that's why I got it. My brother does trailer his vintage Triumph to Triumph Come Home, but that's only because it's not particularly reliable on a two-day ride. though he has done it before.

I guess if you like to draw attention to yourself, that $7,000.00 trailer would certainly do it.

 

Lots of interesting replies here (many of them rather predictable) so far. A few further thoughts...

1) Read this link, and I mean all of it: IronHorse Trailers – Blog Blog Archive The Low-Down on Choosing a Motorcycle Trailer . I'm interested in a Flip Top 1 rather than a wide-body, but nevertheless the information offered in this link obviously applies equally well to a Flip Top 1. At any rate, the first question is whether or not one is willing to trailer their motorcycle over long distances on an open trailer, in which the bike is totally exposed to the elements as well as various road hazards, especially flying debris such as stones, etc., not to mention parking an open-trailered motorcycle for the night in motel/hotel parking lot.

2) If you're willing to trailer your beloved VFR over long distances on an open utility trailer (normally used for hauling lawn mowers, riding tractors, weed whackers, etc.) or a Kendon-like trailer, then you're probably not overly concerned about your motorcycle getting chipped and dented, soaked by rain, and so forth. And as well, it's often a bad idea to attempt to cover an open-trailered bike with most any sort of tarp or fabric cover.

3) Inexpensive open-trailers typically have rather crude single-axles with equally crude and very BOUNCY leaf-spring suspensions, so that's gotta be good for your motorcycle when you're rolling along at 65 mph over pocked freeways and highways, right? How often will you feel nervous enough to pull over and check the tie-down straps, chocks, etc.? And for that matter, what makes you think that your open lawn-tractor trailer (or a Kendon-like open trailer), isn't robbing you and your tow-vehicle of fuel, because neither are exactly aerodynamic, are they, especially with your motorcycle serving as a sail? (Bounce-bounce...sway-sway...bounce-and-sway..sway-and-bounce....over and over again... That's gotta be good for those compressed front forks and rear shock alike, right?)

4) So then, suppose that you decide to haul your VFR long distances using a fully enclosed motorcycle trailer, such as one of those box-on-wheels, 7' x 12' (or larger) offered by the likes of Pace American, Wells Cargo, Excursion, etc. First of all, one of these in used, decent shape will cost at least $2000.00 and upward, AND... You best have a full-size pickup or SUV to pull it (plus maybe an oil intercooler and electronic brakes, etc,), because these trailers are about as AERODYNAMIC and fuel efficient as fucking bricks on wheels, and in a crosswind, etc., they will begin to SWAY from side-to-side and they may quickly and unexpectedly jack-knife. But why hell, you think you've saved a ton of money by going this route, even though the added cost of fuel alone will quickly begin to drain your wallet. (Penny-wise and pound-foolish.) Plus, where the hell are you going to store that rolling brick when you're not using it? Do you have a barn, or perhaps a 4-car garage with 12-14' doors?

5) With regard to the Ironhorse Flip Top 1 trailer, my tow-vehilce will be my 2010 Infiniti FX35 AWD, and the highly aerodynamic and lightweight trailer will be a breeze for this crossover vehicle to pull when loaded with my 2007 VFR. Meanwhile, the bike will be totally enclosed and protected.

Someone here mentioned that the Ironhorse Flip Top's look ugly. And, someone else quipped that if I want to stand out from the crowd and make a statement, this might be the trailer. Well, first of all, I don't give a fuck about appearances (but gee, those lawn tractor rigs hauling a VFR sure look sharp!). On the other hand, I am interested in total functionality, maximum aerodynamics, rational design (what a radical concept), user friendliness, compact dimensions and light weight, etc. I think that the Ironhorse looks quite sharp, and while it will blend well with the contours of the FX35, I have no interest in spending the extra money to have it painted to match my car. Ironhorse's basic "Boat White" color will be just fine, no pin-striping, etc., just plain old functionality. I would buy the trailer to do a job, not to make a statement.

6) As far as the cost is concerned, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it at this point in my life and career. Don't get me wrong--> this trailer is very expensive and I by no means take the cost lightly. I wish it was less expensive, but you gets whats you pays for, and these trailers hold their value quite well among the likes of BMW riders, etc.

7) Someone here questioned me as to how much I would actually use this trailer per year, as well as where I would haul my motorcycle, etc. My first response is to say that I'm not seeking, nor do I need your approval as to how I see fit to spend and invest my hard-earned money. That said, I will say that my older brother, a veteran rider who lives 450 miles away in North Carolina, is among my reasons. While i have rode down there on a 2007 BMW K1200GT, it would be really nice to have the option of trailering my bike there and elsewhere, while riding in comfort in my Infiniti, towing an Ironhorse, rather than renting an uncomfortable fucking U-Haul truck to carry my bike if I don't feel like a long ride in order to get to NC or anywhere else really far away.

 

Have you made up your mind on this trailer or do you want other ideas or rationale. IMO the best trailer is like the best bike bike.........it depends...and for what!!!

I am a fan of trailers and use mine about maybe six times in a year. I am glad I purchased a two bike trailer as gives you more options.

 

OK, RedRover5683, you've convinced me. Buy me one, too, while you're at it.

By the way, I do like it. Just can't afford that kind of expenditure.

 

Id be afraid someone would want it more than my bike and steal it..

 

It's obvious that you've already made up your mind. This is the best trailer that money can buy and you've gotta have it. I'm sorry the replies weren't what you were looking for. I'm sure you'll get a better response from the guys on the BMW or Infinity forums.