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Thanks for the practice run! Helps me out a bit, since we've been thinking about a trailer as well. Same thing, camping trips, etc for when there's not enough room on the bags/trunk for everything. Would removing a leaf spring throw off how it tracked? Since one side would be softer than the other, would imagine that if it bounced it would come down on the stiffer side first and grab, pulling it out of alignment?
I think they meant to remove one of the springs from each side, not remove the entire leaf spring assembly from one side.
I picked up a used Bushtec from a fellow forum member, got it all rigged and took it out for a short trip (empty) and had no bounce issues, that said, it has air suspension and may well be the difference, I'll be taking a few more test runs before our 3500 mile run to North Dakota here in a month or so.
The Bushtec is among the Cadillac of trailers for a motorcycle ... aside from all the naysayers regarding pulling a trailer with your scooter you'll be amazed of how well it pulls. Yes the air suspension is super smooth. I've seen video comparisons where they've filmed two different types of suspension over the same roads and the Bushtec wheels never leave the ground whereas the leaf spring doesn't so nearly as well. Removing a leaf may be helpful on that type of suspension?
I love my cycle mate CM1000 trailer. Plenty of room for the wife's suitcase, a cooler and travel bar along with easy access to helmets and rain gear when needed. Like the OP said, after a short time you forget it's there and enjoy the ride! I have the Khrome Werks hitch and it works great. Take out the hitch when not trailering and it is not really noticeable. Do your research on tire pressure, I think my trailer has a recommended tire pressure of only 20 PSI. people will debate if that is enough (let's not start here) but it has worked for me. Still tossing around the idea of a camper like a minimate (to old to camp on the ground anymore) but I really like the convenience of a hotel. We'll see
Obviously you've never been on a "Road Trip" with Red, my wife. We started riding ( almost ) 50 years ago with two pair of jeans and tarp rolled up on the bars ... Now the house is ( pretty much ) empty by the time she's packed all the necessities.
ROFL
I tell, um mean explain , ask nicely "honey you get the Left saddle bag and the trunk.
She always asks about trailers but I tell her we don't have enough power or a license for one.....
Obviously you've never been on a "Road Trip" with Red, my wife. We started riding ( almost ) 50 years ago with two pair of jeans and tarp rolled up on the bars ... Now the house is ( pretty much ) empty by the time she's packed all the necessities.
The wife ain't into camping but I take the trailer even when I camp alone.
Do yourself and get the swivel hitch coupler for the trailer when I do the twisties my trailer stays flat no matter how far the bike leans, in fact I did dumb and dropped my bike a couple of years ago in a parking lot(not the trailers fault) and the trailer was still sitting flat on it's wheel even with the bike on it's side.
Here is my Aluma and the swivel hitch I got.
Last edited by santajim; May 31, 2018 at 06:19 PM.
Couple of answers here. The leaf springs (2 leafs each side) are rated for a 600 lb load, so by removing one on each side it will soften the suspension. I wont ever haul 600 lbs, so not a necessity to have it that stiff
as for the hitch, I bought a kromeworks hidden hitch from a forum member, and bought the play and play harness.
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