Carrying a wakeboard on a motorcycle??

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

With gas prices continuing to rise I am looking more and more heavily into buying a motorcycle. But since I live under 5 miles from where I work my daily commute isn't the biggest gas guzzler. It seems I have to travel about 60 miles round trip to get to the lake. And most of the time I'm not taking my boat. If I could figure out a way to secure my wakeboard (I'd have to wear my vest haha) then I could save a lot of money on the lake trips back and fourth (50mpg in the bike 13 in the truck).

Anyone think it's possible to figure out a system to clamp the board to the side of the bike without damaging either?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Maybe you could wear it in a liquid force bag. The one I have you can wear as a backpack. I'm not sure if you could sit down, but I think you can.

Leggester · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 7:20 am Post subject:

I've seen snow boarders riding bikes to the mountains with the board strapped vertically on their backs...

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

cameraboy, I thought about that. I used one to carry my board on my honeymoon but the thing sticks up 2-3 ft over my head so that would be a lot of wind resistence at 60mph on the highway Shocked

.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Wakebrad, I have pondered this idea for a while. I think the only way would be to use a backpack designed for carrying such, and keep speeds down.

Many use them for carrying snowboards on snowmobiles, but speeds are much lower...

Mikey27 · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

What kind of bike do you ride? I am pretty good at thinking of ideas to rig stuff up.

jason_ssr · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

Sidecar?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Can you purchase a hard-case wakeboard coffin with wheels on the bottom, and rig up some sort of tiny wakebaord "trailer?"

How much is a real motorcycle trailer, anyway? Can you get one used on the cheap? That way you could throw in a board and clothes and a pair of sandals and stuff too.

goofyboy · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 7:25 am Post subject:

use a trailor... not sure what kind of bike you have, but i have seen bikes with little trailors attached to them. You could put your jacket inside and strap the board down to the top.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Mikey27, well I'm still looking into the purchase. Probably a smaller cruiser. I'm looking at the 750 nighthawks. I like the style.. between a sport bike and a cruiser.

If I could figure a way to do it, the type of bike would influence my decision.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Wakebrad, well, the cruisers often have hard side saddles, which may make for a good place to strap down a board.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

jason_ssr, haha thought of that. Would be pretty funny driving around. If it was the only alternative I'd think about it. I just looked and those side cars are over $3k!

I just checked out some of those trailers. Looks like that might work. But I'd rather not have to mess with it if I don't have to. Maybe I'll try to figure out a clamp system to hook the board up to the side of the bike. It would be a lot less bulky and might even protect me on a fall haha.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I would check if that's even legal, to strap down gear in a potentially unsafe manner, or if you will get a ticket eventually.

I can see the lawsuit if that wakeboard flies off the bike at 60 mph and through the windshield of the car behind you......

I think a bike trailer is your best option so far...

joedirt00 · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 7:44 am Post subject:

http://www.evogear.com/productdetail.asp?pn=2034

How about this. It only has a single shoulder strap so you would have to wear it across you chest.

The one thing I would be woried about is an oncoming truck or something. The wind might catch your board and throw you out of control. Sad

Or what about the board racks for PWC's??? Make a mount off the rear fender struts Confused

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

joedirt00, that's an idea. Wear it across my chest or lay it on my lap so it would minimise wind resistence. It would stick out the sides but it should do that evenly and it might work. I've got friends with that bag. Maybe I'll try it before I look for a more expensive solution.

cameraboy, didn't think about that but you're right. I'll need to check out the codes.

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

What about strapping the board longways with the bike? Bindings out? That way the wind will be flowing with the board, and the only resistance will come from the bindings. Plus this way it isn't strapped to you so if you do get hit by some serious wind it won't throw you off balance.

Put it across the back like a big wing, angle it with your vest at the back. Wha-la a spoiler!!! Laughing

Bowen · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 8:48 am Post subject:

Wakebrad, Being in SoCal I've thought about it too. Strapping it to the side seems like the best idea, BUT that would end up blocking your foot into the side of the bike...what happens if you lay the bike down and your foot gets caught Shocked

barryb · Newbie Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 8 City: Austin

A local outlaw rider doesn't even own a car. He and his girlfriend ride a moped up to several
hundred miles to events. They sit on his board.

DunDunDun · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 9:06 am Post subject:

yea you could do that, sit on it. like put your bum between the bindings. or jsut put on a narmal back pack, and slide the baord between your body and the bag, so like it kinda stradles the bag. it will only stick out like a foot on each side. ill get a pic of what i mean soon....

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

barryb, haha that's awesome. So do they put the bindings facing down straddling the seat?

jason_ssr · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 9:55 am Post subject:

Brad, build the first moto board rack out of existing racks and sell them to the rest of the boarders who wont be able to drive.

pyrocasto · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 9:59 am Post subject:

Or you could buy and Echo and just put it in the trunk. Wink

$14,000 price is not bad.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Wakebrad, carrying it on your back seems like a good way to end up dead. That board is a sail - a good gust of wind and you are slammed into a UPS truck.

The_fng · Criminal Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 57

I did this once on a CBR600...laid the board across the back seat and strapped it to the passenger's footpeg tubing. The attitude of the backseat made it more NASCAR wing than sail. It did rally change the handling of the bike, but I wouldn't have called it unsafe, dumb-looking, but not unsafe. It did fine on the highway up to about 60, where the wing effect really started to lighten the front wheel.

The FNG

Holderbee · Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 11 City: Big D

Wakebrad...you are smoking crack. Riding an MC is Dallas traffic is nucking futs! I had one for almost 4 years and rode it in D/FW traffic more times than I should have and was very lucky...I never had a serious accident. Granted...everybody who rides knows that there are two types of riders...those that have had an accident and those who just haven't had one yet. Dallas drivers don't give a rats ass about MCs. the only advantage to having one in TX is the ability to drive in the HOV lane. You can't split lanes here like you can in Cali.

If you want good gas mileage...buy a used honda civic. If you do decide to get a bike...at least wear full gear (helmet, long pants, jacket and gloves). Gear literally saved my neighbors life when he was hit on his way home from work on 635. He shut down all 4 lanes of traffic. But at least he is here to today.

Does the wife know about this?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Holderbee, haha. She knows. She's more concerned about the cost. I've driven motorcycles since I was 10. Granted most of the street time was in college station where it's much less scary.

I'm a pretty cautious driver. I keep an eye on the surrounding traffic much more than the average joe. I don't have to take the highway to get to work so the majority of the driving would be lower risk. Other than that it would probably either be to your place or to the lake.

I've got a few friends who have bikes in town. You just have to be careful. I would definitely wear a helmet and pants but probably not full out leather getup.

Of course I wouldn't expect you to approve... Laughing

Holderbee · Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 11 City: Big D

Ha Ha...you know how I am Laughing

I was also a very cautious rider, but you can't account for everything! Actually...I'd love to get an older R6 or gsxr750, but I'd only ride it at night or on the track. I guess I got soft in my old age...I got tired of sweating balls every time I rode in the summer. Contrary to the bad luck I've had recently, I was one lucky/crazy SOB on my old bike.

If you do get one...you really should get gloves and a jacket. Joe Rocket, Dainese, Vanson...heck everybody makes a performated (sp?) nylon padded jacket that you can wear in the summer. Yes, it is hotter than not wearing a jacket, but isn't that bad.

One last thing...DON'T GET A NIGHTHAWK 750 if you want to be Cool

!

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Holderbee, yeah I know. The R6 is hands down my favorite bike but I don't need that much speed. Also it's hard to find them even in the '99 days for under $4k. I don't want a full out big honkin cruiser though either. Not really my style. So something between would be good. Got any suggestions in the $3-$3.5k range?

AZMXER · Outlaw Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Posts: 223 City: Peoria,AZ

just weld up your own board rack. make it so you can put it on the axl and secured w/ the axle nut .

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

Wakebrad, check out kawasaki Ninjas and Suzuki Katanas both are decent sportbikes for good prices. You could get a 250 ninja for $3000 brand new if you are ok with that small of an engine.

I would strap it too the bike some how going length wise along the bike. Then take the bindings off and put them in a big backpack or something so they wouldn't get in the way. You are just asking for problems if you strap it to yourself, there would be a bunch of drag from it.

nashvillematt · Addict Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 823 City: Nashville

leave your board on the boat.....

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Wakebrad, BMW makes some great bikes that offer both performance and versatility - of course they are quite pricey.

somepunk22 · Addict Joined: 31 Jul 2003 Posts: 898 City: Minnesota

I've done it quite a few time while in between new vehicles. Only one 30min trip on the highway though. I put it through a backpack and wore it. Horizontal with the bindings facing away from my back. Kinda like wings. It wasn't to bad except for the occasional cross wind. Also helps to have a backpack with straps you can tighten across the front.