How To Take Your Dog Motorcycling
When you like dogs and motorcycles, it’s a difficult situation. If you want to go on trips for more than a few hours, you have to arrange for help with the dog. Even if you have help, what fun is owning a dog if you’re always out riding. The not-so-simple answer is to take your dog with you.
The first option I thought of was a sidecar. The sidecar changes the dynamic of the motorcycle and greatly reduces fuel mileage. I like the idea of the dog riding next to the motorcyclist and it seems somewhat safe. The retro sidecar aesthetic is cool. I just couldn’t get past the fact that it required slower riding and learning a new way of riding.
The second option was a framework for the dog to ride directly on the motorcycle. The idea of few moving parts and far less to maintain was appealing. I bought plans to make one. The problem was that my dog is huge. The frame would be large and ruin the appearance of my Honda Goldwing.
I chose the 3rd option; a trailer designed for dogs. Bushtec out or Jacksboro, Tennessee makes the only trailer I know of specifically for large dogs. The cost is comparable to a sidecar, but only a hitch is required for mounting. The trailer is barely noticeable in the handling characteristics of the motorcycle. Parking the trailer can be cumbersome. Fuel mileage is drastically decreased.