Trailer for the RSV

[roland]

Yesterday I received my papers and pictures of my trailer for the RSV. ;D. Didn't got it home yet because I need the license plate and some additional paperwork (Germany, of course (sigh)). In my opinion the only way to get a legal trailer for the RSV in Germany. The problem is the hitch and this manufacturer is able to built hitches for his trailer for any bike and gets the papers for the german laws.

I am deep impressed with his work, the hitch is much more stable than any hitches I saw at other bikes. Only bad thing is, you only can use his trailer. But anyway I wanted this trailer too. I am sure much more people want to have a closer look at this construction! Nobody will care about a GoldWing ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D They are too often to see. You know it, Rudy! (Just kidding)

I will post the pictures soon.

[roland]

Here are the pics:

[Nacho]

Nice trailer, Roland.

How much did you pay for it? (if I can ask)

Is it sold in Europe or did you bring it from the States?

[winghunter]

wow - that will be a strange duo for the next ride - a strange scooter with a Champion trailer and a RSV with a strange trailer.
Anyway, looks impressive ! Enjoy the next ride, Roland !

[pumuckl]

Hi Roland

looks great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[roland]

@ Nacho:

The hitch, the trailer, the painting and all the paperwork, I need in Germany costs roundabout 3.500 €. The trailer and the hitch is all manufactured in Germany by www.wm-trailer.de. As far as I know is this manufacturer is the only one who is able to make hitches for nearly every bike. But this needs to bring the bike in. May be now not necessary for the RSV anymore. You can load it with 40 kg. This is not to much but enough for all I need for camping and there are 15 kg left for clothes for example. And I have the bike too for additional things.

@ Rudy:
Yes, I am sure many people will have a closer look at this.

BTW a guy with a BMW K 1100 LT wanted to know how it tows in high speed and drove 210 km/h. He, bike and trailer are still alive and in perfect condition.

[doc]

Nice piece of kit Roland.
Of course by the end of the season you'll have leg muscles like the incredible Hulk.
Of course then you might be able to hold Rudy's bike up then

[roland]

What's wrong with some muscles? ;D ;D

If You have them You will not feel that they are there but if You have them not You will miss them.

Isn't Motorcycle riding sport? ;D ;D

[doc]

It stopped being a sport when they invented the wing

Actualy Roland any chance you could snap a pic of your hitch?
Does this kind of trailor use a different kind of hitch?

[roland]

Yes, this trailer uses a special kind of hitch. I can take pictures of it when I took it home in the beginning of december. The hitch is a little bit like the Uni-go trailer but different. It has a cardanic part which keeps the trailer upright and the trailer can move up and down and left and right but only like the bike.

[roland]

Yesterday I got my trailer and the hitch written in the papers. Now my trailer and the hitch is legal and I am looking forward to a good moment (weather) I can get my Baby home!

[johnjr]

Haaa....your killing us Roland...you're gonna love this more than that dog? Are't you?

[TwoWheels]

I have never pulled a trailer on a bike,but that one looks really sleek,it blends in with the bike,I wish you all the best with it Roland & hope to see it in real time.

[roland]

@ John:

No, first of all I love my wife, then our lovely dog, Gerry, and some other people too. The Venture and the trailer is my favourite play toy and it is the last thing I would give away but it is not the most important thing in my life.

@ Noel:
I also never towed a trailer before, but there is always a first time for something. BTW in most cases I love to do things I have never done before. Sometimes I got a "bloody nose" but I had to figure it out. ;D

[roland]

Yesterday I got my baby with the trailer home! Sorry, no pics yet, I forgot to take the camera with and when I was back it was dark and the weather turned to bad. It was a long way (350 km) and not too warm (most times 0-2 degree).

When I drive my bike slow in curves you feel something is a little bit strange as without the trailer but on higher speed you don't feel is it there! I towed it up to 130 km/h and faster I was less I felt the trailer. No jumps to feel only the bike was jumping as usual depending on the condition on the road. The trailer has a real swingarm with a good shock and every parts have service parts to lube here and there if necessary sometimes. The painting is very good with double clearcoat. The painter did a good job because he decided that the colour from R+H (sold by the Yamaha dealer) didn't match exactly. So he made his own mixture and he made it right. All screws are selfsafing stainless steel, the other parts are heavy plastic coated. Inside the trailer is complete coated with carpet and nowhere are cables to see for the flasher and backlight. The hitch is fitted to the metal tube where the sidbags are mounted but he made some parts stronger. To make it more stronger there are heavy metal tubes fitted to the parts to mount the centerstand. This is the point the most weight from the towing is forced to the bike. And You don't feel it. Long story short: I'm deeply impressed of his craftmanship and highly recommend this product. And now you can order the hitch and the trailer without the need to bring the bike in! From all hitches he made he has the measuring so he can do it without the bike.

On the ride back Ruth drove the car behind me and she told me it looks like one unit from behind. And at every gas station a lot of people where looking at my RSV with trailer. this made the way back a lot warmer!

I try to take some pics from the hitch for Doc later.

[bunnie]

it looks like one unit from behind.

Is yat a potential danger that the trailer is overlooked by drivers?

[TwoWheels]

Glad you made it back safe Roland,just before you mounted your bike,you must of had thoughts on how this trailer was going to handle,hearing the reports you give on the trailer,it sounds great,you picked the right man to put this together,looking forward to the pics.

[winghunter]

Hey Ruth and Roland,

great news. Don`t worry that drivers will overlook the trailer - just add some lights on it ;D ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D

Wish you always lots of fun with the trailer on your travels !!!

[roland]

@ Bunnie:

No problem, the trailer can't be overlooked in my opinion but it looks like one unit like a truck with trailer.

@ Noel:
Yes, it's the right man and if I wished to change the look of my Venture he would be the right man too. And yes, several thought went through my head not only because I had to drive the bike over a little bit of snow at the start. It was a strange feeling the first kilometers because I hadn't ridden the bike for six weeks only my little 125 ccm bike. What a difference! Anyway, next season I will train myself with the trailer also with heavy load before I will do the next bigger ride.

@ Winghunter:

Sure, I will add some more lights. I have to think about to have not too much load to the electical system.

[johnjr]

Wow...glad you got back and the weather was OK for the drive........waiting for the pics Roland!!!!

[winghunter]

yes, yes, yes - pics pls. pls. !!!!!!!!!!!!

[roland]

Yes I also want to have pics but at weekend the weather was too bad and when I am working it is dark when I return home. Hope this weekend the weather is better. In the moment the trailer is in the living room. I don't want to clean it before taking the pics. and I always want to have a look at my new toy. ;D

[johnjr]

Haaa...Roland...I can see that trailer now!!! I bet Gerry is having a fit, can't figure out what the new toy is, can he!!!! Don't let him lift his leg on that new toy!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, don't forget to put some info on the trailer in the Venturers.org site too....may would be interested in this!!!!!

[roland]

@ John:

I think for Gerry it is nothing other as one more piece of furniture, not really of interest.

Sure, I will put some infos to the Venturer.org but I can't do it from work now, I can't get acces to this site. Have to do it from home.

Greetings
Roland

[roland]

Here are the promised pics from the bike, trailer and hitch:

[TwoWheels]

That is some set up,I've never seen a hitch like this one,does the trailer lean over on bends,brilliant,a one wheel trailer,is there a spare wheel with it.I want a go on it

Thanks for the piccy's Roland.

[roland]

Yes, it's a special hitch for a special trailer. The trailer can't be stolen because they need the hitch also and my hitch fits only the RSV. They need to steal both!!!!!

It's nice to look at the trailer from behind when it is leaning in the curves like the bike and you can really lean into the curves!

I don't have ridden much with the trailer but I had a lot of fun with it. And a lot of questions to answer with every break on my way home with the trailer.

Roland

[johnjr]

Sure looks great Roland!!!! Beautiful with the same color of the bike!!!! I have a question....from the pics I can not tell how the hitch is supported at the end near the connection, under the rear part of the fender? All I see is that it is connected under the bike on both sides? Is it attached to the rear somehow???

And also....when the trailer is off of the bike, what do you support it with when it is on the ground???

[Yamamoose]

Roland, it looks like they are recycling the power take off shaft from American farm tractors!!! That shaft and knuckle of the universal joint can be found on any American farm. Maybe you could look at a few of your neighboring farms at a hay mower, baler, or feed grinder for replacement parts!!! The hitch is an amazing new use for old technology that I know I would never have thought of!!!!

[roland]

@ John:

the hitch is attached on both sides to the tubes which hold the saddlebags in place and at the rear to the tube where your hitch is attached. The manufacturer did strengthen this tubes. With a sharp eye it can be seen. May be I have a little more work when I have to take the rear wheel out for new tires but I can take away the whole hitch, but with the little tube under the rear fender.

@ Greg

You're right I think. It's really like a drive shaft and I am sure he didn't made it by himself. Sometimes there is only an idea needed. In fact it's a very strong construction.