After you are finished loading the bike, always take a last walk around the bike, pulling on the straps and gently but firmly rocking the bike to make sure it is secure. Double check that the bike is in neutral, the loading ramp has been removed, the ratchet levers closed and the loose ends of the tie down straps secured. 

**If you drive off with the bike in gear, you will damage the bike.**

The Cycle-Tow is classified as a Solid Tongue Non-Hinged Tow Bar and is Federal CFR Title 49, Sec 393.70 compliant.

Because the Cycle-Tow is a non-hinged tow bar, the hinge point for towing is in the steering tube (front fork area) of the motorcycle. This means the bike will castor behind the tow vehicle, and there will be some lean with the turns. This is due to the fork rake, and is normal. Having said that, larger radius turns are better than tight turns. It is best to avoid cul de sacs, and tight turns whenever possible and plan your loading in the direction you will be towing. Tight turns strain the tie down straps and could possibly push the hard ends of the hooks into the tank or other areas that could be scratched or damaged. I always use soft cinch straps to keep the hooks away from the bike. Many bikes with fairings, wind screens and other accessories may need soft cinch straps to facilitate a proper tie down.If you must back-up, remember that the Cycle-Tow acts like a small trailer and can jackknife very quickly. Plan your driving maneuvers accordingly.

As you can see from the photographs we have reflectors on the tie down bar but no lights. Most states do not require lights on trailers that are narrower than 4 feet, since the tow vehicle's lights can be seen

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FAQ

1. What do I need to get started to tow my bike?

The Cycle-Tow will tow most motorcycles. You need a solid tow vehicle and a Class II - III or greater receiver. The Class I is not recommended to support the leverage exerted by the bike and the Cycle-Tow..You will also need a hitch pin and 4 ratchet type tie-down straps.

2. Will it hurt my engine?

If the transmission is in neutral nothing turns but the tire and chain/belt. There is no torque on the Trans so there is no heat generated.

3. Do I need to remove my chain?

We have never had a problem with either chain or belt drive. However, when towing a Japanese bike on the rear wheel, engine off, you might want to pull the chain. You can peel it away from the rear sprocket, and zip-tie it to the swing arm or chain guard. If your bike has an endless chain you can easily add a master link or have a mechanic do it for you. You need to secure the chain away from the sprocket. The wheel and sprocket need to rotate freely and clear of the chain.

On Japanese bikes with drive shafts, shaft removal is a big deal and not worth the time and expense. Some Japanese shaft bikes have separate oil reservoirs, and should be towable. You should ask your independent mechanic for an opinion on this.

4. What kind of motorcycles will fit on the Cycle-Tow?

Cycle-Tow will handle most bikes, but there are some considerations:

Firstly, the stabilizer straps need to attach to the handlebars and upper triple-tree (NOT the forks themselves).

Secondly, some fairings or wind shields may interfere with the tie down, although in most cases an anchor point can be established with cinch straps.

Thirdly, custom raked front ends will exaggerate the lean in turns. We do not recommend the Cycle-Tow for front ends more than 3-4 inches over stock length.

Fourthly, only two wheeled bikes. Three or four wheelers or sidecar bikes will not allow the necessary lean for turning.

5. What if I don't have a 2" receiver?

We offer a 1.25” receiver. The main problem is the weight restriction on a class 1 or 2 receiver. A big bike weighs up to 700 pounds and the weight on the unit is about 50% of the total bike weight.

6. What tips do you have for someone who has not towed a bike before?

Your Tie down Straps should be hooked to solid tie down points on your tow vehicle or on our tie down bar, the wider the better.

Put the tow vehicle in street in the direction you want to go, and then drive the bike onto the carrier.

Before you drive the bike on, have your (4) ratchet type tie down straps connected to the tow vehicle’s chain loops and the tie down bar lying on the ground near the carrier. When you dismount, the straps will be easy to reach to connect to your bars. I always suggest that you consider using soft cinch straps with the tie down straps to keep the hard hooks away from the bike.

When you drive the front wheel onto the carrier simply use a little throttle to push the wheel in and then hit your kill switch. This will keep the bike stable as you dismount. Be sure to always hang on to one of the handlebars and test that the bike is being firmly held upright before letting go.

Use the tie down ratchets to compress the forks about 2". The first 2 straps should be from the top of the fork triple tree or handle bar risers going outward to the tie down bar or your vehicles tie down hooks. The second 2 straps should be from the outer edge of the handlebars going inward to the tow vehicle receiver’s chain loops. This will give you maximum support.

Put the bike in Neutral (double check it), turn the key off, remove the loading ramp and gently rock the bike to make sure the straps are tight and secure.

7. What if I attach the straps to the bike’s frame?

The bike needs to be able to lean as well as swivel at the triple tree (the top portion of the forks where the handlebars attach), securing to the frame will prevent steering and leaning and may cause the straps to fail as well as cause damage to the bike.

8. How do I set the ride height for my new Cycle-Tow?

The tongue base plate has 4 bolts, and there are 3 adjustment points on the riser. Simply pick the hole set that gives you 8-10 inches of height, put the bolts in and torque the nuts.

The higher the front wheel is lifted, the more dramatic the lean. Raise the front wheel only enough to provide adequate ground clearance for curbs, steep dips, etc. I usually suggest the height be set at 8 – 10 inches off the ground. Leaning is only a factor in tight turns. Normal highway driving, even on winding roads, produces only minimal leaning.

9. Can I back up using the Cycle-Tow?

Yes but the Cycle-Tow acts like a very small trailer and can jackknife very quickly.

10. Will towing my bike with the Cycle-Tow add miles to my bike?

On most bikes the speedometer runs off the front wheel so the answer is no. But some bikes now run the speedometer from the transmission so miles may be added

11. How do I tie down my bike if I have a windshield or fairing?

We recommend the use of soft cinch straps. They are very useful if you need your tie down straps to clear a fairing or windshield. The strap has wraps for your handlebar grips, and provides loops for your tie down hooks. This keeps the hooks off your handlebars, and the straps off your windshield. We offer 18” soft cinch straps, sold in pairs, if you need them.

12. When you lock down the handlebars with the straps, couldn’t that bend the handlebars?

The bars on most bikes are designed to take several hundred lbs of load. The tie downs only need 60 to 100 lbs of tension to keep the bike stable and safe. When tying to your handlebars make sure the bar clamp is torqued to factory spec, and hook onto a spot where the tie down hook or cinch strap will not slip.

13. Will my rear tire wear out?

The rear tire while it is on the ground it is only rolling. There is very little weight on the tire due to the fact that there is no rider. There is also no wear due to the fact that the wheel is not accelerating or breaking your bike.

14. Can I tow my bike using the rear wheel?

NO. The Cycle-Tow needs the front wheel firmly secured to the unit. If you tow using the rear wheel the bike has no way to turn and follow the tow vehicle

15. Do I need lights on my bike when I tow at night?

You don't need lights (in most states) because the bike is narrow enough for your tow car lights to be visible. If you are concerned, look up your local regulations, print a hardcopy, and carry it with you.