Modern Buddy

So another project I'm thinking about having my custom fabrication guy dive into is making a bicycle rack to attach to the back of my Buddy Black Jack. I know he can make it no prob, but does anyone else have any experience with this? I think it'd be sweet to have a bike rack on the back of my scoot, ride the scoot out to the trailhead, then ride my bicycle!

I did a quick search and came up with nothing.

I know of a guy on a PC800 group who mounted one on his motorcycle but that's a 640 pound, 800cc machine. How would you mount it so you could safely carry it, not interfere with your operation of the vehicle, and not affect the vehicle's balance?

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's gonna take a lot of thought.

One caution, be mindful of how much weight you put on the back of a scooter (or MC). Weight should always (or at lease ideally) be centered from front to back and as low as possible. Low so the center of gravity of the scooter remains low. The higher the COG the tougher it becomes to turn the scooter.

Also, keep in mind the frame of the scooter, which I assume is where you will be attaching your bike rack, is only so strong. There have been reports in the past of over weighted rear racks braking the frame. So take care about that too.

Most of the weight will be the rack. Even steel-frame bikes don't weigh enough on their own to cause issues. However, supporting one by hanging it off the back of the scoot is something else altogether.

I'm pretty sure it can be done on a metal bodied Stella or Vespa, but doing it on a Buddy will be a bit harder because you'll have to distribute the weight across the frame better. This will mean attaching directly to multiple points of the frame.

(I've actually got a mock up for one of these in mind. It's on my project list for when they open Tech Shop in LA.)

One possible design that may work better on a Buddy is to position the bike over the rear of the seat and support the rack in front and back.

Overall, doable. But how much do you really want to mess with your scoot to make it work?

The weight max on the rear rack is only like 11 lbs., lighter than any bicycle I know of.

It would almost seem easier to fabricate some means of towing the bike.

I can see the temptation to put a bike rack on your scooter but there are a lot of reasons this would be very dangerous. The first has to do with the geometry of the scooter. If you want to put anything on the bike that weighs more than say 20 pounds, you should be putting it in front of the engine, either on the floorboards or on a front rack. If you put something heavy on the back, which is already quite heavy, you are changing the geometry of the bike and thus it's handling characteristics. Most importantly, you will reduce the contact patch of the front tire, which could result in a nasty crash.

The next reason has to do with the way the scooter handles. A bicycle sitting horizontally on a bike rack might drag when you take corners. It's not like on a car where the bike remains static. The horizontal set of the bike would also change your handling characteristics.

Being able to attach the bike like a trailer? I've never seen that but I think it could work!

Ah, found the pic I forgot I was looking for!

eatworksleepdie wrote:So another project I'm thinking about having my custom fabrication guy dive into is making a bicycle rack to attach to the back of my Buddy Black Jack. I know he can make it no prob, but does anyone else have any experience with this? I think it'd be sweet to have a bike rack on the back of my scoot, ride the scoot out to the trailhead, then ride my bicycle!

I did a quick search and came up with nothing.

What's up with everyone putting bike racks on things? I even saw a bike rack once on a cab of a truck and nothing in the bed

supermach wrote:

eatworksleepdie wrote:So another project I'm thinking about having my custom fabrication guy dive into is making a bicycle rack to attach to the back of my Buddy Black Jack. I know he can make it no prob, but does anyone else have any experience with this? I think it'd be sweet to have a bike rack on the back of my scoot, ride the scoot out to the trailhead, then ride my bicycle!

I did a quick search and came up with nothing.

What's up with everyone putting bike racks on things? I even saw a bike rack once on a cab of a truck and nothing in the bed

Bike racking is the new planking/owling/whatevering!

I was thinking of the number of trailers pulled behind motorcycles, not all of them big tourers, either. There's a 1-wheel model that works with some pretty light bikes.

Just a single rail, or better, a light channel. hitch at the front, some light but fairly tall wheels with a crossing rail. Could add tie-downs just above the wheels to hold the bike vertical by tension.

Kinda like this:
http://www.stingertrailer.com/html/specifications.html

Or rather, a scaled-down version.

ericalm wrote:Ah, found the pic I forgot I was looking for!

Good one!

But that's a Wing. They can carry lots of stuff:
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/ ... retriever/

I don't get it, but I've seen a big BMW hauling a bike.
http://www.cafemotos.com/racks.html

My fav is the kayak. There's actually a kayak that comes in pieces that you can haul on a motorcycle and inflatable kayaks. That's crazy. I just ask the guy in the next campsite if I can borrow his canoe when he's not using it. I've never been refused.

I"ve seen a goldwing towing a canoe, and another guy that used to come to the racetrack towing his race bike behind his wing..So, it can be done

I agree with a few others; I would tow a bicycle with one wheel on the ground behind such a small bike. But it could be cool, but it will take some work.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/pho ... sic/118207


maybe with a little tweeking,if you get to work let us know
road bike weighs under 20 lbs

I would like to rig something up that would allow me to tow my scooter on my bicycle. For in case I get tired.

TVB wrote:I would like to rig something up that would allow me to tow my scooter on my bicycle. For in case I get tired.

\\
haha, awesome.

bluebuddygirl wrote:The weight max on the rear rack is only like 11 lbs., lighter than any bicycle I know of.

are you talking about the factory plastic-like little handle thing?
I have the metal rack that replaces that thing. I would think that metal replacement rack would hold much more weight than 11 lbs, no? I've picked up the rear end by that metal rack, so I'd imagine it's strong enough to hold a bike.

regardless, all great things to know!!
great thoughts guys/gals!!!

my original idea was to have some sort of detachable something or other to clip onto the metal rack on the back of the scoot. my mountain bike weighs 27 lbs. I was thinking of having the rack made from aluminum square stock possibly, or making the design simple enough to keep it light etc (probably under 3 or so lbs).

I understand keeping the center of gravity down low, and the weight as close to the motor as possible. I would attach the bike perpendicular to the scoot, not parallel, take off both of the wheels to mount them separately. this would allow clearance when turning.

I think it'll work out! I have a great visual in my head.

ericalm wrote:Ah, found the pic I forgot I was looking for!

that's a great design! thanks for the visual! I was originally thinking of mounting the the bike the other way, so if my thought doesn't end up working, I might go this route.


Keep the great ideas coming folks!

I really want to make this happen.

TVB wrote:I would like to rig something up that would allow me to tow my scooter on my bicycle. For in case I get tired.

I think it's called a moped.

Or maybe a Whizzer.

your post reminded me of this

^^ haha, nice one.

Soooo many questions about that photo.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348387

It's been done on a Stella

That was actually a very good thread. Those guys at ADV are pretty inventive, as well as amusing at times.

That guy with the Hyosung finally worked out a pretty good idea but heck, you have to disassemble the bike to do it.

I still think some kind of light trailer would be easier to deal with than trying to figure out how to securely attach a carrier to the scoot's frame.

both of the wheels pop on/off within minutes so that's not a problem with the quick release skewers that most bikes come with.

I saw my fabrication guy over the weekend, and we're thinking about ideas for it!

I'll post up some more info as time goes on.

siobhan wrote:My fav is the kayak. There's actually a kayak that comes in pieces that you can haul on a motorcycle and inflatable kayaks.

Then there's this. Would also work for bicycles (2, I'd guess - maybe 3)
http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic81909

eatworksleepdie wrote:So another project I'm thinking about having my custom fabrication guy dive into is making a bicycle rack to attach to the back of my Buddy Black Jack. I know he can make it no prob, but does anyone else have any experience with this? I think it'd be sweet to have a bike rack on the back of my scoot, ride the scoot out to the trailhead, then ride my bicycle!

I did a quick search and came up with nothing.

Personally, I don't see how you are going to make that work AT ALL.

I made a grocery trip last night, came out of the store with two bags, and put the heavier one in the crate on my back rack. It had a gallon of milk, a small thing of dish soap, two tv dinners and a pint of ice cream. That was enough to tip my 170 backwards off the kickstand. That means you'll have to figure out a way to get the bike on and off the rack only using the side stand, or no stand... because a bike is SURELY heavier than than my grocery bag.

I've seen crazier things, however- they make a surfboard carrier scooter mount, for instance.

thanks for the reply...
if you use the middle stand when you park, those are almost right in the middle and therefore give you the teeter-tawter effect. That's not at all what would be felt with a bike centered over the center bolt where the rack mounts. my bike only weighs 27lbs. add a few more lbs for the rack itself, it can most certainly be done.

my wifes scooter has a basket. she has done many grocery trips on it also, and has never had a problem.

If i can put a good deal amount of my weight (a good 50 lbs) on the back rack, and not lift the front tire off the ground, I think It'll be ok with an approx 30lb load.

vibration/shifting issues, we might have to brace up the stock frame underneath the plastic cowling with some triangle shape wedges for re-enforcement, we'll see though!

there's no doubt in my mind this wont work at this point, but it's still in the imagination stage!

eatworksleepdie wrote:If i can put a good deal amount of my weight (a good 50 lbs) on the back rack, and not lift the front tire off the ground, I think It'll be ok with an approx 30lb load.

Until the rack fails or the plastic breaks!

Depending on how it's set up, with this much weight success will depend on how it's supported and distributed.

Southerner wrote:I was thinking of the number of trailers pulled behind motorcycles, not all of them big tourers, either. There's a 1-wheel model that works with some pretty light bikes.

Just a single rail, or better, a light channel. hitch at the front, some light but fairly tall wheels with a crossing rail. Could add tie-downs just above the wheels to hold the bike vertical by tension.

Kinda like this:
http://www.stingertrailer.com/html/specifications.html

Or rather, a scaled-down version.

#1

By far the safest way to haul a bicycle is a lightweight trailer on wheels.Using a pull trailer keeps the weight off the scoot and on the trailer where it belongs.

It also maybe possible to pull a bicycle by having the front wheel lifted and locked into a chock,rear wheel on the ground.I imagine this method would take some talented fabrication though.This way at least most of the bikes weight is on the ground.

Good luck!

Yes, I am talking about the rack, the metal rack has a max weight capacity of around 11 lbs. The fact that it is metal does not change the limit of the mount points on the scooter. The "plastic-like little handle thing" is a grab bar not a rack. The reality is that no matter what you do, you shouldn't have that much weight behind the point where the rear wheel hits the ground.

eatworksleepdie wrote:

bluebuddygirl wrote:The weight max on the rear rack is only like 11 lbs., lighter than any bicycle I know of.

are you talking about the factory plastic-like little handle thing?
I have the metal rack that replaces that thing. I would think that metal replacement rack would hold much more weight than 11 lbs, no? I've picked up the rear end by that metal rack, so I'd imagine it's strong enough to hold a bike.

I moved my previous post to a new thread. :~).

You may get more accurate hits for the appropriate topic (eg., golfclub carrier) by creating your own thread?

About your idea though, what's the weight of the clubs and bag etc? do you have a way for the clubs to be firmly strapped down so they don't go flying out etc? By your description, it sounds like you are angling the bag so the bottom of the bag is covering up the plate etc? that sounds like it would be too much weight hanging off the rear. what about finding a way to hang it off to one side going up on a 45 degree-ish angle across the bike pointing upward towards you?
by what i'm looking at with my bike rack setup, keeping the center of the weight over the top center bolt should suffice.

you may have to reinforce your frame under the plastic cowling too.

but yeah, please make a new post to keep my post on topic, please and thank you!

2wheelNsanity wrote:Hey could all these bright minds help me out and figure a way to build a rack that holds a set of golf clubs.

I have a set of clubs that I just sling over my back, put a cover over the clubs, and tighten the strap to bring the clubs tight against me. It works well, but with how big the bag is, wind blows you around a bit at speed. You don't need a rack for clubs, just use your back.

eatworksleepdie - Have you considered mounting the bike by just the front forks and letting the rear wheel drag on the ground behind you? You can get mounts to secure front forks cheap, and if you stay below 40, you should be alright.

The rear frame of the scooter isn't designed to carry too much weight, your 30lb mountain bike + rack will probably break the frame or rear rack eventually if all the weight is placed there.

Thanx for the ideas, didn't intend to change the thread subject Ill start a seperate thread.

topic23402.html

The key is to mount the bike on the right hand side and leave enough room to put your right foot down. I've had this setup for the past year and still get people gawking over it every time I take it out.

topic23402.html

The key is to mount the bike on the right hand side and leave enough room to put your right foot down. I've had this setup for the past year and still get people gawking over it every time I take it out.

Here's a Ducati hauling a hot road bike.

I didn't find this in this thread, I don't think I missed it, but if I did, sorry for the repost.

http://2x2cycles.com/product/motorcycle ... rettyPhoto

I had trouble with your link, magnato1, so I posted a pic from that site.