moto-mule a cargo trailer to pull behind your dual sport motorcycle

[MrBracket]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

My wife got a shot of me going down the interstate. Seems my tag is invisible with thew trailer attached so i'll have to come up with a solution for that.

Evan, in looking at your previous photos, the plate looks visible without you on it. In the photo with you on the bike it is completely covered and some. ProCycle sells a "clean up your backside" kit for the DR, it moves the license plate up and out of harms way and more visable. I would also check your suspensions static sag, it appears that your bikes sags a bit more than it should. Perhaps you need more preload or a stiffer spring. I don't know what you have in your top box, but if it's a lot of weight move it to the trailer, that might help too.

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by MrBracket

Evan, in looking at your previous photos, the plate looks visible without you on it. In the photo with you on the bike it is completely covered and some. ProCycle sells a "clean up your backside" kit for the DR, it moves the license plate up and out of harms way and more visable. I would also check your suspensions static sag, it appears that your bikes sags a bit more than it should. Perhaps you need more preload or a stiffer spring. I don't know what you have in your top box, but if it's a lot of weight move it to the trailer, that might help too.

Yeah, as shown here (without my fat butt on the bike) the trailer doesn't block the line of sight to the tag.



When I sit on it, apparently the bike sags just a little too much. According to her pic, even using the tag bracket from ProCycle wouldn't work because it still places it below the fender.



I have the 8.3 spring from ProCycle. Notice quite an improvement over stock but maybe I can crank the preload down a bit still to get it to sag less.

Otherwise, I can always duck tape the tag to the back of my helmet.

[asrvivor]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

Yeah, as shown here (without my fat butt on the bike) the trailer doesn't block the line of sight to the tag.



When I sit on it, apparently the bike sags just a little too much. According to her pic, even using the tag bracket from ProCycle wouldn't work because it still places it below the fender.



I have the 8.3 spring from ProCycle. Notice quite an improvement over stock but maybe I can crank the preload down a bit still to get it to sag less.

Otherwise, I can always duck tape the tag to the back of my helmet.

Or mount it to your top box. That's my plan.

[JoeyBones]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

my tag is invisible with thew trailer attached so i'll have to come up with a solution for that.

Yeah but the ADV sticker is in plain sight! Isn't that good enough?

[MrBracket]

I will do some research. If you do move it to your top box, be sure to have a light on it still. Perhaps I need to design an even "higher" profile license plate/tail light mount than the ProCycle one???

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by JoeyBones

Yeah but the ADV sticker is in plain sight! Isn't that good enough?

For me, yes. For a bored cop looking for a good excuse to pull someone over, probably not

Originally Posted by MrBracket

I will do some research. If you do move it to your top box, be sure to have a light on it still. Perhaps I need to design an even "higher" profile license plate/tail light mount than the ProCycle one???

Good point. And yes, you could always build a Bracket.... MrBracket

[MrBracket]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

Good point. And yes, you could always build a Bracket.... MrBracket

Yes, you'd think a guy named MrBracket could make a bracket......

Well, as a matter of fact I can!!!


It's a bracket that mounts under the fender to the subframe in the same holes the original license plate holder mounts. The boys over at ProCycle came thru for me again, they hooked me up with a slick little LED tail light that also has a license plate light built into it. I just made a modified version of the ProCycle license plate mount that bent up instead of down and added the light mount.

Here is the ProCycle mounting bracket, which raises the plate a few inches over stock.


Here is the same view with the one I made today.


Again the ProCycle one:


And, the new one I made today. The LED is SUPER BRIGHT! The tail light alone is a huge improvment!


As you can see, the new plate/tail light mount doesn't sit any higher than even the low profile DR250 tail light yet it raises the license plate another few inches over the ProCycle version. Personally I like the look of the ProCycle kit but if you need the extra height, this should work pretty well. I will make a cap off plate for the hole in the rear fender that has a gromet in it for the wiring to pass through. I will also put a trailer light plug in the wiring harness so it's plug and play for adding trailer lights.

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by MrBracket

And, the new one I made today. The LED is SUPER BRIGHT! The tail light alone is a huge improvment!


As you can see, the new plate/tail light mount doesn't sit any higher than even the low profile DR350 tail light yet it raises the license plate another few inches over the ProCycle version. Personally I like the look of the ProCycle kit but if you need the extra height, this should work pretty well. I will make a cap off plate for the hole in the rear fender that has a gromet in it for the wiring to pass through. I will also put a trailer light plug in the wiring harness so it's plug and play for adding trailer lights.

Wow...that was friggin' fast!

So, i'm a bit confused. Is the light you're using with it a tail light AND tag light, or just a tag light? It appears to be both, but just want to clarify.

Integrating a plug to add trailer lights is an awesome idea.

Great job!

[MrBracket]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

Wow...that was friggin' fast!

So, i'm a bit confused. Is the light you're using with it a tail light AND tag light, or just a tag light? It appears to be both, but just want to clarify.

Integrating a plug to add trailer lights is an awesome idea.

Great job!

The LED light does both. It has RED LED's for Tail and Brake, and it has white LED's that point down and light up the license plate.

In the picture, the old tail light is still in place. I will make a cover plate that covers the hole in the fender after you remove the stock tail light. The cover plate will have a gromet in it to route the wires through to the original wiring. On the bike pictured, his rack does not come back as far as yours or many of the ones I've seen, so I kept the whole assembly low enough to fit below a rack that extends back further.

Yes, the trailer plug will make it much easier to add lights to your trailer.

[asrvivor]

Originally Posted by mrbracket

the led light does both. It has red led's for tail and brake, and it has white led's that point down and light up the license plate.

In the picture, the old tail light is still in place. I will make a cover plate that covers the hole in the fender after you remove the stock tail light. The cover plate will have a gromet in it to route the wires through to the original wiring. On the bike pictured, his rack does not come back as far as yours or many of the ones i've seen, so i kept the whole assembly low enough to fit below a rack that extends back further.

Yes, the trailer plug will make it much easier to add lights to your trailer.

in

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by asrvivor

in

+1

[MrBracket]

Originally Posted by c2c4c

+1

Love your new Avatar Evan!!!

[hairsmith]

I have been fallowing the single wheel thread's since they have started. Love the idea and where your going with this MrBracket ! I am looking to do some trading around on my bikes and then will be interested in ordering one from you, much easer and better than building the one I have been planning.

Any way, looking over your tail light desine I started thinking (danger danger) what if the whole assembly tail light plate every thing could be removed from the back of the bike and located on the back of the trailer. When you get to the camping spot or just want to ride the bike with out the trailer relocate it back to the bike with a couple of pins.
I am not a designer just another guy that is sure enjoying what direction this trailer has taken. I want one !
Just getting a plate and light n the back of the rig might keep the LAW off your back. Here in Texas a motorcycle can have three wheels so putting the bike plate on the back of the trailer should be no problem leagley.

Any way just thoughts had LATE last night.

[JDLuke]

I have to say, if you come up with a hitch design for the BMW single cylinder F650GS/Dakar/G650GS bikes, I would have an awfully hard time not purchasing one of these. I wouldn't need it regularly, but for attending rallies and such it would be perfect.

[MrBracket]

Originally Posted by JDLuke

I have to say, if you come up with a hitch design for the BMW single cylinder F650GS/Dakar/G650GS bikes, I would have an awfully hard time not purchasing one of these. I wouldn't need it regularly, but for attending rallies and such it would be perfect.

Originally Posted by hairsmith

I have been fallowing the single wheel thread's since they have started. Love the idea and where your going with this MrBracket ! I am looking to do some trading around on my bikes and then will be interested in ordering one from you, much easer and better than building the one I have been planning.

Any way, looking over your tail light desine I started thinking (danger danger) what if the whole assembly tail light plate every thing could be removed from the back of the bike and located on the back of the trailer. When you get to the camping spot or just want to ride the bike with out the trailer relocate it back to the bike with a couple of pins.
I am not a designer just another guy that is sure enjoying what direction this trailer has taken. I want one !
Just getting a plate and light n the back of the rig might keep the LAW off your back. Here in Texas a motorcycle can have three wheels so putting the bike plate on the back of the trailer should be no problem leagley.

Any way just thoughts had LATE last night.

I'm sure I will come up with a BMW GS hitch at some point, there sure are a lot of them out there!! I need to get a few accesories dialed in first to make the trailer even more useful.

Moving the light and plate back and forth could be a great idea. If someone wanted that as an option I could help make that work for them.