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TECH TORQUE Towing a bike- some interesting photos

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5 March 2016 - 4:17pm
Andyman
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Joined: 2007/06/22

Here is a series of four towing techniques, all taken form real live tow operations.

 

 

Method  one works best.

Of all the trade -off, this is the least dangerous.

Think lower down, 

Think Hard points.

think Brakes,

Think- be careful not to trip the towed bike into a gear by accident.

This is the configuration that makes the most sense, leaving the rear brake lever free of tow rope.

Tow from the foot-pegs- the strongest hard-points and the lowest down.

Bikes off-set (Staggered formation so you can pass if you over-run)- Leader towing with tow rope from the RHS, Towed bike on his right, rope from its LHS foot-peg

The chance of accidentally fowling the gear lever is omnipresent, but even with little towing experience this is easily avoided.

 

But this????

Method two....

 

With the tow rope in the LHS of both bikes forcing them to ride line astern??????

High up the rear sub frame on the pillion peg stanchion of the towing bike ??

 

Then the towed bike from the crash bars???

The pillion peg stanchion is frangible, designed to snap off to save the sub-frame from twisitng if you fall.

The crash bar was never designed to take forward pulling forces.

Both are at risk of suddenly parting from the bike.

 

________________________________________________

Method Three- Also line astern?????

Tow rope high up where it can pull a bike down in a fraction of a second.

Anchoring from the plastic luggage rack of the lead bike

Anchoring to the plastic trim of the towed bike??

This I find incomprehensible

 

This has RISK stamped all over it.

 

Method four....

The other classic- whole staggered formation is good, but.....

Towing bike low down on foot-peg is good, but on his LHS means he tows a bike with the rope on the towed bikes RH foot-peg, nice, low down, but.... blocking access to his rear brake lever- hmmmmm, NO, not a good idea.

 

Because you cannot get to the rear brake on the towed bike, you run the risk of over-running the towing bike as seen n the photo.

 

 

Towing a bike on tar

Towing a bike on gravel roads

http://bmwmccc.org.za/towing-motorcycle-another-motorcycle

 

Andyman
Anyone can ride a bike fast....   But can you ride your bike real slow???

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7 March 2016 - 8:59am
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Zack Burger
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Joined: 2012/08/03

Hi 

I must agree that the Leader towing with tow rope from the RHS, Towed bike on his right, rope from its LHS foot-peg is definite the safer and easier option. Last year we went on a trip and Carel's bike broke down. At the end of it all I had to tow Carel and his bike for about 60km. We starting with  a not so "lekker"  gravel road,   through a  tricky field back on to smooth gravel road and than the last bit on Tar. This method made it easy and I think Carel and I felt safe and comfortable because we knew this method works (or so we were taught by Mr Andy); also helped that we had Helmet comms to advise of any danger. 

Sometimes we are faced with unwanted situations and  instead of going into turmoil, thanks to some good advise and training, we can help our self!

Thanks Andy

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