I too used to tow bikes this way behind my '74 Opel Manta, when there was no other option. I towed a'75 Norton Commando, a '68 Bonneville and my Rickman Montesa from Flagstaff, AZ to South Bay L.A. about 500 miles, no worries. Just take off the chain and away you go. My version had a cradle that held the front wheel. Never had any problem with it. I used to show up at Ascot, Saddleback and Perris that way and no one ever said "are you kidding me!" They may have looked at me that way but never said a word.
