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Wheel-A-Carry!
Blog Date 26 August 2024
The team that once brought you Tour-A-Plank now brings you Wheel-A-Carry
Necessity is the mother of invention.
There was a plan for Sharon to bring her wheel to my house so I could take it to the tyre man. But that's complicated. And she's not well. And it'd cost more in petrol than we'll have saved. Look, look it's really complicated and life's too short to read such boring trivia. I need to get Sharon's Z400 rear wheel onto my motorcycle for logistical reasons.
Previously I have strapped other smaller wheels and tyres vertically on the back seat and then to the top box. That however is not without it's problems. This usually see me at the side of the road trying to re-attach the wheel that's now slipped off the rear seat and is threatening to escape into the nearest ditch... or the side of an expensive car. I'd like a better, more secure, less terrifying solution.
I remove the top box and laying the wheel flat onto the rack/plate feels immediately better, less precarious. It is at present not ideal though.
We could lay the wheel brake disc down but that means all the movement and strapping forces are being taken through the disc. I know they're not "delicate" but discs are prone to bending and warping or possibly even cracking. Sub optimal. We could put it the other way up but that means a small boss (once the sprocket carrier has been removed) of whatever alloy the wheel is made of is taking all the forces. I fear the pressure may distort the alloy boss.
I inform Sharon ideally the edge of the tyre would be the best safest place to hold the tyre/wheel - but no solution comes to mind. She vanishes off and returns with this wooden thing. I know not, nor care, how she came by it but - by golly - I think we can work with this!
Oh yes...
The dimensions are slightly off for this particular tyre but a little judicious use of the hammer and some screws fixes that. The drill and a couple of bolts sees the concoction attached to the rack/plate. Then it is a simple task of strapping down the tyre/wheel and hey presto!
That ought to do it.
The wheel is supported on the tyre - the brake disc is floating in the wind and the boss has almost 10mm of clearance too. The wheel feels secure on the rack and I'm good to go. Except I'm missing my top box. And therefore my puncture repair kit. And my walking boots. And my battery booster. Ho well, I hope I have no problems.
The wheel can be easily mounted and strapped into place.
The bearing boss is not touching anything.
I do have a spare wheel though. But the Z400 wheel won't fit on my CB500X. Plus I don't have the tools to change the wheel, they're in my top box.
With the first part of the mission successfully completed we hope to return the wheel to Sharon's Z400 this coming weekend. We appreciate all the kind words you will undoubtedly post in the comments and we will be taking orders in the none too distant future. Yours sincerely - The Bikes And Travels Luggage Design And Development Team.
Easy tyre and wheel transportation.
Advertise your own hair-brained products here - contact ren@bikesandtravels.com.
Reader's Comments
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Timber is greatly underrated for making tools etc. It's much easier to cut and my gluing is infinitely better then my welding. This is the simple engine stand I made for the Triumph engine complete with cutouts from the last project I used it for....
And i've previously posted pics of my tyre removing frame made out of 3x3.
28/08/2024 11:50:10 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Let me see...
Scrap wood = nowt.
Postage = Always nowt, these days.
Screws = Got me own, nowt.
I'll have half a dozen posted please.
You're a genius.
Upt.
Get well soon Shazza.
28/08/2024 12:38:05 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Actually, Sharon's a genius you're just the lackey.
28/08/2024 12:54:44 UTC
nab301 said :-
Nicely done , over the years the most difficult thing I had to carry on a bike was a bag of cement on the back of my Deauville.... When carrying wheels I used to place a piece of timber across the pillion seat , unfold the pillion pegs hang the wheels on the timber and strap them securely at the bottom to the pillion pegs and at the top to the luggage rack ...
Nigel
28/08/2024 17:06:22 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Wow! Positive comments (except Upt' but that's to be expected).
I'm trying to work out your solution nab301 - send images or diagrams. I think I get it but not clearly...
And yes Ian while metal is often the superior material it's a real pain to alter and craft into the shapes and sizes that suit your immediate needs. Wood is much easier to persuade and manipulate.
28/08/2024 21:39:05 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren I haven't needed to carry wheels on a bike in years or even decades , on reflection the timber isn't needed but it seemed useful at the time when securing wheels to my MZ. ( not used in photo)
I bungeed one wheel onto my CB125F for photo purposes. (although I used ratchet type devices and bungees in the past for security and plenty of rubber matting to prevent paint scratches) Not recommended in todays politically correct world but at the time I didn't have the ability to fit large type tubeless tyres and I had no access to a car.
Seating is a bit snug but ok on the move , similar to a pillion I guess.
Nowadays I fit my own tyres at home ...
Nigel
14/09/2024 16:08:11 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
That looks like it ought to work pretty well, subject to good straps and/or bungees. I'm moving away from bungees these days, I'm finding the cambuckle straps are where it's at presently. I imagine ratchet straps are very good but I don't have the intelligence to operate them without hurting my delicate pinkies.
14/09/2024 21:53:20 UTC
Henrik said :-
When you need some wood ,.. and the car is in another country :-)
07/10/2024 22:12:42 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Fabulous Henrik! Now... just how legal is that in your country? I am definitely NOT a lawyer but here in the UK I seem to recall you're not supposed to have things "sticking out" more than 1 metre forward-backward of your vehicle without a high visibility "something" to warn other road users. That looks like less than a metre either end though. I also am told that in Switzerland you need a special kind of permit just to put a small ladder on your roofrack. If you were in India that load wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.
Anyhow, good work. I'm wondering if you could put another plank on the other side, some bracing between and you could carry things like bags of cement, 2 week's shopping, several friends AND that fridge in the doorway?
08/10/2024 07:33:40 UTC
Henrik said :-
Haha ,.. to be honnest I am not sure about the exact rules but took the chance for getting a ticket, far out in the country, depends on the officer you meet I guess :-) the clothes around the wood is to protect the bike from scratches, its very safe mounted, and nothing that disturbs driving. Yes both ends are jus a little less than 1 meter out from the bike. We got that marking-rule also for cars, but I am not sure about MC ,.. yes in India nothing is impossible :-)
08/10/2024 09:01:35 UTC
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