Kendon Single trailer w/1250 GSA

[PGlaves]

My hitch is locked to the receiver. The trailer is locked to the ball. Usually I don't bother to lock the bike to the trailer but my current trailer is an enclosed trailer and overnight it is locked.

Totally secure they say - except - it would take about 30 seconds to remove the nut holding the ball to the hitch. Then a quick swivel and drop the ball into the miscreant's hitch bar and drive away. Easy peasy in the dark of the night at the hotel. Security is an illusion, which is why I have insurance.

 

[smswy]

I have a Kendon single bike ride up trailer that I purchase in 2022 when I owned a BMW F850 GSA (I now own a R1250 GS). A warning! My F850 GSA fell over on the trailer. I explain. I had never used a trailer before and I asked Kendon if after riding the front wheel into the chock cradle whether I should put the kickstand down to stabilize before tying the bike down. They said no need as their chock would hold it and that the kickstand would damage the aluminum floor. So I did as they instructed and after stepping down off the trailer the bike fell over to the right side on the trailer. I was not happy.

I contacted Kendon and sent them a photo. They said the front wheel rail guide and chock cradle on my trailer was more for a wider tire bike, like say a Harley. And that they had rails for more narrow adverture bikes (they have those on their 2 or 3 bike trailers). They felt bad (and maybe worried about bad press) and sent me the more narrow rail and chock cradle for free. The mounting attachments on the rail and holes on the trailer floor were not aligned and I had to drill new holes. But after installing that new rail the bike (the old F850 GSA and now the R1250 GS) stayed in place. But I still put a small 1/2-1 inch thick board down on the floor of the trailer and put the kickstand down on it temporarily and make sure the bike slightly leans to the kickstand side while I start to secure on the left side, not so tight as to prevent me from raising the kickstand, but tight enough that the bike cannot fall back to the right side. Then I start the straps on the right side. Put the kickstand up and begin racheting both side to keep the bike straight up.

 

[PGlaves]

I have used at least three different brands of front wheel chocks. It is my carefully considered opinion that wheel chocks prevent a bike from rolling forward. They slightly impede the bike from rolling backward, but after all they are designed so a mere mortal human can pull the bike back out of the chock. With most any BMW front tire they do a poor to failing job of keeping the bike upright. A stout strap tightly holding the front wheel in the chock prevents the rolling backward issue and will often arrest the tip over to 30 degrees or 45 degrees. At least such a strap will prevent the bike from completely falling off the trailer usually.

I do agree that a big cruiser with a fat tire and 400 pounds on the front axle might be held upright long enough to allow the straps to be attached and secured but with any of our bikes, loading the trailer is a two person job as far as I am concerned. Others will of course have their own tales of their prowess or failure.

 

[omega man]

I don’t load a bike onto a trailer and into the chock without the two front straps being able to be able being hooked up on each side to stabilize the bike. This is even if the straps need to be adjusted/relocated later once I’m off the bike.
There is nothing wrong with using the kick-stand in the loading process. It’s having the kick-stand down during transport that is the (possible) problem. The road bounce of the trailer would have a a bit of a “jackhammer” effect in one spot on the trailer as the bike’s suspension moved up and down. It should be folded up for transport.
OM

 

[paul_f]

There is nothing wrong with using the kick-stand in the loading process. It’s having the kick-stand down during transport that is the (possible) problem. The road bounce of the trailer would have a a bit of a “jackhammer” effect in one spot on the trailer as the bike’s suspension moved up and down. It should be folded up for transport.
OM

And that I learned the hard way many years ago. I forgot to put the side stand up on my K and when I stopped to check and tighten the straps, I did an excellent job of bending that piece of the bike.

 

[CaptCF]

I don’t load a bike onto a trailer and into the chock without the two front straps being able to be able being hooked up on each side to stabilize the bike. This is even if the straps need to be adjusted/relocated later once I’m off the bike.
There is nothing wrong with using the kick-stand in the loading process. It’s having the kick-stand down during transport that is the (possible) problem. The road bounce of the trailer would have a a bit of a “jackhammer” effect in one spot on the trailer as the bike’s suspension moved up and down. It should be folded up for transport.
OM

That's basically what I do (flat bed trailer with mounted chocks). I roll it up on the trailer and into one of the chocks and then put the kickstand down. I lean it in the direction of the kickstand, but it either barely touches or doesn't at all due to the chock holding the bike, but it's my safety net. Then I attach the first set of straps (front or rear...doesn't really matter) and put enough tension on those to keep the bike from tipping to either side too far. Then I put the kickstand up and then install the rest of the straps. I reverse the process when unloading but you gotta remember to put the kickstand up again before rolling the bike backwards down the trailer ramp. Don't ask me how I know..

 

[adamchandler]

Just sharing I haul my GSA on a Kenton single and it’s great. You’ll be really happy. I just wish I had gotten the dual trailer.

 

[RANBUSH]

I bought a $50 Harbor Fright wheel chock that bolted neatly to my two-rail Kendon trailer ( I only trailer one bike at a time). I had to cut a couple of inches off the front right-side of the trailer's rail, but it worked out fine. I'll send a pic of the install when I get a chance.

I also highly recommend buying TWO of the $85 HF folding motorcycle ramps, one for the bike and one for you to walk up on.