Hey guys, I'm going to be racing a Buell Firebolt come summer in WERA lightweight superbike category and I will need a means of transportation. Since I already own an 03 Cooper S and purchasing a trailer hitch for that is much cheaper than buying a dedicated tow vehicle I would just like to see if that's a viable option. I know someone on here posted about towing a full on boat with their MINI, but a sub-400lbs motorcycle is hardly a boat. The trailer I would be using is an aluminium 2-bike trailer, or I could pick up a used aluminum single bike trailer that weighs less to be safe and still be able to fit spare tires and parts.

doable or not?

I'm also running on a slight budget constraint which is why I would rather not drop something like $2K, insurance, and extra gas on an SUV.

 

I plan on doing the same thing as soon as I can purchase the hitch set-up. I already have an aluminum trailer that weighs 350 and my bike weighs 550. So If you wind up doing this, please let me know how it works.

 

I tow my 1959 Morris Mini Minor with my 2008 Clubman S, with no problems. Took it to mito this year cruised at 65 - 70 most of the way from Kansas. I flat tow it

 

While hardly the ideal setup, it should work. I would take it easy and drive the car as gently as you can.

I usually take the family SUV when towing bikes, but I've often thought out getting a hitch for my MCS and enjoying the trip more and using less gas. The problem I've always wondered about is the center exhaust outlet interfering with the hitch. Has this been solved at reasonable expense?

- Mark

 

I've considered doing this too, yes even with my mods, my understsanding is stay under 1200lbs max gross & you should be ok, has to do with the strength of the frame/chasis structure more than anything.

 

Yes, you certainly can tow a motorcycle with your MINI. I have used a Harbor Freight 4x8' utility trailer for this purpose (and to haul all sorts of other things) for several years now. The trailer tilts down for loading/unloading and tows very easily with good stability. This particular trailer you see below is the one that commonly goes for under $300 on sale. I've used it so much that I'm on my 3rd set of tires now (and have upgraded to a larger size and better quality). It's been from Indiana to TX and back, to ND and back, NC and back a couple of times, and hundreds of other trips with no troubles. As with any trailer, keep the hubs lubed and repack every year or two and it should be trouble-free. The HF trailer is a bargain!

My VFR from last May during MOTD....shows me towing with my R56 MCS, but I used to tow with my '06 R50 just as easily.....

 

So, whose hitch did you use?

 

I had a Minidomore hitch on my R50 and a Curt on my current car. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone with a Minidomore again seeing as Curt basically stole his design. Not sure if Curt makes one for the R50/53....Minidomore does for sure, though.

 

You'll probably be ok...

 

I have never seen a hitch from Curt for the R53.

Keith, who put a Curt 111260 hitch on his R50...

 

I towed a trailer designed to be towed by a motorcycle to MOTD a few years back (full of my camping gear) and it worked fine EXCEPT the center exhaust melted the trailer's wiring under the tongue. When I rewired the trailer, I put the new wiring on top of the tongue.

 

Apologies for dragging up an old thread...but is there a Curt hitch for the R53? I'll buy the OM/MiniDoMore version, but if I can save $80 or so, I'd like to.