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Remove handlebars? VII Stone

J

Jennifer Smereka

Just got it firing!
Joined
Jul 14, 2016
Messages
4
Location
Canada
I am very new to motorcycling and just bought my first bike- VII stone. We are heading on a camping trip and I would like to bring the bike. We looked at welding a hitch to the trailer but the manufacturer advised against it because of additional weight on a light frame so we are tempted to ramp the bike up through the trailer door. I'm thinking I will likely have to remove the handle bars to get the bike through. Is this easy to do?
 
Handlebars give you the best control of the bike. Remove them and it will be hard to handle. Also the bike would need to be padded from the bar once removed and the bar place on the bike at an angle. You need to be careful not to pull any wires or controls. You might be able to angle the bike through, but that also could be tricky. Then you have to secure the bike in the trailer which may not bee to easy. It may be easier to just ride the bike to where you are camping if there is a second person to pull the camping trailer, or just leave it home.
 
Or the other way. You can remove the bars and take off the controls rather easily. When I switched out my bars myself for the first time, I didn't run into any troubles and didn't need to reference anything to do it. When it comes to pushing it into your trailer, make sure your hands are on the front forks to help direct the bike through the door. A helping hand pushing and keeping hands on the back end would be advisable.

I would even suggest practice removing the bars and controls and reinstalling them at home, so you know what to expect and it'll be easier to reference and ask questions here or elsewhere, should you need help.
 
Moto_Max said:
Or the other way. You can remove the bars and take off the controls rather easily. When I switched out my bars myself for the first time, I didn't run into any troubles and didn't need to reference anything to do it. When it comes to pushing it into your trailer, make sure your hands are on the front forks to help direct the bike through the door. A helping hand pushing and keeping hands on the back end would be advisable.

I would even suggest practice removing the bars and controls and reinstalling them at home, so you know what to expect and it'll be easier to reference and ask questions here or elsewhere, should you need help.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice. How did you figure out how to remove the handlebars. I used to have a Haynes manual to for my older cars. Is there a version of that for the Guzzi's?
 
john zibell said:
Handlebars give you the best control of the bike. Remove them and it will be hard to handle. Also the bike would need to be padded from the bar once removed and the bar place on the bike at an angle. You need to be careful not to pull any wires or controls. You might be able to angle the bike through, but that also could be tricky. Then you have to secure the bike in the trailer which may not bee to easy. It may be easier to just ride the bike to where you are camping if there is a second person to pull the camping trailer, or just leave it home.
Click to expand...

Thanks for replying. We are camping 12 hours from our house and because I'm a new rider I'm not ready to commit to driving it that far. Leaving it is definitely an option we're considering but it would be so nice to have.
 
Hi Jennifer nice to have you here.

If you have a professional welding shop in your area you can take your trailer there & ask them if it is safe or possible to do.
A manufacturer or a dealer is going to play safe & say no to avoid a law suit.

Tell the welder your bike weighs approx 400 to 450lbs or if you can take the bike with you it would be better.

Be prepared to spend about $500.00 or more.

Just a fun fact: (You can't do this with a Guzzi because of the shaft drive) but years ago we would remove the front wheel then pick the bike up & wedge the forks between the bumper & the body & tie ropes from the handlebars to the bumper. We would also remove the drive chain so the rear wheel would spin free & tow them all over.
 
Trout said:
Hi Jennifer nice to have you here.

If you have a professional welding shop in your area you can take your trailer there & ask them if it is safe or possible to do.
A manufacturer or a dealer is going to play safe & say no to avoid a law suit.

Tell the welder your bike weighs approx 400 to 450lbs or if you can take the bike with you it would be better.

Be prepared to spend about $500.00 or more.

Just a fun fact: (You can't do this with a Guzzi because of the shaft drive) but years ago we would remove the front wheel then pick the bike up & wedge the forks between the bumper & the body & tie ropes from the handlebars to the bumper. We would also remove the drive chain so the rear wheel would spin free & tow them all over.
Click to expand...

That is so awesome. Oh the good ole days! Thanks for the advice. We contacted a weld shop and they aren't willing to sign off on the weight not bending the frame either. The problem being the new trailers and made to be extremely light which often translates into 'cheap' material. I'll keep calling tho- maybe I can find a more seasoned shop.
 
Too bad your tow vehicle isn't a pickup. If the trailer isn't 5th wheel, you could put the bike in the back of the truck.
 
I have also seen vehicles with a hitch mounted to the front of the vehicle, giving you a place to carry your bike at the front of your tow vehicle.
 
Jennifer Smereka said:
That is so awesome. Oh the good ole days! Thanks for the advice. We contacted a weld shop and they aren't willing to sign off on the weight not bending the frame either. The problem being the new trailers and made to be extremely light which often translates into 'cheap' material. I'll keep calling tho- maybe I can find a more seasoned shop.
Click to expand...

Yea everything is light weight today sorry it did not work.

I have often thought about towing a Guzzi by raising the rear wheel & then use bungees or tow straps to stabilize the front end.

Well I hope you find a solution but even if you can't take the bike enjoy the camping trip! Take some pics & post them.
 
Don't know what your setup is or what your pulling with but I just saw a rv with a motorcycle mounted on the front and also one mounted on the back of the rv. Guessing they were using something like this. AMC400 500
 
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