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Freebird luggage carrier - Norton Commando

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Hi, a Norton acquaintance of mine has bought a Freebird luggage monotrailer. He plans to hang the trailer behind a Norton Commando and asked me if I knew anyone who has experience with a mono trailer behind a Commando. But I don't know anyone who has done this, hence the question below.

Has anyone done this and would they like to share their experiences and tips?

Thanks in advance, Jan

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Excuse for the late reply.

I waited for some pictures. Nearly every Norton Commando book tells you, don't attach a sidecar to the Commando. The bike is not designed for this. But in the Netherlands several people built a sidecar to the bike. Of course this will put load on the isolastics. But our former chairman of the Dutch Norton club took his bike to Zandvoort and road more than 40000 km's with his bike and sidecar. I agree one should built a proper construction and connect this with both sides of the rearsuspension.

Again thanks for the replies. Jan

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I wonder what the speed rating for that little tyre is?  Probably not suitable for the speed of a Commando.  Worth checking before going ahead with the project.

A friend has a similar trailer for his 250cc Panonia, a factory made Motokuli single wheel trailer.  Tyres for this are unobtainable as they were specifically made for the trailer.

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Looks like a caravan nosewheel tyre. Suitable for 10mph.

Out of curiosity, how does the trailer fit to the bike. I would be concerned about sideways / twisting forces that the frame is just not designed to take. As Dave above mentions, the Isolastics will be taking those forces.

 

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Judging from what one can see in the picture it looks as if approximately 50 per cent of the load (weight of luggage plus trailer) will be on the rear of the bike.

I would think that this makes it even more vital to ensure adequate bracing from the attachment point to (e.g.) the pillion footrest mounts than it would be for a conventional carrier.

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How does the trailer stand upright once the combo stops at the lights?

I'm assuming the connection to the bike between the two is a ball and socket jobbie.

Does this trailer unit attract its own source of gravity to maintain an upright stance?

Intrigued.

I had a squire trailer chassis fitted to my G9 for quite a few years a bespoke one made to fit my specific needs of the time but this had two wheels as far back as was practical to allow stability once loaded.

The ridability was comfortable enough, I only new it was behind me was when I was pulling away having to use more revs. 

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Who'd  a thought it, a Hardy Spicer for articulation.

Ingenious!

To partially quote a cliche, a picture paints -------------.

Many thanks to you for the clarification

 



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