BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

After the last trip to the BMWMOA rally, I realized that I am overloading my bike way, way over the limits.
The solution was to buy a little Tag Alone trailer from Harbor Freight.
It has top box with the capacity of 500 litters of cargo space and designed to haul 200 pounds.
I am having difficulties to find a right hitch for my 2004 R1150R.
Searching the Web did not produce any results. Found one on the E-Bay.
It is made in Australia and will cost almost 500 bucks, more than my trailer.
The dealer in Canada has one that was made for R1100R bike and he is not sure that it will fit my bike.
If anybody has a hitch installed on their bike? What is the model of it and who makes it
Thanks.

Can't really help on the trailer, but I can't help but wonder just how much you're carrying??

I've started doing a reasonable amount of camping on the bike, and so far (ok I've only ever gone for a weekend thus far), I've managed to get the vast majority of the stuff I need into the panniers & top-box (my tent doesn't fit, poles are too long).

If you're travelling by yourself (as opposed to with a partner who'd be sharing a tent), you only need a small, 2-man tent (the extra man space gives you good storage for bike gear etc). Small stove, small set of pans and plates etc - ie - optimise your gear for what you actually need.

I also tend to eat "away/out" a bit, saves on carrying food. There's also usually the option of buying a lot of stuff "there". Most of your food you could buy locally after pitching tent (when your luggage space has been emptied). Some friends of mine also buy cheap clothing when away (underwear etc) to save on luggage space. I also tend to ensure stuff has more than one use - eg instead of carrying a fleece for the evening, and wearing a different fleece for riding - I'll just use my riding fleece in the evenings.

I appreciate that we all like our luxuries, but part of the fun of camping is roughing it a bit.


Oh - and for those who like camping/outdoorsy stuff - this review site covers some good, useful gear : http://www.gearweare.com/

riceburner wrote:Can't really help on the trailer, but I can't help but wonder just how much you're carrying??

I appreciate that we all like our luxuries, but part of the fun of camping is roughing it a bit.

In America "roughing it a bit" is considered a Motel with no HBO and no Pool.

And "how much you're carrying??" I am asking my self the same question. Here is what I came up with.
Probably I would have asked myself the same question 15-20 years ago, and laugh about it. Lately my thinking is changing, as our need for comfort requires more STUFF. When I travel by myself, I have no need for the trailer. A good duffle bag on the passenger seat packs all I need for the road. I can pack lot’s of stuff on my bike, for ME only. On another hand, when traveling to the Rallies 2-Up, like Bloomsburg, PA, or Redmond, OR, previous summer, it takes more than my bike can handle. Here is list of stuff we need on the road.
When 2-Up… I do carry:
Both extended side cases are packed with the clothing. I am in South Florida and it takes at least two days to get somewhere, like to the United States of America. The Top case get filled with extra tools, air pumps and cooking gear, rain gear, camping fuel, food and so on…
Also:
1. One big tent 20 pounds.
2. Two sleeping bags 11 pounds
3. Two blowup mattresses 11 pounds
4. Two camping cots 16 pounds
5. One picnic table 5 pounds
6. Two Kermit chairs 10 pounds
7. One sunshade 5 pounds
8. One Laptop 5 pounds
9. Two Camel bags 9 pounds
What am I missing? Oh.. yes, the Kitchen Sink
Sometimes my son travels with us. He rides F650 CS. That bike has no luggage capacity, except the tank bag. So, now we are talking about an extra tent, chair, sleeping bag and all the goodies he needs for the camping plus his clothes. Oh.. should I mention his girlfriend and her makeup case
Thank you for asking. Now I know for sure I need that hitch. After all, I already got the Tag Alone trailer.