Suggestions for a Bike Hauler

Wow thanks for the replies!

With the 2017 Civic Si the exhaust gets in the way of a trailer hitch, so you have to cut the tail pipe off, which makes it less aesthetically pleasing. I for one am always warry of buying small cars that have been used for towing, because I know it has lived a harder life than a non tow car; potential wear on the transmission or clutch.

Not worried about stopping. The Si has pretty good brakes for a small car. My biggest concern is wear on my clutch. When I went to the track we actually used a Kendon. They are great, but I have limited storage at my apartment. This might be something I think about in the future.

 

Towed two bikes on a uhaul trailer with my 3000GT. Its a heavier car which helped, but worked fine. I'm more concerned about brakes and trailer weight. The uhauls are heavy. I'd try the folding uhaul trailer route, or rent a cargo van. Cargo van seems best route if you really are only doing a couple days a year. Getting a bike in and out of a pickup bed sucks compared to a trailer, especially with the current truck bed heights.
Eventually when I'm ready for it, I'll modify or make my own bike trailer, and put brakes on it. One less thing to worry about.

 

I used the Uhaul small motorcycle trailer with a Pontiac Vibe for years (6+), even towing from MI to UT for a race. Didn't have to store it or maintain it. For $15 a day, I thought it offered great value, and Uhaul roadside always did a great job if I had a problem. If storage is a factor, I'd put a hitch on the civic and save your money for racetires tires and entry fees.

 

I had to deal with a very similar situation when I lived in NYC (The Bronx). Had a Civic sedan (5 spd manual transmission) at the time and while I had parking in my building, there was no place to put a trailer.

Wound up putting on a hitch and would rent a uhaul trailer as needed. As I started doing more and more track days, that got a bit old so I bought one of these when I saw someone had a used one for sale:

https://motorcycletrailer.com/tib/

It came apart into 3 (or 4?) pieces that I could put in a closet in my apartment. Towed an SV650, GSXR-600 and VFR (separately of course) with no issues. Because the trailer is so light, I didn't see any issues with increased wear on brakes or clutch. Gas mileage was also excellent since it's really low-profile.

 

I didnt see a Prius option??

 

Ride your bike to the track. While not ideal, I have seen it done.

 

I have done it a few times too. The solutions he is contemplating are a million times better.

 

Talk one of your neighbors into racing that has a truck

 

Steve, I live in the San Diego area and might be able to help in some way. PM sent.

 

Seen number of full sized trucks with hitches that have never been used (inside of the receiver isnt even scratched). But since you left Si out of the original post, then may as well sell it (while the market for them is up) now and buy a used midsize SUV that already has a hitch then you can rent a trailer or buy your own once you have room for one.

2024 Tacoma is losing the V6 and manual trans option. 4cyl hybrid and auto only.

 

The first probably 20 years I went racing with my dad and then later when I moved away, I did it out of econoboxes with a small motorcycle trailer or harbor freight trailer.

In the late 70’s, I saw a guy with a small trailer, with his dragbike connected to a KZ650. I thought that was so cool at the time, but didn’t make it over to see how he did it?

I wouldn’t worry too much about wear and tear. The bike and little harbor freight trailer weigh about the same as three adult males pushing 200-225, sitting in that Honda with you, going to the restuarant or bar.

 

Ha, The first time I saw @kanatuna at a track was at a Putnam Park track day and he rode up solo both days that weekend from the Cincinnati area. The bike? A rough looking Katana of course.

 

That's not happening without stiffening up the rear suspension, which will add a little additional cost. And, it being an Si model, it might not even work then, as they have large wheels, and sit lower. Clearance issues.

 

Where are you located. I have an old harbor freight open trailer that is just sitting in my driveway that I use to go to the dump with sometimes, but I dont need it and I am tired of looking at it. You can have it if you want to come get it. Im in MD.

 

He's in Cali!

 

I would get one of these from the USAtrailerstore

 

I am not familiar with the market being up for Si's. The 2024 Taco is available with a manual and a non hybrid turbo 4. I personally would chose the automatic non hybrid option, more power better fuel economy than the V6 and easier to work on. Turbo technology has vastly improved since the 80s and 90s.

My decision for now is to install a hitch on my car. If I am still doing this a year from now, I will sell the car and buy the new Tacoma (or who knows, just keep towing with the Honda).

 

As a Tacoma owner, it wouldn't even be on the radar of trucks to purchase today.
And that's without the current Toyota trend of making the most hideous trucks to ever exist.

Including the cybertruck.

 

Would be a hell of a drive then and totally not worth it for this worn out rig. But eventually I will find someone who is getting into it and needs something like the OP that lives close and I'll pass it on then, figure if I can help someone new get going than I can feel good about it and a little love and it would be fine for use again.

 

May be the 24 is the last year. Forgot which the guy at the Toy dealer told me the other day when I was looking at a lime green 23 Taco 6spd and told me the V6 and manual are going bye bye with the new body style coming. The trim I was looking at was TRD Sport so maybe that is gonna be hybrid only, dunno.

Honda dealer I have the van serviced at is all up trying to buy used Si's (and Odysseys) because they cant keep them on the lot. No idea why Civic Si's are so freaking hot up here in WI with snow. Odysseys I can see that families want them. Then again same dealer had a S2000 with 80k miles for $40K and wasnt in the best shape under the hood and missing some interior trim, just was unmolested though.

But seriously have you looked at a SUV? Roomy, 4wd/awd, some have real good mpg (better than a mid size truck) and can pull a good size trailer (plus some are pretty cheap to insure).