How K9 Moto Cockpit Works
K9 Moto Cockpit is a tubular, steel-framed motorcycle dog carrier for small, medium, and large dogs.
Like the roll bars on an ATV, the padded frame delivers an authentic, open-air riding experience and applies the proven safety principles of a riding helmet:
Hard and impact-resistant on the outside and softly padded on the inside.
The Cockpit design delivers superior safety and performance under the most demanding riding conditions:
Large dog
Tall motorcycle
Difficult terrain
Extreme weather
Large dog
Tall motorcycle
Difficult terrain
Extreme weather
Design Principles for Superior Protection and Performance
Want to dig deeper into how these design principles create a superior, safer motorcycle dog carrier? Click on the icon below to reveal more details below.
1. Laying position to lower the load
Places weight closer to the motorcycle’s load center and provides the dog with better comfort and safety.
2. Connect the load to the motorcycle
The seat and wheel hub carry the load for more natural ride geometry and less strain on the mounting hardware.
3. Rigid frame with padded interior
Applies the proven safety principles of a riding helmet and maximizes cooling airflow and ventilation.
1. Laying position to lower the load
Places weight closer to the motorcycle’s load center and provides the dog with better comfort and safety.
▎▍▋ ▉ 1. Laying position to lower the load
The laying position lowers the center of gravity and improves the connection between the load and the motorcycle. It’s also better for the dog:
Safer because the dog does not get thrown against the sides in leaning turns or speed changes.
More comfortable because the dog fully relaxes and doesn’t struggle for balance.
More enjoyable because the dog’s full attention is focused on the sights, sounds, and smells.
For more information, check out our Riding Position article and video.
2. Connect the load to the motorcycle
The seat and wheel hub carry the load for more natural ride geometry and less strain on the mounting hardware.
▎▍▋ ▉ 2. Connect the load to the motorcycle
The passenger seat carries the bulk of the dog’s weight – the head, torso, and front legs. This enables the motorcycle to carry the load as it was designed to carry a human passenger.
When the carrier is an entirely separate, self-contained structure, the load is separated from the motorcycle. This produces poorer ride geometry and greater strain on the chassis.
For more information, check out our Design Principles article.
3. Rigid frame with padded interior
Applies the proven safety principles of a riding helmet and maximizes cooling airflow and ventilation.
▎▍▋ ▉ 3. Rigid frame with padded interior
Like ATV or Jeep roll bars, the Cockpit’s padded frame comfortably protects the dog against impacts. It also improves airflow and delivers a safe, natural, open-air experience.
Enclosed crates and kennels surround the dog with hard, unpadded surfaces. In leans, stops, and crashes, the dog suffers injury when they strike the carrier’s sidewalls and hard edges.
For more information, check out our Safety Principles article and Protecting Your Dog from the Elements article.
Future-Proofed
Your Cockpit Is Ready for Whatever the Future Holds
GEN2 K9 Moto Cockpit is a once-for-a-lifetime heritage product that evolves with you. It features a replaceable aluminum baseplate so that we – or you – can easily retrofit your Cockpit mounting when you add a new motorcycle, ebike, scooter, snowmobile, or other vehicle to your stable.
Refresh Your Brand
Express a new idea or share a special event message with a wrap-around patch for your Cockpit’s lateral bars.
Replace Your Upholstery
Completely change your Cockpit styling with a set of replacement upholstery that snaps right on.
Comfy New Cushion
It holds up through thousands of miles but you can always replace your cushion for a fresh new look and feel.
Swap Out the Baseplate
A new unmodified baseplate that you can swap out for the original and drill out the mounting for your new bike
New Mounting Hardware
We provide a new baseplate and mounting hardware to retrofit your Cockpit for all your future vehicles.
Cockpit Ride Reports
What’s It Like Riding with a K9 Copilot?
Jess shares her first-hand experiences, tips, and tricks from riding through all kinds of terrain, climates, and road conditions with Swiss Shepherd copilot Whimsy.
Riding “The Loneliest Road” in Nevada
The stretch of old U.S. Route 50 is called "The Loneliest Road" where it links Fallon and Ely through a few hundred miles of high desert and snowy-peaked mountains in Nevada. The sky feels big here. The land feels open. It’s not so lonely here as it once was – I suppose nowhere is – but it’s every bit as incredible.
Riding “The Loneliest Road” in Nevada
The stretch of old U.S. Route 50 is called "The Loneliest Road" where it links Fallon and Ely through a few hundred miles of high desert and snowy-peaked mountains in Nevada. The sky feels big here. The land feels open. It’s not so lonely here as it once was – I suppose nowhere is – but it’s every bit as incredible.
Riding in the Heat along the Beautiful Ecuador Coast
Jess explains how movement and airflow are the best ways to keep her Swiss Shepherd Whimsy cool and comfortable when riding in the hot weather and strong sunshine along the Ecuador coast.
Riding at High Speed on the Pan-American in Ecuador
Neither Whimsy nor Jess love riding at high speed because it's harder to enjoy the many sights, sounds, and smells that make motorcycle riding so amazing! But Whimsy takes it as it comes and gets some much needed shuteye!
Cockpit Tip Sheets
Contributions from dozens of Cockpit riders and thousands of road miles created these free downloads filled with tips and tricks.
COCKPIT Q&As
You’ve Got Qs…We’ve Got As
Greg answers all your Cockpit questions with the thought, detail, and long-winded explanation they deserve!
⚼:﹕What types of motorcycles can the Cockpit be mounted to?
𝔸﹕A whole variety – including many scooters, ebikes, and snow mobiles! We custom design and build the necessary brackets to mount your Cockpit to your vehicle. If you have any questions about if the Cockpit can secure to your specific make and model, reach out to us and ask!
⚼:﹕What types of motorcycles can the Cockpit be mounted to?
𝔸﹕A whole variety – including many scooters, ebikes, and snow mobiles! We custom design and build the necessary brackets to mount your Cockpit to your vehicle. If you have any questions about if the Cockpit can secure to your specific make and model, reach out to us and ask!
⚼:﹕Can I ride with my dog in their Cockpit when it rains?
𝔸﹕Of course, and your dog will probably be drier and more comfortable than you are. The K9 Moto Rainfly provides a durable, protective barrier against rain and storms. The slip-over hood integrates with your dog's riding goggles for a secure, comfortable fit and overlaps with the rainfly to ensure no moisture enters.
⚼:﹕How do I access my under-seat fuel tank with the Cockpit installed?
𝔸﹕Our front hinge option makes it easy to access your under-seat fuel tank or storage without removing your Cockpit. You simply release the locking mechanism near the front corner and rotate the front crosswise bar up and outward. With the front hinge option selected, we also build your Cockpit wide enough to ensure that the full seat width will pass through unhindered.
Cockpit Safety in a Crash
Over 100,000s of miles we and other Cockpit riders have experienced multiple on- and off-road crashes without injury. Experienced riders understand there are no sure-things in a crash situation but we designed K9 Moto Cockpit for maximum safety based on extensive study, testing, and real world experiences.
Crash Safety Principles
Rider safety equipment doesn’t (yet) exist for dogs like for humans. That’s why your Cockpit is designed according to key crash safety principles.
- Rigid steel structure provides exterior impact protection
- Cushioning absorbs impacts and craddles the body against all hard parts
- Snug fit reduces swinging, agitation, and extreme movements
- Laying position keeps external hazards as far away as possible
- Strapping in avoids hard landings, ballistic impacts, and moving traffic
➔ Check out this real world video from Scott and copilot Zeke.
Tracy and Roo
Rider and copilot faced a hard time of it on the wind-swept gravel of Argentina’s Ruta 40 riding to the bottom of South America.
“It’s impossible to stand for 85 kms of deep gravel so I sat back down, hit soft stuff and cartwheeled over the windscreen…Roo was fine as you can see…she was just chilling in her throne, secretly laughing at me.”
Wilson and Pecas
This ramblin’ pair were traveling south of the border when they were sideswiped at 75 mph in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
“Honestly don’t know how I’m still alive. Pecas is perfect and healthy. At that speed and everything…having her strapped down is what kept her in that Cockpit so I have nothing but respect for the design.”
Jess and Moxie
Slick, slippery mud near Oregon’s Painted Hills resulted in a crash that knocked the side case off the motorcycle – but Moxie was completely safe and protected.
“Moxie was fine. She was all excited…she just wanted to play. The Cockpit was perfectly fine and didn’t even hit.”
Allen and Odin
“Creamed by a car making an illegal u-turn, the bike is totaled and I’m in the hospital but Odin is okay and at home.”
“Odin has over 40k miles on his bike including BDR. We’ve gone down in mud in the mountians a couple times and the metal pannier keeps him off the ground while the Cockpit pads him. The system works! Trust the safety of it.”
Riders Guides
Detailed Articles and Videos and the Cockpit
Whether you prefer to read or watch, our Rider’s Guide videos and articles are packed with tips, tricks, and practical explanations about safety, protection, training, travel, and more.
Riders Guide Videos
How To Perform the Tape Outline Exercise to Choose the Right Size Cockpit
When selecting the size of your dog's Cockpit, we want the fit to be snug but not cramped, and the best way to determine that is to perform the Tape Outline Exercise. Here's how to do it…
How To Perform the Tape Outline Exercise to Choose the Right Size Cockpit
When selecting the size of your dog's Cockpit, we want the fit to be snug but not cramped, and the best way to determine that is to perform the Tape Outline Exercise. Here's how to do it…
K9 Moto BoosterSeat to custom fit the Cockpit for your dog or growing puppy
The K9 Moto BoosterSeat is an adjustable, padded insert to create a custom fit for your dog or growing puppy in their Cockpit.
K9 Moto PawGuards for Your Dog’s Cockpit
The PawGuards ensure that your dog's legs and paws remain securely protected without blocking the cooling airflow to keep your dog protected and comfortable within the K9 Moto Cockpit's padded roll bars.
Riders Guide Articles
Riding a Snowmobile with Your Dog
K9 Moto Cockpit is the ultimate snowmobile dog carrier for comfort and protection so you can share a thrilling, authentic ride together.
Riding a Snowmobile with Your Dog
K9 Moto Cockpit is the ultimate snowmobile dog carrier for comfort and protection so you can share a thrilling, authentic ride together.
Travel Solution for Strapping Gear to Your Cockpit
Luggage Loops are a rugged, tactical solution for strapping motorcycle luggage and travel gear to the outside of your K9 Moto Cockpit.
For A Perfect Cockpit Fit
Cockpit BoosterSeat creates a perfect Cockpit fit by occupying the excess space around your copilot with additional protective padding.
Do you have questions?
Check out our FAQs or contact us directly.
Click here for questions about the prices, discounts for special circumstances, or ambassadorships.
DISCLAIMER
**WARNING** The K9 Moto Cockpit and Cockpit-Style Carrier Build Guide (hereafter referred to as the “Cockpit" and “Build Guide”, respectively), are intended for display and informational purposes only.
Read full disclaimer »
The Cockpit will modify the original design of the vehicle on which it is installed and may change the way in which the vehicle operates and/or handles. User assumes all risk and is responsible for the proper operation and handling of the vehicle as modified.
The user acknowledges that their full and complete participation in the Cockpit design process is obligatory and said process must be completed prior to the fabrication of their Cockpit. Failure to complete the design process within 180 days of purchase may result in cancellation of the Cockpit purchase.
RUFFLY makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the Cockpit's use as a safety device. This item is designed exclusively for dogs and has not been tested for a safety rating as established by the U.S. Department of Transportation or U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. User assumes all risk and is responsible for any injuries to user and/or user’s dog as a result of using this product.
The user agrees to have the Cockpit reviewed by a qualified motorcycle mechanic for quality and suitability for the user’s specific motorcycle make and model. The user assumes all risk and is responsible for the proper installation and use of this product. The user expressly agrees to hold RUFFLY, including but not limited to its owners, officers, designers, and agents, harmless from any and all damages and/or losses incurred by the user and/or others including any and all harm to the user’s pet from the use of the Cockpit.
No claims, representations or warranties, whether expressed or implied, are made by RUFFLY as to the safety, reliability, durability and performance of any of its products, including but not limited to the Cockpit. Furthermore, RUFFLY accepts no liability whatsoever for the safety, reliability, durability and performance of any of said products.
RUFFLY further makes no representations, expressed or implied, and provides no warranties of any kind with regard to construction and/or use of the Cockpit, including but not limited to whether the Cockpit complies with any federal, state or local statutes, laws, rules or regulations pertaining to such construction or use.
The user assumes all responsibility for the user’s and the product’s compliance with all statutes, laws, rules and/or regulations, nationally and internationally, as they may apply to this product and/or its assembly and its application to the user’s vehicle.
RUFFLY reminds users that motorcycling is a dangerous activity and any changes to the original setup or configuration of the motorcycle will change the vehicle’s performance and might void the manufacturer’s warrantee. Furthermore, riding a motorcycle with a dog is dangerous for both the rider and the animal. RUFFLY reminds dog owners to always safely secure your dog in any moving vehicle.
K9 Moto Cockpit
CONTACT FORM
Please complete the contact form below and we will get back to you right away.
"*" indicates required fields
