KLR 650 as Tow Vehicle?
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You can use a bike to tow something straight, but if you're trying to turn the tow tension will try to tip the bike over. This is lessened if the tow point on the bike is close to the ground, but there's not usually any good attachement point close to the ground.
I think I go in a straight line with the bike but at a sharp angle to the trailer tongue, effectively turning the boat 90 deg. I noticed the rear luggage rack is bolted to the frame and sturdy-looking, so I'll try tying the tow rope there. If it works I might take a photo or two or shoot a little video.
How old are you? This is a serious question, because God protects the young and innocent but punishes the stupid and those old enough to know better. If you try stunts as crazy as this when you are under twenty-five and have only two years' experience with bikes then you'll probably get away with it, but if you have more years, in either sense, then the laws of physics will apply as usual and you'll pull the luggage rack off the bike, shred the tires, break the spokes, ruin the gearbox output shaft bearing or simply end up in a big heap with both bike and boat on top of you. But let us know how you get on...
the only way to approach this thing is to drink a 6 pack of Schlitz beforehand, you don't want to overthink it. and have a well-stocked first aid kit possibly attached to yourself so you'll be able to reach it with like an anchor pinning your groin to the ground while your KLR rear knobby goes whobbita whobbita whobbita on your forehead.
In all seriousness, i think the only way it's going to work is to dump the clutch with the revs up a bit, dragstrip style. Because the torque peak of that KLR must be around 6000 rpm or so and you'll need all of it to pull 2000 pounds.
Also i would spray the area with some sort of traction compound like vht or wd40.
Also i would spray the area with some sort of traction compound like vht or wd40.
this is brilliant. i appeal to the editors for more- can we have a 'darwin awards of motorcycling' feature? not just your usual crash recaps, but oddball stories like "i tried to tow my boat with my klr, and i have the pics to prove what a poor decision this was", or "my buddy was filming me doing a burnout but i lost control and the bike went through my neighbor's front door". like an average joe's accidental stunt video. i have good memories of watching some mo editor lowside a scooter recently...
it inspires me to find my "Video Nasties" tape i got from Performance Bikes in Britain like 10 yrs ago. it is like motorized monty python. lots of naked drunk people wheelying over backwards, being towed on tires, etc.
i see it all going smoothly then halfway up the hill the bike stalls the boat starts pulling it backwards just as the wife pulls into the alley in the Volvo the o who knows? ripe with excellent possibilities here...
i see it all going smoothly then halfway up the hill the bike stalls the boat starts pulling it backwards just as the wife pulls into the alley in the Volvo the o who knows? ripe with excellent possibilities here...
You tell'em KLRer!! I once single-handedly tried putting my FLHS into the back of pick-up by myself with a 2' X 4', 3/8" piece of plywood between driveway and pick-up. halfway up and beyond the point of no return the board broke in two and left me holding the bike upright halfway on the pick-up bed. I was stuck there for about 10 minutes until a guy happens by and helps me push it the rest of the way into the truck. Then he says, "what were you going to do if I hadn't come by"? To this day I have no answer to that question.
I must agree with JB. You'd best do this after a few drinks - not the kinda of thing you should consider doing sober. And do it alone. Don't let someone else spin the story for you.
I must agree with JB. You'd best do this after a few drinks - not the kinda of thing you should consider doing sober. And do it alone. Don't let someone else spin the story for you.
torque comes on nicely on the KLR 650 by 2500 rpm or so. Once the boat's moving it'll come right along. What some of the morons making light of my plan don't know, probably, is that a 2000 lb. boat on a trailer can be pushed by hand on a flat, level surface. Easily. The 10 degree slope and uneven surface add to the difficulty, sure, but its not like we're talking about towing it up Peaks Peak at 60 mph. Ease it on up into the garage, thats all.
Thats all I'm saying until the boat arrives in a couple of weeks.
Thats all I'm saying until the boat arrives in a couple of weeks.
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