Seeking (again) a trailer hitch solution

I've got a UniGo one-wheel trailer that worked great with my Bandit. Now I want to use it with my 03 VFR but have had no luck at all finding a hitch setup. A while ago I attempted to get some help through this forum with absolutely no luck but decided to try again. I'm looking for either a vendor or some ideas (photos, plans). Any help out there?

 

VFR pulling a Trailer?
& I was worried about getting razzed for thinking about doing a custom Side-Car! :biggrin:

Don't take that badly, & I will say that you probably didn't get any replies, simply because you are wanting to do something that others have yet to do!
So you are probably the trail blazer in regards to putting a trailer on your VFRer. So go for it! :thumb:

 

The best suggestion I can come up with, is to check out some of the magazines/websites that cater to Gold Wing owners. In the place I get my haircut at, they have a few "mens" magazines laying about and one publication is a magazine that caterrs to Gold Wing owners and they have all sorts of companies that advertise items that you are looking for. (Sorry I dont recall the name of the magazine.) Although the VFR is considered by some to be a "sport-touring" bike, I think a majority of us here use them more for their sporty side and appreciate the benefits of its touring properties. Another place to check out is Sport Adventure Touring Motorcycle Accessories and Gear - Sport Tour Ltd.. As the name suggest they have stuff for the sport touring bikes, the VFR being one of them. Good luck on your search.

 

Post up if you find something. I would rather trailer than to pack the way I have to for a trip.



I think the biggest problem to overcome for towing with the VFR is the single side swingarm, and lack of substantial rear fender, or somewhere to attach a hitch.

 

I would fabricate a setup that can attach either to the passenger peg bolt holes, or the peg brackets. It looks like the bolt holes for the passenger peg brackets are exposed, so I would try that first. Figure on some shaped 1/4" plate and a u-shaped hitch mount that can bolt/unbolt. Triangulate to the bottom of the peg brackets and I bet that will make for a very sturdy hitch.

Jose

 

Fixed that for ya. Ha!

 

There is a member here that have done the trailer and have a video some where. Let me do the search

 

that would have been GoForaRide Long

 

I appreciate the quick (constructive) responses. I too was initially skeptical until I saw a UniGo trailer behind a Ducati ST. I've put about 2000 miles towing it with my Bandit and remain amazed at how well it works. This is a one-wheel trailer with a u-joint that allows it to lean and follow the bike rather than try to pull it sideways. Over the winter I hope to meet the challenge and will post the result. Keep those ideas coming, please.

 

The rear subframe has 2 hard points on each side. These would be my first anchor points for a hitch fab. Bolt on, replace plastic, travel.

Larry

 

Go For A Ride went for a ride and never came back. No movie no trailer.

 

Try this link Whitemountain, former Mass rider here. Called them some time ago for my 1998VFR and they had a setup. Got sidetracked with other projects. Hope this helps. Chromed Honda Motorcycle Trailer Hitches Good luck and post a pic if you finish it.

 

It seems to me that with the hollow rear axle on the vfr, you could design a double walled tube running on needle bearings that would give you hard points on either side of the rear wheel. To which you could attach a horeshoe type hitch with pip pins and a single attach point for the trailer. Now I'm not a trailer guy so I don't know how this may affect handling during braking and acceleration but with some engineering but it could be done without drilling a single hole in the bike's structure.

In a word, elegant.

No question that this is just a theory.There will be design challenges and it won't be super cheap!

Wixroyd - Aviation Pip Pins and Quick Release Fasteners - Manuf to NASM Norms - www.pip-pins.com

 

You could easily triple your storage by using a different luggage setup, as opposed to going to the trailer. With a large touring trunk, you would not only double your trunk space, but you'd free up the pillion to strap that backpack down with a net. Couple that with a big tank bag and bigger side cases and I think you'd have all the space you need, and probably for the same ballpark in cost relative to a trailer setup.

 

My guess is that he would like the ability to take everything with him, but also have the convenience of "popping it off" and being able to ride the bike with no frames or pieces hanging on it.

Plus, he already has the trailer. Although, you can see by my avatar that I am a fan of a GINORMOUS top case.

Jose

 

One really great thing about those bigass topcases is that if properly sealed they can improve two-up riding skills without having to listen to some chica or dude tell you you are going too fast or they have to pee and you need to pull up to the next WalMart.

What ya do is fill the topcase about 4/5 full of water. When ya lean into a turn the water acts like the person on the back just freaked out and leans in the opposite direction. This makes you ready for anything. This same technique can also double as an at the ton washing machine. For those living in Nebraska and Kansas, sorry you are SOL. Same deal for those who do the slab.

 

I've got the hard bags and a luggage rack and can load it up if I want to. I've found, though, that the weight up high makes for a less stable ride which I find tiresome over a long day of riding. My experience with the UniGo is that, short of negotiating twisties, it makes a pretty solid platform. I appreciate the thought some have put into this issue and hopefully will be able to come up with a good solution.

 

Here is the threat that I found, the video must have been remove. Hope this help.
http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/27270-hitch-design-pictures.html

 

Found the video..................:wink:
http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/27371-vfr-towing-vfr.html

 

I like this one, it is done really well compared to GoForRide"s.
Sorry but his is actually scary lookin & is way to bulky.