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[Causemoi]

 I would like to buy a trailer to tow my 2016 SR (415 lbs.) with a Honda Civic 1000 miles at highway speeds. Does anyone have experience with small motorcycle trailers, especially long distance? Makes/models recommended or to avoid? (Also posted in General forum).

[heroto]

The car will be limit what you can use. Look up the max tongue weight and max towing weight.
As for which trailer, assuming it’s within the weight limits for your car, cheap stuff made in China has advocates (who all replace the wheel bearings) and many more detractors. After that it’s rent from Uhaul (very sturdy, very heavy) or buy some quality stuff made in the US. There are cool folding options and various minimalist options that all have their fans.

[evdjerome]

I've towed my 2015 DS on a Uhaul motorcycle trailer on a Toyota Matrix six times. Two of those trips was over 260 mile one-way on Interstate. I do like the sturdiness of the UHaul trailer. I don't recall what class my hitch is, but the sticker says "Max Gross Load: 2,000 lbs".

[KrazyEd]

I have towed a fairly heavy three bike trailer with my Civic Hybrid a few times between Las Vegas and Laguna Seca
Only issue in MY case was the working it's A** off up the hills. My usual 50 plus MPG also dropped to under 30 MPG.
About to find out how my 2017 Volt is going to work on the same trip. Leaving Monday evening for Refuel Towing my
2016 SR. Picked up a very light weight trailer for this trip

[wagz50]

I've towed my Zero with the 1200lb capacity foldable trailer from harbor freight and it works well (even better if you weld it together).
The big tip for long distance towing is that larger wheels on a trailer are better, especially if you'll be up over 70 mph. Stay away from any tires smaller than 14" diameter if you can.

[roma258]

There are lots of good small-bike trailers out there.

Kendon is probably as good as it gets, keep an eye out in various classifieds (I've had good luck on advrider), to get them at a reasonable cost: https://www.kendonusa.com/

I've used trailer in a bag for years, super light and cab be taken apart into component pieces, quality made-in-US stuff, but no longer made. Mine may be for sale soon (decided to go in the hitch carrier direction).

But yeah, basically and single rail trailer will work with your set-up. Almost any car is rated for at least 1000 pounds towing, but most will handle up to 2,000 pretty easily.

[MrDude_1]

Are you planning on only doing this once or twice?  Rent a trailer.

Are you planning on using it infrequently but often enough to own one? Buy a used quality trailer, or new chinese with the understanding it will take some fiddling to get it to work the way you want.

Are you planning to use it regularly? Buy a high quality trailer from a shop with a multi year warranty or a used quality one with the understanding you will have to maintain it.

[Shocker]

I have a 2018 SR and just got The Stinger Single Trailer.
https://www.stingertrailer.com/

 Can’t use it for anything else but a motorcycle, but if you’re looking for easy to load on and off that even a single person can do by themself, this is your ticket.  They’re strap down kit is really a plus and works very well with the trailers design.  The “trailer in a bag” is also one of theirs, you can see it on the website. Folds up nicely in garage as well.

[togo]

I just towed my Zero more than 800 miles with one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MS1GNE2/

I can't honestly say I'd recommend it, though.  Motorcycle tilts alarmingly when turning,
and the lever/lift mechanism is useless.  But if mounted low enough so it scrapes sometimes,
the tilting is reduced, and it is pretty stable at speed, and it seems solid.  I use ratchet straps
instead of the crap straps provided, and I use three-way redundant straps, and check them
every 300 miles for wear and tightness and loose bolts. 

[JaimeC]

The original company apparently has gone out of business, but this version by Stinger looks like a nice upgrade to the original design:

https://www.stingertrailer.com/product/trailer-in-a-bag/

I have the original version in my garage (it belongs to a friend of mine).  Comes apart easy and stores in a surprisingly small space.  Goes together easy enough and I towed my Zero down to my friend's house a little over 100 miles away.  All highway and it does just fine.  My friend uses it to tow his Yamaha FZ-1 from New York to Virginia every year, too.  It's a great idea if you don't have a lot of room to store a trailer when it's not being used.

[Moto7575]

This might not answer your question, but I was very positively surprised to see that web-based platform can transport your motorbike at crazily cheap prices. Basically they rely on people having a truck, and pooling it for different customers (moving, buying stuff on e-bay,...).

In Europe i used shiply and paid just 100$ to cross France, taking the bike in a place far from everywhere and delivering in my basement. At that price you need a loooot of rides to make it worth buying a trailer...

[KrazyEd]

I have used the bumper mounted Amazon type for around town, I agree that it is not too comforting. Probably wouldn't wish to take on the road.
You should be able to put a piece of angle iron across the bottom of the hitch to allow wider strap down points. If going any distance, you will
probably also wish to remove the belt. Even though just around town, I just loosened mine, removed it from the sprocket and tucked it up by the motor.
If you have a Harbor Freight near you, they have a bunch that are pretty light weight that would do the job.
If you look at the photo that I posted above from a while back, you can see my Civic Hybrid did a fine job with an older HEAVY trailer with no issues other
than it working it's a** off going up a hill

[cpallenjr]

I have an old Holsclaw MA-9 3 rail motorcycle that has a capacity of about 600 lbs. It's very well built yet lightweight.  I've towed with a VW golf, S10 pickup, and 3 series BMW with zero issues. It does have small wheels, but mine has wheel bearing cup grease fittings (Bearing Buddies) and have not had any problems. You would have to watch Craigslist or similar for one to turn up, but there are still quite a few of them out there.

[Killroy]

I used to tow a motorcycle with my Miata and a trailer kit I assembled myself.  It was no problem even though Miata's are not intended to tow.

I think was Harbor Freight kit, but I can't find it. 

[ZeroMark]

I towed my 2014 11.4 Zero DS on a trailer I bought from Harbor Freight for $249.00.  You have to assemble it yourself, but it has a 4 x 8 foot box, it tilts up and down, and the trailer folds in 1/2 and stands up on end for easy storage.  It can handle 1920 lbs, and a simple hitch I bolted underneath my Kia Soul was a breeze to put on (3 bolts for the hitch - $79.00 kit) and a lite-extender kit to plug into the Kia's brake and tail lights was $49.00 and installed in the rear of the Soul in about 10 minutes.  Get the 20% off coupon from Harbor Freight's web site and you can get the trailer for about $199.00.  The tow hitch and light kit came from an online site etrailer.com.  The trailer can be built "naked" or with side panels or stake-side panels so you can haul the bike and anything else you want back there.  It practically balances itself with the bike on the center/middle of the trailer, so the weight on the car is virtually nothing. -Mark