The almost ubiquitous (now) trailer hitch motorcycle carrier has come quite far in recent years and has progressed far beyond the original design spec. It is not uncommon to see several of these things on the back of autos, trucks, and especially RVs, during a drive down the highway in the summertime. Even the track-day junkie can stow their race-prepped machine on the back of the minivan so ‘after work’ becomes practice time. T-Motorsports produces the Heavy Duty Motorcycle Hitch Carrier (not very clever with nomenclature, are they?) for those people, and they sell it at a very reasonable price so that almost anyone can afford it.

Any standard square two-inch hitch receiver will hold the T-Motorsports Heavy Duty motorcycle hitch carrier, but you should have an appropriate Class of hitch for the weight of your bike and the unit combined (generally, a Class IV or above to be safe). Once in place, the carrier will hold a motorcycle weighing up to 600 pounds (272 kg), meaning that it should be suitable for most modern production sportbikes, and it can accept up to a 79 inch wheelbase. Made from a heavy-duty aluminum alloy for strength and powdercoated black for durability, the entire unit weighs less than 70 pounds (32 kg), thus keeping the stress on that hitch to a minimum. With two tie-down bars and an integrated chock, the motorbike can be secured very well so that it stays completely stable; the equipped anti-tilt device keeps the whole unit from bobbling around out back. When you pick up a model of the T-Motorsports Heavy Duty motorcycle hitch carrier, you get everything you need (save tie-downs) to move your precious machine without the hassle of a trailer.

As one would expect from a device like the Heavy Duty motorcycle hitch carrier, using it is simple but does take some muscle. After all, a sportbike is not as light as a dirt bike. However, the 74 inch (1.9 meter) ramp is solidly mounted with quick-release locks and is long enough to allow for good leverage; the ‘wheel wells’ which the bike sits in hold things very steady. Once you have connected the carrier to your tow vehicle and pushed the bike up onto the rack, all you need do now is secure it and then put the ramp in its stowed position (behind the rack). Unloading is just the opposite, but it is helpful to have a second person help with this procedure to be safe. Behavior on the road is identical to any other hitch-mounted carrier with the fairly standard anti-tilt hook-up, but there is a definite extra sensation due to the extra weight being so far from the tow vehicle’s rear wheels – but, with the Heavy Duty motorcycle hitch carrier, there is no need to deal with a trailer and the headaches it can bring.

Though not a solution for all owners of sportbikes, or motorcycles in general, the T-Motorsports Heavy Duty motorcycle hitch carrier does its job well and costs less than your last set of tires. Suggested retail is US$200, but it’s actually difficult to find it for that much; check with your dealer.