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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: billb on July 11, 2016, 03:59:09 PM

Title: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: billb on July 11, 2016, 03:59:09 PM
Just got '85 K100, dropped in garage already due to idiotic kick stand! Anyway,have a sling made to tow MC. Bought from mechanic who said may not be good idea, something about tranny not getting oil??? Would like to know if safe to tow in neutral with engine off. Man this is very top heavy compared to other bmw, takes getting use to I guess. Would have to tow 300 miles. Thanks
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: TrueAce on July 11, 2016, 05:35:50 PM
NO!
 :nono
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: TimTyler on July 11, 2016, 06:46:19 PM
(http://www.uhaul.com/reservations/images/Equipment/Towing/MotorcycleTrailerLarge.png)
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: kioolt on July 11, 2016, 07:17:15 PM
I don't know what kind of sling you have or how secure the bike would be if you used it but, if your only concern is the gearbox getting oiled correctly by towing with the rear wheel on the ground, remove the drive shaft.  Problem solved.
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: K1300S on July 11, 2016, 07:55:15 PM
What Tim suggested.   Rent a uhaul.
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: kioolt on July 11, 2016, 08:08:56 PM
I rented a U-Haul a couple of years ago.  The cost was very cheap if you do a two way rental.  I seem to remember about $20 a day.  One way rental is all I really needed but it would have cost me several hundred dollars for one way rental.
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: Bill on July 11, 2016, 08:13:41 PM
An 88 K100LT will fit in a short box chevy pickup .....   2 men and ramps or a convenient ditch will do it too .  Especially easy if you promise  :beer:
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: billb on July 11, 2016, 09:27:35 PM
Thanks, I can't nail a screw so can't do drive shaft deal. Sling made to tow MC but I want to be safe. May buy trailer, thanks. Riding to Hamburg from VT
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: TrueAce on July 11, 2016, 09:34:58 PM
Not only will a "sling two" not be good for your drive train, but do you really want 600 pounds dangling off the back of your vehicle a highway speeds? Get creative, find a safer solutions. Just sayin'......... :dunno2:
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: F14CRAZY on July 12, 2016, 04:44:24 PM
Something like this?

(http://motorcycle-rack.com/MFWT_1Orig.jpg)

I've seen these on ebay before and gave it some consideration but I just don't quite trust the idea
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: Martin on July 12, 2016, 04:55:42 PM
Crazy that's a lot of weight to be trusting those straps not to stretch or the ratchets let go. Stationary those straps are probably fine, but with the weight of the bike moving to and fro, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Especially if you bought them from the $2..00 shop  :hehehe .
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: Motorhobo on July 12, 2016, 05:11:42 PM
I had a bike fall down on the trailer on a bumpy road once despite a four-point tiedown -- but it stayed on the trailer till I could pull over. Lose a tiedown with one of those things and the bike is going thru someone's windshield...no thanks.
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: Martin on July 12, 2016, 05:16:46 PM
Never rely on the hooks, thread the hook through or around the eyebolt or rail and hook onto itself. This supposedly stops the chances of bumps causing the hook to come out.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: TrueAce on July 12, 2016, 05:21:12 PM
Pick any Interstate..............they are all under repair to some degree, and at speed that load is gonna get bumped loose. I too, was towing two bikes on a trailer when one bounced loose in the ratchet tie-downs. Fortunately was able to.pull over before losing the bike. I would not trust that bumper rig!
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: Bill on July 12, 2016, 05:36:08 PM
Back to the beginning ..... why not ride it home  :dunno?  300 miles is an afternoon on a K  :riding:
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: Laitch on July 12, 2016, 06:54:20 PM
Back to the beginning ..... why not ride it home  :dunno?  300 miles is an afternoon on a K  :riding:
Well, Bill, usually it is.

That reminds me of the story about a Vermont farmer who was working on a tractor in his dooryard when a shiny SUV with Texas plates pulls up. Big guy in a clean Stetson gets out of it, steps up to him and says, "Howdy, pardner. Nice little place you got here. How big is it anyway?"

The Vermonter wipes off his hands with a shop rag, adjusts his cap then replies, "How do. Well, since you're interested, it goes from that ridge yonder across the road, comes across here and runs along the back of the woods at the far edge of the meadow behind the house; goes up the road about a mile to the river and back down the road to the intersection where you passed that yellow barn.

"Well that's mighty fine," says the Texan. "You know, back home, I can get in my truck, ride all day and still not reach the end of my spread."

The Vermonter takes a sip of water and then replies, "I had a truck like that once. Got rid of it."
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: billb on July 18, 2016, 07:30:39 PM
Thanks everybody. Not going to tow with caddy as shown by F14CRAZY. I also can't ride! Lean is too much for me so I have to sell (Arthritis in neck and back). '85 K100 95K on it. Bought from BMW mechanic. Want $1985. email me for details:
billboylan1@gmail.com. Bike in Burlington VT
Title: Re: Tow an '85 K100 with Sling for front, rear on ground, is it safe?
Post by: jakelee73 on October 10, 2016, 02:44:40 PM
Before the days of cell phone cameras, I witnessed a guy from college strap the front wheel of his Honda Rebel to the trunk lid of his Chevy Citation and drove of to go home at the end of the semester.