Goldwing Tow Bike that can Tow 2 Harleys Pictures

[frogmaster]

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k249/frogmaster_2006/image00111.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k249/frogmaster_2006/image00222.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k249/frogmaster_2006/image00333.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k249/frogmaster_2006/image00444.jpg

 

Edited November 12, 2008 by frogmaster

[Yama Mama]

Yes thanks for posting those photos, those are really clever.

 

Yama Mama:thumbsup2:

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Its called the Retriever and its for hauling disabled cars, not motorcycles.

[Rottdoglover]

FROGMASTER: Don't pick on the HD guys! After all, 80% of HD's are still on the road. (The other 20% made it home)

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Oh I knew it was 'bait', but it just gets old...not even funny anymore.

[Squeeze]

Oh I knew it was 'bait', but it just gets old...not even funny anymore.

 

I agree

[Snarley Bill]

pretty much says it all on the power of a wing.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

pretty much says it all on the power of a wing.

 

Well yes and no. The Retriever is limited to under 20 mph when its towing a car.

 

I bet any 500 cc street bike could pull a car at that speed.

 

http://retriever-na.com/

 

According to this website, there are a whopping 50 of these units worldwide. Only fifty?

 

I'm not trying to pick on these guys, but come on..this is a product that no one asked for and no one needs.

 

From the website:

 

If your daughter or son or sister is broken down on a 400 series highway or an interstate, you know that you want someone to get to them and get them off the road STAT. We will build relationships with insurance, the police, and the public and they will champion this cause which will drive success. Towing companies will innately see the benefit of getting to the scene (read: make money).

 

Ok...sounds good, but just how is the Retriever pilot gonna do that? The stranded motorist ( maybe several in the car) cant ride in the towed vehicle, and they cant ride on the Retreiver itself, since there is no rear seat. Which leads up to this:

Fits into greener corporate strategies via lower fuel consumption

 

Maybe, but since you have to factor in a third vehicle for picking up the hapless motorist, who may end up standing on the side of the road waiting for it, how much greener is that?

 

And they are really pushing the utility of this thing. But actually, how useful is it when the weather sucks? Thats when most breakdowns occur anyway. If its 110 degrees, does the Retriever pilot get hazard duty pay? Or how about when its cold and snowy? Or icy? Then the damn thing sits in the operators garage, not making a dime. But the company STILL has to make payments on it.

 

And you gotta wonder about this statement:

 

Q - Can I tow a motorcycle with Retriever?

 

A - Yes. In fact, as far as we are aware, Retriever is the only platform in the world that can tow a motorcycle.

Is that so? Well just what is this picture all about? I had my Venture towed earlier this year. I guess it was the only other vehicle in the world capable of that. Or maybe I just dreamed it.

Edited November 12, 2008 by tx2sturgis

[mini-muffin]

Nope that was a dream Brian. All in your head you imagined the whole thing.

 

Does that make you feel better now?:crackup:

 

 

Margaret

[loehring]

This really is a useless vehicle for all the reasons stated. I'd like to see it towe a full size SUV instead of the little VW. I would also question the longevity if that's a stock drive train. Of coarse the 1800-6 has the power but will the trainsmission, clutch and shaft really hold up after a few hundred towes? Just another fun engineering exercise if you ask me. No realistic application.

[N3FOL]

These bikes were designed to work on the narrow streets of Japan and retrieve or move on the side a disabled vehicle. Just don't put that GoldWing sideways since it may easily weigh close to a BOSS HOSS machine.

[Rocket]

These bikes were designed to work on the narrow streets of Japan and retrieve or move on the side a disabled vehicle. Just don't put that GoldWing sideways since it may easily weigh close to a BOSS HOSS machine.

 

Not quite, the Retriever is the product of a Swedish company.

 

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/08/24/goldwing-retriever/

 

http://www.comingthrough.se/main.php?lang=UK&page=pro

[DragonRider]

Pics of the wing in action.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

There might be some niche markets for it. Maybe. I doubt it will ever pay for itself in this country (USA).

 

If I had a towing company, I would not buy one. In the advertising media, they show the Retriever slicing thru stalled traffic to get to the disabled car, but what about the driver? Is he supposed to walk home? What about if the car has been pushed over onto a grassy slope off the roadway, after the Retreiver has been dispatched? How you gonna pull that same car up the slick grassy incline, over a curb maybe, then thru all that snarled traffic at maybe 20mph?

 

Maybe the cops help out with that...maybe not. What if its raining AND the car is on a slippery grassy shoulder AND the traffic is heavy AND the Retreiver pilot drops it?

 

I dunno..but If I owned a towing company, I'd spend my money on a cheaper smaller towtruck, that can do nearly everything needed, no matter what the weather, no matter the skill of the towtruck driver, and less chance of him dropping or wrecking that machine, plus he can cruise at 80 with the car in tow if need be.

 

Besides all that, I think its almost a sin to turn a perfectly enjoyable recreational machine into a work truck.

 

Yall can drool all ya want. I think its a piece of crap.

 

 

[BuddyRich]

How would you like to pick the puppy up after you dropped it.

[N3FOL]

I really wouldn't mind working for the tow company and be one of their bike tow team. It must be fun, but I am sure it also has its own downside.

[jimmyenglish]

Good for a popular mechanics issue but otherwise kinda gay.