Bike Trailers - Motolug v's Erde

[Mr Nick]

I'm in the market for a trailer and I find myself with 2 likely contenders - an Erde or a Motolug. I'm still looking as I type so this has some of my thinking processes included...
The Erde looks solidly built and there's a dealer over in Edinburgh who does the PM310 for under £500 ready built to drive in & collect. However, the capacity is only 250kg and the SP3 is 240kg dry so that's going to be over 250 with all the oil & a tank of fuel. That means it's going to have to be the CH451N instead at £620 for the bare trailer frame and another £240 for the rail, ramp & chocks.

The Motolug is coming in just over £900 with the 10" wheels option and delivery. For that you get 350kg capacity and up to 1650mm wheelbase: the SP3 is 1470mm and the 990 stretches to 1570mm, so they'll fit. The Erde bike rails are 2M long from what I can see.

Where I see the pro/con arguments go here are:
Erde: plus points - substantial and a little cheaper. Minus - needs to be kept somewhere.
Motolug: plus points - already comes with everything and it can just live in a box in the corner of the garage. Minus - a bit lighter duty looking and not galvanised so have to keep an eye on the finish.

The collapsability of the Motolug is drawing me towards it: the thought of not having to tow an empty trailer to pick up a bike is good, as is not having to park it somewhere else between uses as the back garden is a bit busy with outbuildings and I don't fancy leaving it lying on the drive. I have mates with space, but I'm happier not relying on others.

I know that at least one of you have a Motolug & I'm wondering how you feel about longer term ownership? I know how well built Erde trailers are so I just need to know the Motolug will be up to the job.

[Loopian]

Another plus for the Motolug is that they are easy to sell and hold their value well. I’ve been trying to find a used one for quite a while and it’s not easy.
Cheers Ian

[Brockett]

I have a Motolug.
I only use it a three or four times a year for motorcycle camping trips with my SV650 -  I use the tow car as a tent ( cos I am old).
I have the single bike trailer with 8" wheels
Features:- This is how it is for me and none of this means I am unhappy with it.
A).  It strips down to it's "component parts" for easy storage in the shed.   (a fixed trailer such as the ERD was not an option)
It is all held together with pins and clips and these all wear a bit and rattle a bit.
The "component parts" are (to me) heavy and  the wheels are especially awkward to store as they do their best to spin on their axle stubs and like to come to rest on the plastic mudguards which split / break.
Putting it all back together is also a bit tricky when acting alone and is best done with an extra pair of strong hands.
The light bracket, wiring and number plate have to be removed and reinstalled every time.
B). loading / unloading - The trailer is not free standing and must be connected to the tow car before loading the bike. The trailer coupling allows it to tilt for loading with the trailer touching the ground. So no additional ramp is required. However this means you have push the bike up the tilted trailer all the way to the locking chock. So not for the feint hearted. The final approach and heave up into the chock has my hands almost above my head and in a "shit or bust" situation  It is a constant fear that the bike will fall away from me and drop off the other side of the trailer. To overcome some of this I load the bike with the towcar down hill from the trailer. Even better if I can have someone on the other side of the bike just in case.  Also I start the bike, warm it up a bit and then select first gear and walking beside the bike, drive it up and into the trailer chock pulling on the clutch lever as it reaches the chock. Only when the bike is loaded do I re-attach the wiring, lights and number plate. The latter really does get in the way when loading the bike.

I am not convinced that the angle at which the coupling sits with the bike loaded is correct. I think I shoild have gone for the 10" wheels although this would require an even steeper loading angle or the rear of the trailer would be a little high.

Finish. after two years - Paint looks a bit thin and some rust is evident. Pins are showing signs of wear and plating is not everlasting.

Tyre wear is fair although I consider this an ongoing cost just as petrol is, and I'll change them in the autumn.


 

[Mr Nick]

That's reassuring Mr B - there's nothing fundamentally wrong with them then.

Today's rooting around the interweb found the Scottish dealer in Stirling and who have got two of the plus version in stock right now at £850 and they're about an hour away from here for collecting one. I've looked at the 10" wheel option and Motolug say that 420mm ball height is the minimum you'd consider that option with and mine sits right about there: reckon I'll stick with the 8" knowing I can tilt it a little less easier than bridge a gap to the ground but I'll see what the sales blokes suggest.

[Mark Shelley]

I have owned a Motolug for probably  5 years now. I bought it used for £400 and would probably get close to that if I sold it now. It has paid for itself several times over compared to paying to have a bike delivered by a courier because I tend to change bikes regularly!
It really is a huge bonus not having to tow an empty trailer. I also use it when I work away for a few months every year and trailer a bike with me. It has taken all bikes, large and small, from a Honda C100 to an R1100GS.
I am a fairly fit 58 year old and I am able assemble and carry the parts OK. Tips if you buy one..........get a pair of leather workmans gloves for carrying the bits, particularly the main piece as the edges of the metal can hurt a bit.............fix carrabiners with threaded locks to each of the four strap fixing points by the wheels because the existing holes have sharp edges and tend to cut into ratchet straps...........never, and I mean never, rely on straps with hooks to fix the bike. If the suspension compresses over a bump they can undo (not just relevant to Motolug) ...........when fixing bike, put a strap through the front wheel and around the wheel chock so the bike can’t move backwards...........get hold of a bit of ply or melamine about 400 or 500mm wide the same length as the main part when folded. This makes loading in and out of the car MUCH easier as it slides in easily on the wood as opposed to digging into the carpet as you struggle to get it in. To load, put the wood on the step of the boot and slide the part onto it. You can then lift the wood up and slide it into the boot.............make sure all the bits are well wedged into your boot so they can’t roll as you corner. I use my wifes old gym mat to protect the boot side plastics.

[Mr Nick]

Thanks for the tips Mark.

[Brockett]

Re the tie-down hooks; I insert them from opposite sides and then tie them together to prevent them falling out as the bike's suspension compresses. However the screw type carabiner is a great idea (next stop Ebay) 

[bigpie]

I've fallen foul of the ratchet strap issue before.  Wasn't a fun time trying to sort out on a NSL road with HGVs overtaking at great speed.

[Mr Nick]

Carabiners were ordered through Screwfix for collection tomorrow along with a 50mm wide D ring ratchet strap for the main tie down and a couple of 25mm endless ones to do the front & back end longitudinal movement. I already have a handlebar tie down that will go on as well - might as well if there's a space for another one...

[Ianmc]

I have got one of these, it was given to me when I collected my PC800 from S.Wales on a trailer many years ago.Its a great idea and stops the bike from moving sideways when the trailer is lurching about.Just don’t put too much weight on it as it may bend the bars.You still need a couple more ratchets as well.

[Mr Nick]

I took the V50 to Ingliston yesterday and the trailer behaved very well right up to the speed limit (& a little over, for testing purposes on closed roads only obviously..). When taken apart, it just doesn't quite fit in the boot without the short half of the back seat forward a couple of inches to accommodate the main spar: if it didn't have the bracket to capture the axle beam, it might have just fitted.

[sharealike]

Had a Lider two bike with loading ramp for years. Can be configured for single or they have light single bike as well. Galvanised with not a single bit of rust showing after standing outside for fifteen years.
Can also use for many other duties such as logs, firewood and trips to tip.
https://www.lidertrailers.co.uk/product-category/lider-trailers/motorbike-trailers/39401/

Importers are in Accrington but sell them via eBay shop.

Were French made and I guess still are. All welded chassis with strong lugs, mudguards and side fenders they are super rigid. Towed many a mile at French 130 kph limits when allowed. So stable but like all bikes on trailers its down to how rigidly they are lashed on.