Hi , Being disabled I use a mobility scooter , I can only walk yards... so. I have found a small motorcycle trailer used going for very little . Thinking about towing it with the gs and carrying a lightweight boot mobility scooter in it , they weigh 20kg ish  for obvios reasons. Wondering  what experiences anyone has had towing , particularly with a gs500 ... love and light

I don't have any experience towing a trailer with a GS...the worst thing I could see happening is maybe having to drop a tooth on the counter shaft sprocket?
But then I have been known to "over think" things 

I don't see why not.  As long as you don't over-shoot the GVWR you should be okay.  Slightly lower gearing sounds like a fair idea.  Also making sure your brakes are up to snuff.  Aside from that, go for it!

The load on the engine won't be much different than riding with a passenger. The GS has a very strong frame for a 500cc bike. If you can figure out a safe way to mount a hitch I also say go for it .

Quote from: Bluesmudge on October 11, 2018, 09:14:07 AM
If you can figure out a safe way to mount a hitch I also say go for it .

They usually attach to the swingarm, right?

I tow about 90ish lbs [kayak trailer + kayak + fishing gear] OEM gearing setup, I attach it at the rear subframe. Super janky I might add, but it works and have done up to 60mph with it. [maybe higher - my speedo is janky too.]

if its a trailer made for motorcycles, even better. less afro engineering required.

Subframe VS Swing arm.. huge debate on that.

Swing arm yes if your spring in the rear is much heavier. often times then not your basically putting unsprung weight on the rear swing arm/suspension that's not suppose to be there. even with a heavier spring say kat600. the bushings the swing arm pivots on is gonna have odd loads it was never designed to have on it, on it.

My thought of going from the sub frame. is as long as its within the reasonable weight of a passenger [the tongue weight] it's actually safer there.

but I'm no engineer, I just got me a wooden kayak trailer that I do pull behind my GS500. 

Quote from: J_Walker link=topic=72709.msg875666#msg875666 date=1539392107
but I'm no engineer, I just got me a wooden kayak trailer that I do pull behind my GS500.  :laugh:
/quote]

Got any photos?
That's an interesting point regarding the loads on the bearings when attaching a trailer via the swingarm. Made me think about normal trailers and how nobody attaches a trailer to the rear axle of a 4 wheel vehicle, why are we doing it on motorcycles?

Thanks for the encouragement... this trailer is currently fitted to a 600cc using a car tow bar that is attached via brackets that are supported by the rear sub frame and has been used  llike that for years. I hope to get the tow bar and the attachments which a local garage can adapt to the gs..... but first it will need some tidying up , the trailer is working with wireing and good tyres, bearings etc ... but  crusty here and there  and my gs is getting tisyer by the week so the trailer needs to look smartish as well .... Cheers folks . Assuming all goes well I will post a shot when the shebang is all cobbled and useable...