gross vehicle weight rating - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

arnoldd54 · 10-25-2007, 06:26 PM

Thank you for having me. What I would like to know is how much weight a Goldwing,Concours14 and Vulcan Nomad will carry. My wife and I weight about 460 pounds and I am not sure I can find a bike that will carry us and some luggage.

**Clint** · 10-25-2007, 06:35 PM

Welcome. A Google search for something like "2007 Goldwing specs" usually gets that type of question answered quickly. Not many of us have those numbers memorized.

bigE · 10-25-2007, 09:22 PM

The GVWR on my SV650 is 885 pounds, and its a pretty small bike (it only weighs about 380). I'm sure those big bikes you mentioned can carry ya'll and some gear easy...

Rickster · 10-29-2007, 05:06 PM

I don't think you are going to find many manufacturers that are listing there bikes as capable of carrying a 500 pound payload.

Even the big touring bikes are limited because of the tires. My FLTRI (Road King) has a GVWR of 1259 pounds subtract from that the weight of the bike, 731 pounds, and you get a payload of 528 pounds. The FLHTCU (Ultra Classic) is even worse, because it has the same GVWR, but the bike weighs 57 pounds more, so the payload is reduced to 471 pounds.

Now keep in mind this is what the manufacturers recommend, I know for a fact that I've seen Ultra Classics, and Gold Wings with well over 800 pounds on them. Is it right? No. Can it be done? Yep, but if you do, keep a close watch on your tire wear.

Thundurburd · 10-29-2007, 06:06 PM

Tire design is an extremely complicated issue involving the design of composite materials. Composites are structural systems comprised of two or more different materials, rubber and belting in tires for example, concrete and steel, different metals, and so on. Some relevant design factors for tires are load, pressure and heat. When done right structural systems like tires can be overloaded without incident even though as a structural engineer I don't like to see it. But when done wrong as could have been the case with the Explorer/Firestone situation, you have consequences.

That said I'm sorry to say I don't have specific advice for motorcycles. In general I would say to watch tire pressure, not too much and not to little. And maybe take it slow or keep loads down on days of very extreme heat.

TFee3 · 10-30-2007, 11:11 AM

Arnoldd, I pulled a trailer behind my 550 for years and had no problems. If you're worried about gross weight, I might suggest that you pull a trailer. It's pretty easy. I just bought a C90T Boulevard (1500 cc) and am going to buy a trailer for it.

TechJD · 10-30-2007, 11:30 PM

I had a similar problem
bike made to carrie 945 and bike weighted in at 530
with some parts removed, fairing gone - removed H-box
got the bike down to 475 leaving me 470
was still not enough for me and wife
ended up adding a extra shock ( my bike has mono shock )
with all the oil gone, so it's just spring rate,
now I can put over 600lbs on it and it dont bottom out
rear tire is rated at 850lbs
so my advice is talk to some mechanic's and see if you can boost
your suspension and make sure your tire can carry the load
I think Goldwings are also rated near 500lb load

10-25-2007, 06:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
arnoldd54 Newbie Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	gross vehicle weight rating Thank you for having me. What I would like to know is how much weight a Goldwing,Concours14 and Vulcan Nomad will carry. My wife and I weight about 460 pounds and I am not sure I can find a bike that will carry us and some luggage.

10-29-2007, 05:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rickster Bridal Boutique Manager Joined: Oct 2005 Location: St Paul Mn Posts: 2,873	I don't think you are going to find many manufacturers that are listing there bikes as capable of carrying a 500 pound payload. Even the big touring bikes are limited because of the tires. My FLTRI (Road King) has a GVWR of 1259 pounds subtract from that the weight of the bike, 731 pounds, and you get a payload of 528 pounds. The FLHTCU (Ultra Classic) is even worse, because it has the same GVWR, but the bike weighs 57 pounds more, so the payload is reduced to 471 pounds. Now keep in mind this is what the manufacturers recommend, I know for a fact that I've seen Ultra Classics, and Gold Wings with well over 800 pounds on them. Is it right? No. Can it be done? Yep, but if you do, keep a close watch on your tire wear. __________________ Ever notice that the person telling you to calm down, is the same one that got you worked up in the first place. 2008 1250 Bandit ABS 2008 DR 650 2006 HD Road King 2005 DL1000 V Strom (sold) 2004 Twin Peaks 700 2003 KTM 525 EX/C (for sale) 2005 Santa Cruz Heckler

10-29-2007, 06:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Thundurburd Sprocket Pilot Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 2007 Black S50 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 819	Tire design is an extremely complicated issue involving the design of composite materials. Composites are structural systems comprised of two or more different materials, rubber and belting in tires for example, concrete and steel, different metals, and so on. Some relevant design factors for tires are load, pressure and heat. When done right structural systems like tires can be overloaded without incident even though as a structural engineer I don't like to see it. But when done wrong as could have been the case with the Explorer/Firestone situation, you have consequences. That said I'm sorry to say I don't have specific advice for motorcycles. In general I would say to watch tire pressure, not too much and not to little. And maybe take it slow or keep loads down on days of very extreme heat. __________________ The rubber parts are supposed to be on the bottom.

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10-25-2007, 09:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigE Kickstand Operator Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: 2000 SV650 & 2000 Marauder Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 262	The GVWR on my SV650 is 885 pounds, and its a pretty small bike (it only weighs about 380). I'm sure those big bikes you mentioned can carry ya'll and some gear easy...

10-30-2007, 11:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
TFee3 Ditch Magnet Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: '07 C90T Location: Gravois Mills MO Posts: 166	Arnoldd, I pulled a trailer behind my 550 for years and had no problems. If you're worried about gross weight, I might suggest that you pull a trailer. It's pretty easy. I just bought a C90T Boulevard (1500 cc) and am going to buy a trailer for it.

10-30-2007, 11:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
TechJD Found second gear by accident Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 1996 Shadow ACE VT1100C2 Location: 50 miles south of Lexington, KY Posts: 336	I had a similar problem bike made to carrie 945 and bike weighted in at 530 with some parts removed, fairing gone - removed H-box got the bike down to 475 leaving me 470 was still not enough for me and wife ended up adding a extra shock ( my bike has mono shock ) with all the oil gone, so it's just spring rate, now I can put over 600lbs on it and it dont bottom out rear tire is rated at 850lbs so my advice is talk to some mechanic's and see if you can boost your suspension and make sure your tire can carry the load I think Goldwings are also rated near 500lb load

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