Good day, just thought I would post regarding my experience towing a trailer with the ST1300. I have a small steel frame trailer with 12 in tires, led lights and a long ski box top, total weight empty about 100 lbs. the first time I towed with it I had a non swivel hitch on it as I had read various forums stating you didn't need a swivel hitch to tow. The first corner I got to was a 90 degree left turn at about 30 kph, when I attempted to turn the bike, it leaned a bit and then just stopped leaning into the turn and I was pushed straight to the outside edge of the road, I then leaned very hard off the left side of the bike and managed to make the corner, that really got my attention.
When I got off the bike to see why, I tried to uncouple the trailer and could not with the bike on the side stand, the fork on the underside of the ball was impinged as it was twisted to the side, this same impingement prevented the bike from leaning normally to make the corner. As soon as I got the trailer home I switched to a swivel hitch and have not had another issue. So why did this happen when I read it shouldn't be an issue? Perhaps the design of the ball at 5000 lbs rating is thick enough at the base that there isn't enough room for the forks to roll under the ball? Perhaps the fork tension adjustment was too tight, or maybe a heavier bike like a Goldwing simply flexes the fork from its weight?
I'm not sure what caused it but it was quite dangerous and rather than trying to jury rig the setup to work, I simply elected to put a proper swivel hitch on it and not experiment. I'm sure lots of riders will comment they tow just fine and have never had an issue, I'm just cautioning those who would attempt to tow for the first time to be aware this may happen with a non swivel set up, as it did for me, ride safe, Al.
When I got off the bike to see why, I tried to uncouple the trailer and could not with the bike on the side stand, the fork on the underside of the ball was impinged as it was twisted to the side, this same impingement prevented the bike from leaning normally to make the corner. As soon as I got the trailer home I switched to a swivel hitch and have not had another issue. So why did this happen when I read it shouldn't be an issue? Perhaps the design of the ball at 5000 lbs rating is thick enough at the base that there isn't enough room for the forks to roll under the ball? Perhaps the fork tension adjustment was too tight, or maybe a heavier bike like a Goldwing simply flexes the fork from its weight?
I'm not sure what caused it but it was quite dangerous and rather than trying to jury rig the setup to work, I simply elected to put a proper swivel hitch on it and not experiment. I'm sure lots of riders will comment they tow just fine and have never had an issue, I'm just cautioning those who would attempt to tow for the first time to be aware this may happen with a non swivel set up, as it did for me, ride safe, Al.