Towing Bike with Subcompact Vehicle

[v-2 superbike]

My Ford Explorer lease is over and I am looking to downsize from an
8 cylinder gas guzzler to an '09 gas 4 cylinder Honda Civic commuter car.
While the civic is not an ideal vehicle to tow my bike with a trailer, has anybody successfully towed their bike with a Civic or subcompact?
Car has a manual transmission. Trailer weighs approx 500lbs and the bike
another 375. I would only trailer 4-6 times a year for shorter distances.
(less than 100mi)

The older Fiat that towed Rossi's bike to Indy came to mind as making my
situation a possibility.

[DesperateSP2]

Cheers mate. It's a pretty common sight around here seeing small cars towing bike trailers. I would say that as long as you drive slowly and there are not too many ups and lows on the road (heavy on the engine and, more importantly, on the brakes) you'll have no problems.
Just out of curiosity: how much did you pay for having the two equipment fitted to your car? Thanks!

[gtoast]

when i lived in the states i did some towing with my 2.0l golf-worked fine.
now i use a 90hp focus kombi...and yes over here in europe you see many small cars pulling bikes and trailers...but i suspect most (like mine now) is diesel.

[ccolwell]

I have a friend who has done it with an MR2 and now a MINI. 30 years ago, I pulled a trailer with an MGB -- it was a light weight trailer (a 3 rail Holsclaw) that we rouinely put two trials bikes on. Probably 500-550 lbs all told. Sadly (for me, at any rate), the Civic probably has way more power than my MGB did. You'll do fine.

[fotomoto]

It works GREAT!

Driver Loses Dirt Bike On Highway*Video

[cheekybloke]

Hope this is of help. It's based ona 2.2 diesel but i doubt a 2l petrol will fare worse. please bear in mind that these are legal limits for the UK based on the cars weight etc. I've just checked for the 1800 petrol and it's the same bar the braked weight is only 1400k. so thats 3080LBs braked and 1100LBs unbraked.
HONDA CIVIC DIESEL HATCHBACK 2.2 i-CTDi Sport 5dr


Summary Technical Data :

Summary Body StyleHatchback Engine Size2204 cc Fuel TypeDiesel Number of Doors5 Number of Seats5 Gearbox TypeMANUAL co2 Emissions140 g/km Insurance Group10 Vehicle Tax BandC Standard Manufacturers Warranty (miles)90000 miles Standard Manufacturers Warranty (years)3 years Manufacturers Corrosion Guarantee6 years Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee3 years

Performance and Economy Technical Data :

Performance & Economy Fuel Consumption (Urban)42.2 mpg Fuel Consumption (ExtraUrban)62.8 mpg Fuel Consumption (Combined)53.3 mpg 0-62mph8.6 seconds Top Speed127 mph Cylinders4 Number of Valves16 V Engine Power140 bhp Engine Torque251 lbs/ft

Dimensions Technical Data :

Dimensions Height1460 mm Height Including Roof RailsNo details available Length4245 mm Wheelbase2635 mm Width1765 mm Width Including Mirrors2046 mm Fuel Tank Capacity50 litres Gross Vehicle Weight1890 kg Luggage Capacity (seats down)1352 litres Luggage Capacity (seats up)485 litres Max Loading Weight486 kg Max Roof Load75 kg Max Towing Weight (braked)1500 kg Max Towing Weight (unbraked)500 kg Minimum Kerb Weight1404 kg Turning Circle (kerb to kerb)11.1 metres

Exterior Features Technical Data :

Interior / Exterior Exterior Features

• Automatic headlight height
• Body colour bumpers
• Body colour electric adjustable heated door mirrors
• Body coloured side sills
• Chrome door handles
• Door mirror integrated indicators
• Electric front/rear windows
• Front fog lights
• Headlight washers
• HID Headlights
• High level rear brake light
• Rear boot spoiler
• Rear screen aerial
• Twin chromed exhaust pipes
• Solid paint*
• Instant mobility system
• 17" alloy wheels*

Interior Features Interior Feaures

• 12V socket in rear of vehicle
• 2x Isofix child seat restraint mechanism
• 60/40 split/folding 2nd row of seats
• Adaptable boot storage
• Climate control air conditioning
• Cloth upholstery
• Drilled aluminium pedals
• Driver's seat height adjustment
• Front centre armrest
• Front cupholders
• Front head restraints
• Front interior welcome light
• Front power socket
• Illuminated Driver/Pass vanity mirrors with cover
• Illuminated ignition switch
• Leather steering wheel
• Lockable glovebox
• Luggage tie down rings
• Magic seat flexibility system
• Passenger seat back pocket
• Rear centre armrest
• Rear head restraints
• Refrigerated glovebox
• Sub trunk compartment with lid
• Tilt/telescopic adjust steering wheel
• Tonneau cover
• 4 speakers
• High security audio
• RDS stereo radio/CD player
• Speed dependent audio volume control
• Steering wheel mounted audio controls
• Tweeters
• Audible lights on warning
• Digital clock
• Digital fuel consumption display
• Digital odometer
• Fuel filler release
• Outside temperature gauge
• PAS
• Tachometer

Safety Technical Data :

Safety

• 5 three point seatbelts
• ABS+EBD+Brake assist
• Active front headrests
• Dual front SRS airbags
• Dual side SRS airbags
• Front and rear dual curtain SRS airbags
• Front seatbelt buckle pretensioners
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Height adjustable front seatbelts
• Side impact protection beams
• Two tone horn
• ECU immobiliser
• Honda super locks
• Perimeter alarm
• Remote central locking

[nycstripes]

can you even find a traielr hitch for that car?

[rjjablo]

Watched a Dodge Omni towing two race bikes to the track. Can be done easily, of course the rear end of the car was on the ground with all the weight in the car and on the trailer.

Go for it!!!!

[jwm2k3]

So this thread hits home at the right time for me. I just came back from 2 back to back trackdays. I own a Ford F150 which I put my trackbike in the back with ramps and go. Works great. I want to goto a gas miser, cheap, no payment car. Im thinking Toyota Corolla, maybe a mid to late 90's model year.

So at the track I looked around to see what others were using. I saw the perfect trailer attached to a Mustang GT...

Single Trailer

Im thinking this will be my plan for next season, Toyota Corolla with this trailer...Perfect!

[RxRC]

Ya, you'll be fine with a single or double track motorcycle specific trailer. You could also use a small aluminum utility trailer which is much more versatile.

I don't think a Civic is a subcompact anymore. I'll bet a new one is as big as a fifteen year old Accord.

More info. My friends bring their gsxr and r1 to BIR with a Forester. 260 miles round trip, no problems and 25mpg.

[superbike2001]

I towed a single axle open trailer with a 93 CBR600 and all my gear for racing. Well as much as I could carry. All with my 1990 GEO METRO. Three cylinder. It did not like the hills, any hills

[RxRC]

Originally Posted by superbike2001

I towed a single axle open trailer with a 93 CBR600 and all my gear for racing. Well as much as I could carry. All with my 1990 GEO METRO. Three cylinder. It did not like the hills, any hills

Metros are plain scary. The four doors would flex like there was a hinge in them just going around corners.

I wish I had a photo but there was a fella at BIR this year pulling his track bike on an aluminum trailer with an FJR.

[nedragr]

HP??

Pull my Excalibur (870lbs) 2 bikes at times, with a Subaru Outback........no issues.

[Munky]

I towed my RC51 in a 5X8 utility trailer with a WRX. Worked fine.

[Ducs1k]

Originally Posted by jwm2k3

Works great. I want to goto a gas miser, cheap, no payment car.

Have you considered one of the early-mid 90's compact pickups(nissan, toyota, mazda/ford)? Find one of the 4-cylinder 2WD versions which should return mid to high 20's mpg and will have a low bed height.

[RCJAY]

Originally Posted by Ducs1k

Have you considered one of the early-mid 90's compact pickups(nissan, toyota, mazda/ford)? Find one of the 4-cylinder 2WD versions which should return mid to high 20's mpg and will have a low bed height.

+1 I did it with a toyota tacoma sr5 4 banger with manu-trans for a few years before buying a gas monster toyota tundra 2006.

Once I had the RC51 and a RS125 on the tacoma no problems. Tight fit of course.

[DukeRdr]

Guy I knew up in Ohio used to tow his '72 CB450 Honda racebike on a small trailer all the time with a 4 cylinder Goldwing (1100 or 1200cc).

Hell, I think he towed to Daytona. I haven't seen him since the mid-'90s.

You can tow with anything as long as you drive like an adult.

.

[Beinggodisgreat]

My dads altima gets does 65 to 70 pretty easily with my RC. Same towing a gsxr about the same with his BMW. Its not too bad.

[heavyzee]

yea no problem here, i have a 95 Honda Civic manual w/ 164k on the clock, and routinely pull my harbor freight foldable trailer with my RC and dirt bikes all over the place... its awesome i have used the trailer to move so many times

works great. got my hitch from u-haul... only problem that i needed to remove the rear bumper to install the hitch, but that was no problem