Towing a Trailer

Del2005

Earlier on the Belgrade road I saw 2 bikes towing trailers to advertise the new AerLingus flights to the US. They where both replica US police bikes. The only thing is I always thought it was illegal for a bike to tow a trailer in this country and from looking on http://www.transport.ie/roads/licensing/licence/index.asp?lang=ENG&loc=1836#Towing_a_Trailer
they have nothing about bikes and there is no AE licence AFAIK. Does anyone know what the story is with bikes and trailers here?

madrab

i have seen goldwings & big harleys with trailers on them before, &i know a company in america that sells trailer hitches for some bikes

Pigeon Reaper

It's common to tow trailers in other EU countries. Normally goldwings have hitches to tow small trailers with tents etc. The hitches are specialised to allow the bike to lean. Once the trailer isn't overloaded it's supposed to be easy enough to ride while towing, I don't think it could be illegal here if it's legal in other EU states. As normal our system probably hasn't updated the legal system to reflect this.

Hotblack Desiato

It's fully legal to tow a trailer with a bike here - subject to conditions of course.

S.I. No. 5/2003 &#8212 wrote: »

43. (1) Subject to this Regulation and to Regulation 44, a mechanically propelled cycle may not be used to draw any passenger in a trailer, a trailer with an unladen weight exceeding 250 kilograms, or more than one trailer.

(2) This Regulation does not apply so as to prohibit the towing of a broken down mechanically propelled cycle with one rider on it.

44. (1) Subject to this Regulation, a mechanically propelled cycle with an engine capacity exceeding 125 cc may tow a trailer provided -

(a) the overall width of the trailer does not exceed one metres,

(b) the distance between the rear axle of the mechanically propelled cycle and the rearmost part of the trailer does not exceed 2.5 metres,

(c) the mechanically propelled cycle is clearly and indelibly marked in a conspicuous and readily accessible position to indicate the weight of the heaviest trailer which the vehicle is designed to tow, or two thirds of the weight of the mechanically propelled cycle in running order, whichever is less, and

(d) the laden weight of the trailer does not exceed 150 kilograms or the weight specified in accordance with subparagraph (c), whichever is less.

(2) This Regulation does not prohibit a mechanically propelled cycle, equipped with a coupling device in accordance with Chapter 10 of Directive 97/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1997 (6) towing a trailer which does not exceed the maximum towable mass approved for that type of mechanically propelled cycle in accordance with Directive 2002/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 March 2002 (7) .