Most Nervous Day for the FJR Yet

[Malve]

As discussed in a previous post, last week I stripped the hole in my oil pan by overtightening the drain bolt and several members suggested not riding it until fixed, not even straight to the shop. And yes I know that I could have just put in an oversized self tapping bolt or dropped a new pan in but I did decide to let the shop handle it.

I have several friends with trailers, pick ups and Toy haulers but today I lost patience and after getting some reassurance from the manufacturer (Edit: of the hauler), I loaded it onto my hitch mounted bike carrier (Joe Hauler brand) that I use for my dirtbike (WR450).

No problems but man I was shi$%ing, while loading it and carefully driving to the shop.

Not only is the bike more than double the weight of the dirt bike but I have never tied down the FJR or any other street bike before so I was pretty nervous.

My SUV (Nissan Armada) has a pretty high hitch and the hauler has a lift on it so the bike sits up several feet above the ground and it was shaking like a mother.

Anyway, all's well that ends well but I won't be doing it again anytime soon.

Has anyone else used this method of transporting the Feejer?

 

[radman]

No...*******...way. Coulda pulled it with a rope with a friend on the seat too, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Sucess doesn't justify means. Head for a casino-today's your day.

 

[Fencer]

No...*******...way.

+1

What is the weight rating for your hitch hauler?

 

[Kaelaria]

Almost sounds like he's pulling our legs. How could someone be so anal about a thread striping, yet do something so ...risky..., asking for trouble??

 

[BrunDog]

That was dangerous (for the bike and your truck frame, that is).

Is is not just the weight that matters. The position of that weight, or specifically, distance to the hitch from the COG, that matters. This is the moment arm that the hitch can handle, and I would be hard pressed to believe you aren't deeeeeep into the safety margin with a ~620 lb bike. At four feet from the hitch receiver center, that's 2400 ft-lb's of torque, and you know how much that is. Now add in the dynamic stresses when the truck goes bouncy bouncy under way...

Don't do this, unless the literature of the carrier AND the truck hitch specifically say you can do this.

-BD

 

[Hotboot]

Well it can now be stated: it can be done.

Glad you made it there safe, that bolt could have cost a bunch more in bike parts.

 

[dean]

did you at least get a picture of it on the trailer bike stand? i've seen those advertised, and thought there's no way it'd hold a regular-sized motorcycle...

As discussed in a previous post, last week I stripped the hole in my oil pan by overtightening the drain bolt and several members suggested not riding it until fixed, not even straight to the shop. And yes I know that I could have just put in an oversized self tapping bolt or dropped a new pan in but I did decide to let the shop handle it.
I have several friends with trailers, pick ups and Toy haulers but today I lost patience and after getting some reassurance from the manufacturer (Edit: of the hauler), I loaded it onto my hitch mounted bike carrier (Joe Hauler brand) that I use for my dirtbike (WR450).

No problems but man I was shi$%ing, while loading it and carefully driving to the shop.

Not only is the bike more than double the weight of the dirt bike but I have never tied down the FJR or any other street bike before so I was pretty nervous.

My SUV (Nissan Armada) has a pretty high hitch and the hauler has a lift on it so the bike sits up several feet above the ground and it was shaking like a mother.

Anyway, all's well that ends well but I won't be doing it again anytime soon.

Has anyone else used this method of transporting the Feejer?

 

[jwilly]

I'm just curious, Is it really fun doing a wheelie in a full size SUV?

 

[Leartech]

Well guys, it is do able, but not fun. There are even a couple of hitch carrier makers out there that say it will support the correct weight, as long as you have the right class hitch. I had one, until I tried loading another middle weight bike on it, that scared me enough to not consider anything heavier. Got rid of the carrier after that. I drove it around some with that other bike on it, and it actually worked pretty well, however the loading and unloading was more than I cared to do.

Take care all,

Bryan

 

[Shane]

Dude, (Malve)

Your choices are resulting in an ever-more-risky-and-potentially-cripplingly-expensive set of behaviors.

Lord knows I've made my share of bonehead decisions, but look around, there's plenty of other options where a calmer head will net you less-stressful results.

Hopefully the ribbing you get here will be taken for what it is. You didn't have to broadcast this here, I sure wouldn't have. :dribble:

For anyone else who has to make an emergency oil plug remedy, the expansion plugs (at the auto parts stores) with the wing nut on the bottom have worked out well in a pinch, and can even serve as a permanent replacement where the threads are gone in some applications.

Glad you made it........this time! :blink:

Shane

 

[nusman68]

You were lucky to pull that off, IMO. Your Armada came with what? A class III hitch? IIRC the max tongue wt on a class III is 500 lbs.; FJR w/fluids is ~ 610? lbs.

I can imagine how it affected handling also....

 

[dbvolfan]

I have seen those hitches and the advertised wt limit is 600lbs (given the right class hitch). No freaking way I would have done it...you need to go buy a lottery ticket because today is your lucky day!

 

[Geezer]

No...*******...way. Coulda pulled it with a rope with a friend on the seat too, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Sucess doesn't justify means. Head for a casino-today's your day.

Personally, I would have done the rope thing. In fact, I have pulled a bike with another bike, using a rope. Never had to tow the FJR though.

 

[Cdogman]

Ida just had someone drop me off and Ride the bike home. It did get fixed at the shop right? Even if it is cold as hell, as long as it is not frozen roads.....

How come you did not just ride the bike home??

 

[raclow]

[SIZE=14pt]Where are the pictures????[/SIZE]

For you to do this, YOU had to take some pictures.

I want to see some pictures....wheels of the SUV must not be touching the ground.

 

[Malve]

Thanks for all the input gang.

Did anybody notice my comment that "I won't be doing this again..." perhaps I should have left the "anytime soon" off.

Although the carrier was rated to 650lbs and the truck's tounge weight capacity with the "tow package" is 1000 lbs... it certainlly didn't feel right.

I was vaguely aware that the distance from the hitch (lever arm) does multiply the weight but thanks for clarifying and as far as the "bouncey bouncey" I drove at a snails pace in and out of the driveways and kept in under 25 on the road, stopping and starting veerrry slooowly.

Sorry no pics. I was half tempted to load it back up after all the comments just to take the pics and then put it right back down but certainly that would be more trouble than it's worth and wouldn't exactly prove that I learned my lesson.

Would anybody believe me if I said that the stripping of the bolt and putting the Feejer on the hauler are the only two stupid things I've ever done?

...no... how 'bout this year? ....hmmm maybe this week?

 

[ponyfool]

Dude, that's just nuckin' futs!

 

[TheAxeman]

Wow.....you are one brave man .

So did anybody ever figure out what the translation of your avatar is?.....I think I missed the conclusion.

 

[Malve]

Wow.....you are one brave man .So did anybody ever figure out what the translation of your avatar is?.....I think I missed the conclusion.

Primary meaning "Decision" secondary meaning "Determination". It's not that each of the two symbols is a word... it's just one.

For more details just click my profile and my topics to find the topic without searching avatar topics.