igus trailers its innovative solution
When motorcycle enthusiast and entrepreneur Eric Debenham formed his company Mono-Trail to develop his own single-wheel trailer, his main aim was to create a design that looked as sleek as his bike. He also wanted the trailer to have full-suspension but without the penalty of additional weight, so he contacted plastic bearing expert igus UK for advice.
“We all spend a fortune on panniers, top boxes, and tank bags - just so we can use our bikes more and do some touring,” he explains. “They never seem to hold enough though and then there's all the extra weight high up on the bike which makes it feel awful to ride.” When he spotted a single wheel motorcycle trailer on the back of a bike a few years ago Eric let out a gasp and said: “This looks the business!”
The idea of having no luggage piled on the top of his bike and instead a trailer that followed the angle of the bike through corners and, being no wider than the bike, the ability to still filter through traffic jams appealed to him immensely. The particular design he’d seen could have done with a better, more attractive, quick-release hitch and looked rather ugly, when compared to the slick sports bike that was pulling it. One thing lead to another and Mono-Trail was born.
“Initially Eric contacted us for advice on the link arms in the suspension system of the trailer,” recalls Matt Aldridge of igus UK. “He’d evaluated all sorts of designs but hadn’t achieved the desired solution. We sent him some samples of the standard igubal EGZM-08-60 double joint pivoting bearings, and intrigued by his application, shortly after I went to visit him.”
Positioned adjacent to the wheel, these bearings are susceptible to excessive amounts of salt water, muck and debris. The original design used a nut and bolt assembly, which was heavy and caused the ball to swell. In addition, the tie bar needed a grease nipple at either end since every 1,000 or so miles it had to be greased – not ideal when you’re on a road trip across Europe!
The spherical balls at either end of the link arm in the igubal double joint pivoting bearings are engineered to run dry, which means they self-lubricate and are dirt-repellent and rugged. In addition, without the need for lubricants or maintenance, grease nipples are eliminated from the design entirely. The plastic also helps to dampen out the suspension and with a motorbike trailer every gram counts, so the fact that the igubal products are made of plastic ensure that it is light-weight.
“While I was there,” continues Aldridge, “I noticed that Eric was using ball bearings at the pivot point of the trailer’s suspension.” Here the load bearing capacity is quite low and there isn’t a full rotation of the ball... this is also prone to muck and debris. iglidur P bearings solved the problem, an economic solution that does not absorb moisture and will not swell – basically it is a free-running fit. Further igus bearings are used in the main lid, this time two iglidur G bearings, which help create a quality feel on closing. Two more are similarly used in the glove box and another to counteract the flex in the draw bar.
“Nearly three years of design and testing later, we have launched the TourMAX,” says Debenham. “A great looking, high quality, fully road legal, single wheel trailer that will sit on the back of a bike and will swallow all your stuff securely and even pull a crowd of admirers wherever you go. The suspension has been completely redesigned nine times now but at last we have created a system that is simple, robust and maintenance-free. The ride is actually much better than we had hoped for so we are really pleased with this.”
The TourMAX is the first in a range of single wheel motorcycle trailers Mono-Trail has in development. The next adventure is a trailer designed specifically for carrying pets - so man may finally take his best friend out on the open road. Visit their website at:
For more information, please call igus UK directly on 01604 677240 or visit the website at:
Images and Captions:
TourMax Trailer suspension linkage
You can clearly see the igus bushes in the pivot
TourMAX trailer on a Harley Davidson Night Train - Anywhere the
bike can go the trailer will go.
TourMAX trailer behind Harley Davidson Night Train. Look at the
luggage space you have - all carried close to the ground.
About igus:
Based in Northampton in the UK, and with global headquarters in Cologne, Germany, igus is the largest producer of injection moulded polymer bearings and reinforced plastic cable carriers in the world. Product lines include industry-leading E-Chain cable carriers, Chainflex continuous-flex cables, iglidur plastic plain bearings, igubal spherical bearings, DryLin linear bearings and guide systems. The company has 26 subsidiaries across 31 countries and employs approximately 1,800 people worldwide.
With plastic bearing experience since 1964, cable carrier experience since 1971 and continuous-flex cable since 1989, igus provides the right solution based on 80,000 products available from stock with between 1,500 and 2,500 new products introduction each year
For more information, please call igus UK directly on 01604 677240 or visit the website at:
igus, E-Chain, ReadyChain, Chainflex, iglidur, igubal and DryLin are registered trademarks