Towing Capacity

[tjfischer]

Does anyone know the towing capacity of the Spyder?

I'm hoping to do a month long ride this summer. I would like to get a teardrop camping trailer, or a small pop-up tent trailer for camping. But I don't know the towing capacity of the Spyder. I know the manual says NO TOWING. But I also know that a numbe of rider have already equipt their bike for towing.

Next question. Any recomendations on trailers?

 

[Lamonster]

I'm guessing about 300lbs is about right. Most of my 25,000 miles have been towing a trailer.:doorag::spyder:

Bushtec makes a great trailer and the only hitch that I would put on my Spyder.

​

 

[tjfischer]

Thanks for the feed back.

Lamonster, what brand of trailer do you tow?

 

[Lamonster]

Bushtec:thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

Got to jump in here.

I've traveled at least 7000 miles behind Lamont's trailer towed by both the Suzuki M109R and the Spyder. Before he got his Bushtec I frankly never paid much attention to them and pretty much figured they were all about the same.

NO WAY!

At first I was a bit leary about the whole trailer idea in general and especially for Lamont. Ever ride with Lamont! He gets just about all he can from whatever he is riding and I couldn't see him changing his style much to accomodate a trailer. Just like me, the trailer would either have to keep up or get left behind.

Not to mention that riding tail gunner means whatever he loses I have to deal with. I don't mind an occasional small part or two. But a trailer!?

I think Lamont was less than convinced when the Trailer Nazis at Bushtec fixed him up because when we hit the road he was very interested in my opinion of what was going on back there.

That was a few years and a lot of miles ago. Not enough room here to give due credit to this well engineered, fine handling product.

Eventually, I quit watching Lamont's Bushtec trailer and started comparing what I'd seen to all the other trailers out there. Absolutely no comparrison.

Lamont's Bushtec tracks, rides, handles, (whatever parameter you want to apply) like a dream. No bounce, no wiggle, no hunt, no drift, no offset angle in crosswind. I honestly don't know how Bushtec does it.

Not so with every other trailer I've followed or seen going by. Some trailers, especially some home builts, are all over the road. I've seen riders constantly trying to compensate for what the trailer is doing. Looks down right tiresome and dangerous to me.

Anyway, if you're going for a trailer, my 2 cents is pay the money and do it right. I suppose to fully appreciate a Bushtec you'd have to pull something else first. But why take the risk?

 

[madozier]

This is a video that was posted of someone following Lamonster. The trailer doesn't appear to slow him down any.

http://media.putfile.com/Chasing-Lamont

 

[BajaRon]

This is a video that was posted of someone following Lamonster. The trailer doesn't appear to slow him down any.

http://media.putfile.com/Chasing-Lamont

I am sure the trailer takes a bit off Lamont's top speed. But it doesn't seem to hinder him at all for cornering. Matter-of-fact, in at least some situations I think the trailer actually gives Lamont an advantage by increasing the weight on the rear wheel.

Coming back from a ride a few months ago it started to rain on us. On a back road near home that we are both very familiar with I broke loose in a curve. A perfect 3 wheel drift.

At first I thought the computer would jump in to correct it but all 3 wheels were turning at about the same rate so my Spyder assumed all was well.

We were traveling the exact same speed, we were both accellerating moderately at the same rate, though we did get into the curve a little fast for the conditions.

While I was drifting Lamont continued to accellerate and was happily riding away with no problems.

Since I could see the road ahead and was drifting from the inside out I decided to give it a chance and see what the Spyder would do. All I did was just let off of the accellerator a bit.

I maintained direction (no rotation left or right) but drifted completly into the opposite lane. Running out of room I was just about to apply some light breaking when all 3 wheels got traction and I continued on.

Advantage...Trailer.