There’s an e-mail going around that shows some (purportedly) Japanese motorcycles with fold-down tow-racks. The technology is at least two years old, judging by the video further down, which was posted on May 10, 2007.

This site asserts the vehicles are actually heavily modified Honda Goldwing 1800cc bikes, designed by a Swedish company, Coming Through (as the video below notes at the beginning) and is appropriately named the Retriever.

Motorcycle blog Kneeslider notes, “The Retriever’s towing rig carries the weight of the car on three wheels so the motorcycle can still be ridden normally. Since the motorcycle is only providing the torque necessary for towing and doesn’t have to carry extra weight, the vehicle is easily moved and a six cylinder Goldwing has all of the power you need. The Retriver can tow cars up to 5500 pounds.”

Turns out there’s also video footage of a red one in action —

Fun!