Ever mount a bicycle to your GS?

[MinnGS]

This may seem like a strange question, but I have seen it done in three instances on other brands of motos: Has anyone made a bicycle rack or devised a way to carry a bicycle on their GS?

I have seen this done on BMW R1200GS's and an older BMW something-or-other, but wonder if anyone has gone and done it with success to a GS.  I am an avid cyclist and would love to be able to go to bicycle races farther away than I can ride to and ride home from on my bicycle.

Also, it would be nice to take the bicycle on a weekend moto trip as well.

[makenzie71]

Zip-tie the front will to your pillion peg and just drag it...I've done it before.  I use a similar technique to tow my TL behind my bimmer (sans zip ties).

[MinnGS]

I am looking for something a little more solid to allow me to get up to highway speeds and remain stable. Not sure how fast you can go with one bicycle wheel on the ground and I am not sure the bicycle wheel would hold up to that kind of abuse.  For a quick local trip it may work.  How far did you go like that?

[makenzie71]

28 miles.

[coll0412]

How about making a side car out of it....j/k

I personally have not seen or even heard anything about a bike rack for your bike.

Its tough enought to find a simple rack mount for the GS let alone a bike rack....

My best guess is that you would have to make it yourself...s

[GeeP]

Sounds like a good way to crash...

God:  "So Minn, what brings you to the Pearly Gates?" 

Mortal Minn:  "Well, I was riding along with a bicycle strapped to my motorcyc..."

God:  "WHAT!?!"

Mortal Minn:  "Uhh..  A bicycle strapped to my motorcycle!"

God:  "No wonder...  NEXT!"

[MinnGS]

Here is a picture I found of one Suzuki with a bicycle attached.  I am quite aware that I will have to make something custom. I was just wondering if anyone else has tried it so I don't have to start from scratch.
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/mschue5938/mschuette.html

[Chuck]

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/mschue5938/mschuette.html

While you're there, follow the link to the dog powered scooters.  Way cool!

[Mk1inCali]

Is that a fixed gear?

[onefastgs500]

a buddy of mine showed up one day with a brand new 10spd strapped to the right passenger grab handle funniest thing i'd ever saw,concerned for the bike tire and bearings we checked and tire was cold even though he had just exited freeway he said the rear wheel kinda hovered most the time.(oh he had just usted heavy zip ties)

[NightRyder]

:O did you see the second page where the guy has a kayak attached to his bike?

[ets_gs500f2004]

I dont know but to that point take a car to do the job

[rangerbrown]

i've seen a bike tow a car, ever cool

[veeref]

When I raced criteriums in California, there was one guy who always showed up with a bicycle strapped to his motorcycle.  I don't know how the hell he did it.  I think it was via one of the methods shown above.  He was a pretty decent bicycle racer, too.  If I remember, he had a Thule or Yakima tray mounted diagonally off the back of his bike.

[MinnGS]

Is that a fixed gear?

Are you referrring to my avitar? I do not have that bike but one nearly identical to it and yes, it is a fixed gear. I have several bicycles including two fixed gear bikes, a cyclocross bike, a singlespeed 29er and a road bike (plus a few others in various shades of pieces)

I in answer to another question, I do not have a car so the motorcycle or bicycle are my only options.
I am hoping to create something that works off the rear passenger pegs and can use an existing Thule or Yakima tray to mount the bicycle.  I think the goals are:
1. Keep the center of gravity low
2. Be able to use off the shelf bicycle rack parts
3. Have the rack be as handy as a trunk rack or roof-top rack on a car
4. Allow the rack to be quickly attach/unattached as needed.

The rear passenger pegs seem to be the most logical mounting point. I think removing the peg and using the peg bracket as the lower mount would help get the center of gravity low enough.  Finding the rear mounting point will be a little more difficult but I think using the existing bolts under the seat where the rear passenger handle is attached would work well.  Not sure yet.

[makenzie71]

Seriously...just stick the pillion peg through the spokes and zip-tie...then zip tie the handlebars/forks to the grab rail.  Make sure the bike can turn behind you (if you use the left pillion peg, make sure it's got plenty of room to go to the right while making a right turn, and vice versa).  Try it in your driveway or something...as long as you can keep the bike upright, it'll be fine...use several 1/4" ties.  If you've got half ass decent bearings they'll be up for highway speeds, and with no weight on the tire it'll last forever.



Same concept but with a car and a motorcycle instead of a motorcycle and a bicycle.

[MinnGS]

..just stick the pillion peg through the spokes and zip-tie...then zip tie the handlebars/forks to the grab rail.  Make sure the bike can turn behind you (if you use the left pillion peg, make sure it's got plenty of room to go to the right while making a right turn, and vice versa).  Try it in your driveway or something...as long as you can keep the bike upright, it'll be fine...use several 1/4" ties. 

I will give it a try tomorrow. I have some leather toe straps that would work well in place of zip ties.

Check out the photo on this site. http://www.singletrackworld.com/article.php?sid=1944 You have to scroll down a bit but there is a loaded BMW with an off the back rack. The weight looks a bit hard to manage, I would believe.

[makenzie71]

I'd hate putting on weight like that...doesn't seem safe.  Also seems hard to load...

[WildBlue]

  

Wow, that sounds like an idea with lots of potential for disaster.  Especially having the bicycle roll behind you and possibly getting caught on your chain or your rear tire.   

Is the risk really worth it?  Why not just find a friend interested in bicycling who owns a car and go with him/her?   

[makenzie71]

Where's the risk of it getting in your chain or tire?