Trailer hitch?

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BERT

BERT

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I would like to rig up a hitch for a light duty trailer for the Commando for groceries etc. Has anyone had any experience doing this?
 
A Commando is a little on the light side for towing a trailer..... not something I would do, but I've heard/seen stranger things.
 
BERT said:
I would like to rig up a hitch for a light duty trailer for the Commando for groceries etc. Has anyone had any experience doing this?
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You're joking?

Pure sacrilege, adds to the danger side of the riding equation, makes you a comical peer of Don Quixote.

I believe that your intentions and the question are good, but please don't do this. If you must carry cargo a luggage rack can be discreetly mounted behind the seat, and if your frame loop has good gussets , similar to the Mk3, you can ue the rack and the passenger portion of the seat to carry a lot of groceries.

The hitch and trailer may convey an image that could quickly morph into:

Trailer hitch?


I have seen trailers being pulled by Harleys and Goldwings and always wondered why the owner(s) didn't just buy a pick-up and TOW the motorcycle??

I sincerely apologize if I rained on your parade; I just can't, don't, want to see such a regal machine turned into a beast of burden. Commandos are unleashed not constrained.

Best.

Best.
 
In 1952 my (now sold) Norton WD16H was owned by a logger. He fitted a hitch and a bicycle trailer. To get his 60 lbs chainsaw out in the woods.
 
Mike40M said:
In 1952 my (now sold) Norton WD16H was owned by a logger. He fitted a hitch and a bicycle trailer. To get his 60 lbs chainsaw out in the woods.
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Given the year and model I have to wonder how many trips he made before he couldn't make any more trips?

In general I find it a bit sad that the older a machine gets the less respect and care it is given. I can appreciate (barely) that the logger may have had no other options left open to get into the woods to begin one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. Poor WD16H, I hope that you rescued it and gave it a warm place to park...

Best.
 
I've seen a single wheel trailer pod for motorbikes, sport bikes. Tiny and light compared to what Harleys are hauling these days. It would tilt with bike through corners etc to very minimal affect on handling.
Of course spending hundreds of dollars on something to collect groceries seems excessive. A good backpack, saddle bags or touring panniers will get those groceries home just as well.
 
RoadScholar said:
Given the year and model I have to wonder how many trips he made before he couldn't make any more trips?

In general I find it a bit sad that the older a machine gets the less respect and care it is given. I can appreciate (barely) that the logger may have had no other options left open to get into the woods to begin one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. Poor WD16H, I hope that you rescued it and gave it a warm place to park...

Best.
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It’s all about context though isn’t it? In 1952 ex WD machines were about as worthless as a motorcycle could be !
 
Not worthless, but the cheapest motorized transport you could get. Fairly reliable too. Even ridable 69 years later. Capable of most modern speed limits. Though brakes are not up to modern standards.
Contrary to modern bikes where electronic faults will make them unusable in a decade or two.
 
Given Norton’s insistence at the time that the Commando is not suitable for use with a motorcycle sidecar, I think I would be inclined to avoid a trailer for the same reason.

It made the very first page of the factory issued Rider's Manual, so I would suggest it's kinda important.

Trailer hitch?


…you would have to attach the towing hitch to the swinging arm, or at the very least the gearbox cradle, otherwise I would think that you’d definitely run a very real risk of tearing the isolastics apart.
 
BERT said:
I would like to rig up a hitch for a light duty trailer for the Commando for groceries etc. Has anyone had any experience doing this?
Click to expand...
Well you knew you would get opinions, but looks like the real answer is no, no one has any actual experience of doing this!

I guess that is an answer in itself!

The solution? Get yourself a (cheap/worthless) Russian made Ural, there was a towbar and a plough in the accessory catalogue..... :cool:
 
Mike40M said:
Not worthless, but the cheapest motorized transport you could get. Fairly reliable too. Even ridable 69 years later. Capable of most modern speed limits. Though brakes are not up to modern standards.
Contrary to modern bikes where electronic faults will make them unusable in a decade or two.
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A decade or two you say… hmmmm… have you visited the ‘Modern Norton Commando’ forum recently…?
 
SteveA said:
The solution? Get yourself a (cheap/worthless) Russian made Ural, there was a towbar and a plough in the accessory catalogue..... :cool:
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Or fit a sidecar. Though I've never seen a Commando with one. All Ural I've seen had sidecar attached.
 
Mike40M said:
Or fit a sidecar. Though I've never seen a Commando with one. All Ural I've seen had sidecar attached.
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Mine didn't....but to be fair....it had been removed!

Have to say it was the best bike I ever had for riding on ice!
 
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Fast Eddie said:
A decade or two you say… hmmmm… have you visited the ‘Modern Norton Commando’ forum recently…?
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EstuaryBoy said:
Can't put them in the 'modern' section... neither of them needed a trailer :-O
Meow !!

Touche....... :)
 
Fast Eddie said:
It’s all about context though isn’t it? In 1952 ex WD machines were about as worthless as a motorcycle could be !
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I built a black powder Kentucky long rifle years ago; even with meticulous cleaning the barrel got shot-out to the point where my .45 caliber groups went from about 3" at 50 yards to off the paper; it became "worthless" and hung on my fireplace mantle for over 20 years. I could have used the rifle as a crutch (I have broken my share of bones), perfect length, or a lever (the Barrel was 43" IIRC). I had too much respect to slowly destroy it by "re-purposing" it...

best.
 
RoadScholar said:
I built a black powder Kentucky long rifle years ago; even with meticulous cleaning the barrel got shot-out to the point where my .45 caliber groups went from about 3" at 50 yards to off the paper; it became "worthless" and hung on my fireplace mantle for over 20 years. I could have used the rifle as a crutch (I have broken my share of bones), perfect length, or a lever (the Barrel was 43" IIRC). I had too much respect to slowly destroy it by "re-purposing" it...

best.
Click to expand...
I guess you could use it for shooting around corners after using it as a lever to pry something...
 
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