am trying to use bike & trailer instead of car...just need to figure out a tow bar/hitch...anyone got one for sale in Ireland/UK or got ideas/plans on making one?
thanks

Hi Mark,

Great to see you. I hope this means we might see you in August!

Both 88KE and myself are on the look out for one. I guess though they will be a bit different. There is a design in Australia but mail cost is out of the question. I would be ok paying a fee for the design to get some made up.

Hi Olaf

Great to hear from you and good that you and 88ke are on the case for tow bars. I got myself a little consett bike trailer today so want to put it to use this summer...might be more tricky to get the tow bar than the trailer!
It could be worth while paying for a design alright - any chance of getting it 
The single sided bushtec or reynolds R740 type hitches seem to be popular in the US and there's the classicind ones down under...seem basic enough with 3 or 4 attachment points, the rear footrest supports and the frame tail

I might be around for the run out in Aug alright, are you out then?

I will take some photos of the towbar I had on the K100 and some measurements and post then soon,like within a week or so.

Ok thanks Rick...much appreciated...

Mark,

At the moment the plan is to stay at www.norevalleypark.com on Friday 8th August, stay over Saturday night. We just might get some UK visitors. its easy to find, M1/M50/M7/M9 and exit Junction 9.

GPS Coordinates:
N52 33.777 W007 11.698
Or in a different format:
N52.56295 W07.19497

Hopefully 88KE will make it too. We have a thread for this outing so do keep in touch.

Olaf.

Saw this on ebay - for a 81 gold wing, and looks in pretty poor condition...but it's pretty close to you eccentric guys (seller in Northern Ireland and might be worth a look). If not fit for purpose, it might work as a template for copying/designing/manufacturing your own version.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-HONDA-GOLDWING-GL1100-SC02E-TOWBAR-/121256129467?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item1c3b6db3bb

Thanks for the info Olaf...sounds like a great spot...might get there if I can take my bike on hols with the folks to achill that week & leave early...yeah right! ...if the planets align who knows...  

Paul, thanks for the ebay link...looks like its been on ebay for a few months by the dates of the best offers...made a silly offer anyway...could be a useful starting point for making one up... 

Mark , based on what Rick will show you and what I have seen , provided you can get something with the towball mount already in place the two side rods extending through to the gearbox should be easily enough modified. then it's just a matter of adding the upright supports ( these are just 30mm x 3mm flat bar).
the hardest part of constructing a towbar is the bending at the towball.
god luck .

Here are the plans for the towbar that I made for my K100.
The usual disclaimers apply because I have no control over the quality of the build.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9r6ay1okk0prnk9/AABd99-ohdAK8qPmY84NC7EKa

Thanks Rick...really appreciate getting the plans & pics  ...I'll have a good look & see how much I can do & get the rest made up & welded

If you make it down in August (with or without trailer) Mark, we'll have a good chat about it. It's a project I have in the pipes too. I've found a nice lightweight trailer. 

I've had a good look at Rick mounting design and a few other thoughts as well. I think it is easier and cleaner to start from scratch than to adapt from another bike. I you know someone with a cnc machine then it's easy to get the plates cut and grab a good welder to glue them together. I plan on calling in a few favours on that front to sort the tow bar.

Will

Markzz,
Having a 1984 K100RT and a 1992 K100LT parked side by side I see significant differences which were obvious when I got the Krauser K2 panniers for the RT. The mounting positions are completely different due tot he change of the rear ducktail sub frame.

Any thoughts on the tow bar differences? The ideal would be to get someone to make up whatever number we would need and divide the cost but need first to check will they be identical.....

Any thoughts from the forum?

my apologies Rick , what you have is totally unexpected. however for a novice even easier to construct than mine as there is no bending of rod at the ball.


On a recent visit to K75cster's for a coffee, we compared towbars.

not much variance between these two .
the hardest part of making these are bending the solid 1" rod to a suitable shape where the ball is located.
a decent hydraulic press would be required. the side rods are not all that hard to do with some good well positioned leverage. 
some welding for these is required also.
I am fairly certain the bottom one ( Kieth's ) is made by Classic Industries,
 mine (on the bike)Purchased from Rendrag is also as far as I know , Damo may correct me.


due to the ABS modules being in the way , I have mounted the towbar further back . 
the rod on the left side when mounted correctly , is bolted to the frame at the gearbox.
this is not currently the case for mine.
also the line of push /pull on the towbar needs to be levelled out more.



  
the pic below is courtesy of Rendrag ( Ebay ) , 

 Markzz , you may also want to look into some ideas on how to do the necessary wiring.
this may help you along the way.
the addition of a towbar and trailer has now brought new options to the motorcycling experience . a big like   from me.
hope you have luck with it.
If you need something to fit muliple bikes,
I can see benefits from Ricks design , in the way of multiple adaptors at the gearbox end of the frames.simply change the adaptor for each bike design, but use the same towball frame.
otherwise make your towbar bike specific like these ones.

The centre of the ball should ne no more than 5% of the radius of the rear wheel/tyre above the rear axle when normal load is on the bike with the trailer attached. Idealy it should be at axle hight so as to make push/pull a neutral event.

Although this is a niche subject K bike wise, Rick Gs' post and plans plus his posts and problem solving in all areas of K bike troubleshooting put him IMHO as prime candidate for MVP forum 2014, are we due for that yet?
Hey CF, RickG for MVP, OK?

Like the idea Olaf of getting a few made up as it sounds from groverk like Rick's plans are adjustable for different models if necessary - is this right?
Thanks for pics gk - looks like a clean design on those ones from Classic Ind. I've wired up a few hitches for cars so I guess it'll be similar...

If your getting one made up Will maybe we can check it out in Aug...
Rick must be up there for mvp...  dunno what that is...   but sounds like a suitably worthy title...

wonder how Will and Olaf are progressing with the Aussie made towbar .

Over to you 88KE.

Wont be anything happening in next few weeks......we have Gaz80 coming over Monday and a meet up planned for next Saturday......

Then 88KE is off to France to Bikerboy [for those who remember he was on the forum for a long time, K100RS and a few Ducatis as well] for a few days and riding the K75 back to base here.

Having moved house just after the tow bar arrived it travelled with him to a lovely spot in Roscommon that I must go visit.

On a serious note we planned on making a copy and if anyone else is needing to do it now is the time to make the call.

I do have someone in Cork who will do it for us. The early pre 85 and post 85 will have slightly different mountings but the basic assembly remains the same. I have both here but if I am with 88KE his LT is post 85 and we can compare notes too.

Yep, I lost a bit of momentum with the move but coming out of it now! The Tow bar is awaiting a guy with a mandril bender making a copy. Hopefully he will be able to save the program to run off copies! I can make the plate, ends and weld them.

W.

A friend of mine made this rig to get this 1966 Yamaha from Vancouver ,Canada to New Brunswick ,Canada . He made a detour to Mid Ohio where I took these.It worked great.