Hi guys, my first thead besides my into thread in the newb section

I'm just wondering if anyone has used their Mazda3 to tow. I have a 2022 sedan and I'd love to be able to tow the motorcycle(s) I don't currently own someday. I do currently have a 1.25" hitch on my car for the bike rack but that would need to be "upgraded" to a 2" receiver.
I'm hoping to get two motorcycles in the not-too-distant future with one being a cruiser (Indian Scout Bobber) and one being a dual sport bike. I'm not sure I'd want to ride a dual sport, or any motorcycle really, all the way out of the Bay Area up to the Sierra so it would be great if I could eventually get a trailer.

You guys have any experiences using the Mazda3 to tow? Thanks in advance.

 

Not the best user name for a Mazda forum lol

Maybe one bike but IMHO pushing it with 2. And if you are planning to go up the Sierra Mountains with a trailered bike better get use to the truck lane.

Last week end... HWY 80..

 

Ha, I was thinking about that as I was creating my account. CivicLx is a name that I've used many times and it's the kind of car I had when I first got into the import scene in the late 90s. I was stationed in Yuma, Az at the time and had a blast hitting up the Hot Import Nights/Daze shows in SoCal.

You're right about hauling two bikes. The 2025 Scout Bobber comes in at 542lbs and you figure another few hundred pounds for a dual sport. And then of course you have those mountain passes which can't be a ton of fun for towing. I am not too familiar with highway 80. Coming from San Jose, and headed to where I'd be going, I'd use Highway 108/Sonora Pass up to 395. If I was able to tow, I'd probably consider just getting a dirt bike as long as I had a cruiser for legal street riding.

I don't know if this is a member here but I did find this video on YT and it gives me hope. Heck, on another forum, I even saw a guy with a WRX using just a motorcycle rack to haul a bike

 

Yuma…hot dry and made for Army .
those single axle light duty trailers never give me confidence. But for a Mazda it’s close to a responsible safe limit. The other thing you will or should get is upgraded rear dampeners(shocks) .

the video he did a clean upgrade and set up

 

I was in Yuma for the Marine Corp and stationed at the air base out there. I was there from '99 to May of '01 and then was in Iwakuni, Japan for the rest of my career until August of '02. Being in Iwakuni while really into the import scene was great. Actually hooked up with a local club (dependents and former Marines) and used to go out with them a bit on the weekends. Looking back on my time there, I do wish I had gotten out more than I did. I mostly stayed on base.

 

Depending on tow bar / hitch design & mounting points, your Mazda will easily handle a 750kg ( 1,650lbs) unbraked trailer. (1,200kg /2,645lbs braked trailer ) ( Factory rating in New Zealand & Australia)

 

I don't know the first thing about towing but since it seems to be possible with my car, I should definitely learn. I did see a video where a girl towed a street bike from the Northeast to Florida and surprisingly she had a 1.25" hitch like me. That would be pretty awesome if I could do the same.

 

You may want to consider investing in an Ultra Gauge so you can watch multiple ECU monitors at one time if you are going to tow as as well the rear shock upgrade I mentioned earlier.