Anyone lifted their "V" with one of those motorcycle lifts that Harbor Freight sells? If so, got a picture?
Thanks.
Ed:huh:

Do you mean the one that goes under the engine, or the big platform?

The kind that goes under the engine usually doesn't work for sport bikes... there's always parts in the way... really intended for bikes with lower frame rails.

Do you mean this;
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii30/Macvalk/99701.gif

I ordered one from Harborfreight 2 weeks ago, but its been back ordered, due in next week I think. I'll let you know what its like.

Machog

I have one like that works great you just have to install the spindles onto the back by the rear tire it works great for lubricating and cleaning. The type that have a jack on them that slide under the frame and are jacked up will not work the exhaust is in the way.

Good find - and a great price. Let us know how you like it.

I'm all about using what I have. I use my smaller set of jack stands for the V. The right side slips under the peg with a little lift to top out the suspension while the bike is on the side stand. Then just lift the bike and slide the other one under the left peg. Removing the bags is a must and bag racks give more handholds for lifting. The rear wheel is between two and three inches off the shop floor and the bike is level in these pictures.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7428.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7429.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7431.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7430.jpg

Dan

That looks like a easy way of doing it ddouble. I hadn't thought of that. I will have to give that a try.

I used the Speedy-jack when I installed the Speedy's lowering kit last Sunday. It's two five gallon buckets turned upside down and placed under the pegs (same location as the jacks above). Since I didn't have a stand or jacks, they worked great. Thanks Speedy.

Machog if you could? I searched Harbor Frieght last night for that lift and couldnt find it.

Would you provide a link? Thanks much.

Get a Pitbull. There great and really stable.

Its on back order until the end of the this, month, I ordered mine beginning of Sept and still haven't got it yet. I just punched the number in on Harborfreightusa website and it couldn't find it. I had to phone order in when I got mine, suggest you try the same. 99701-0VGA is the item number. Maybe its off their site until they get them in stock?

Low Profile Rear Motorcycle Spool Stand
Smooth rolling wheels and extended grab handle for extra leverage allows stand to be easily used by one person
Completely lifts rear of motorcycle for changing a tire, tightening the chain, servicing brakes, or changing oil
Ideal for motorcycle storage to prevent flat spots on tires
Width adjusts from 10-1/2" to 14" to fit a wide variety of swing arm sizes
Maximum capacity: 1000 lbs.
Use with our Paddle Adapters (sold separately) to convert to a rear swing-arm stand

Overall dimensions: 26-7/8" L x 17-5/8" W x 13-9/16" H
Weight: 6.49 lbs.

ITEM 99701-0VGA

Machog

Thanks Mach.

I picked up this paddock stand at my Kawi dealer for $100 CDN plus $20 for the spools. It looks like a Brand-X. The only thing I found in the box to identify it is a sticker that says Road Pak Pro. I tried looking on the internet for it but couldn't come up with anything.

It's too bad because it's a really a good stand. You can see it's got four large rubber wheels (not hard plastic) and large size metal tubing. The stand is real easy to use and get the bike up on. The stand can also convert from using spools to lifting the bike by the swing arms.

The bike is really stable on the stand and I found I can move the bike around the garage while it's on the stand. Anybody seen one like this?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2935441004_152e981c8d.jpg

I use the Woodcraft stand that i got from blue streak racing . I tried a couple of other units and this one the most stable with quad wheels and i can lift the bike by myself without fear of losing it , check it out ......www.bluestreakracing.ca with free shipping or check out http://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/

I have a demo of a stand I build. One tough stand, which also includes spools, you will see how easy a rear swingarm stand works to lift the rear tire up from the ground. I also make adapters that fits in the same stand, and lifts the front wheel up too. The rear must always be in place before ever attempting to use a front stand, thus two stands and the adapters are neccessary to lift both wheels up. The front tire cannot be taken off, as the cradels of the lift, do not allow for axel removal. The use of the front stand is for storage and cleaning. Check it out on You Tube, scottscyclevstand

Great tip, that worked for me!
thanks

I'm all about using what I have. I use my smaller set of jack stands for the V. The right side slips under the peg with a little lift to top out the suspension while the bike is on the side stand. Then just lift the bike and slide the other one under the left peg. Removing the bags is a must and bag racks give more handholds for lifting. The rear wheel is between two and three inches off the shop floor and the bike is level in these pictures.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7428.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7429.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7431.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/dddouble/Garage/100_7430.jpg

Dan

How do you take the front wheel off?

Update on the Harbor Freight stand:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?function=Search
It's $39.99; made by Haul-Master. Also swing-arm spools $4.99 same page.

Found this set (front & back) from a company on eBay: (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Motorcycle-Parts-Accessories__FRONT-REAR-SPOOL-MOTORCYCLE-WHEEL-LIFT-PADDOCK-STANDS_W0QQitemZ390031552077QQadiZ2863QQadnZMotorc ycleQ20PartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQcmdZViewItemQQpt ZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3900315520 77&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A543|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318)

Buy it now price $109.99

Received mine from Harbor Freight a couple of weeks ago. No complaints at all. Very functional, and makes lifting the back tire a breeze. Definitely worth the money.

Here's what I built but it only works with the bike secured at the front wheel.

Here's what I built but it only works with the bike secured at the front wheel.


Man, I like that one. I have the paddock stand from Harbor Freight and it works fine, but I'd like to have something that will lift the bike completely from the floor if possible. I was thinking about modifying one of the Pit Bull type of lifts, but your idea may save me a lot of money.

Harbor Freight has some great deals on lifts of all varieties. I like the one that lifts the entire bike about 3 feet - that would be a sweet setup for saving your back when you're detailing the bike. It's $299 - not bad, but it still doesn't get the wheels free. Minimum height is only 7.2 inches, so getting the bike aboard shouldn't be too hard. I'd put something alongside to put my feet on when loading or unloading the bike. Without it, you'd have a long stretch to reach the floor for balance.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/66300-66399/66305.gif

Then there is this one for $199. It gets the entire bike up in the air, and the modifications that you made to the jack that you used ought to work with it too. It has a capacity of 1,100 lbs. and lifts up to 30".

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/99800-99899/99887.gif

Here's something that looks promising to me. I know a guy that uses a setup like this to work on bikes, but I don't remember what sort of attachment he uses. I like it because it would also be handy for other projects, such as pulling engines from cars, etc. $164.99 with a one ton capacity.
Specs:
* Boom extends from 36-1/4" to 50-1/4"
* Crane height adjusts from 82" to 94"
* Clevis grab hook with safety latch
* Double ball bearing swivel casters

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/93800-93899/93840.gif

What I like about DallasDon's design is that it shows that we don't have to be limited to expensive special order products - all it takes is a bit of imagination and inventiveness.

Never thought of using my cherry picker.
If you've ever seen the adjustable rack
for pulling engines, it could probably be
easily adapted. Uses a screw to move
the end hooks back and forth to balance
the engine or even tilt it. Think of the
rig used to lift those horses for that
Russian Empress, Catherine the Great?
Something like that...

Well, I've had this project on the back burner for a long time, but it's finally a reality. I made an adapter for the harbor freight lift that will get both the front and rear off the ground for maintenance (wheels and tires). By lifting at the pegs, only the back end comes up. There is a good jack point at the front fork. Take a look and you'll see what I mean. I put some cuts and welds in a piece of 1 1/4" pipe so I could bend it around the radiator. This works well, but it's a little difficult to get under the muffler so I put the tires on a couple of pieces of 2X6 to get a little more clearance before sliding the lift under it. Hope you guys like it.

Look back through the forum and find the details for this stand designed by a member from Israel.
I knocked one up but havn't painted it yet.
Excellent and dead easy to use.
Ted.

Look back through the forum and find the details for this stand designed by a member from Israel.
I knocked one up but havn't painted it yet.
Excellent and dead easy to use.
Ted.

I saw that one and considered making it but I don't quite understand how it works. How does it get both ends of the bike up in the air? Also, how does it lift the bike? Or, do you lift it by hand and then put the bar through it?

I had one of these made for me. the top bar is removable. you remove the plastic side covers, with the top bar removed from the stand, slide the frame under the engine, line up the top of it with the frame holes, slide the top bar thru one end of the stand, thru the frame, into the other end of the stand, clamp it with the bolts in the stand, roll the bike forward by hand. the bike will rest lightly on the front tire. if you need to remove the front wheel, you need to prop up that end of the bike.

spiderman,
NICE work!:clap::clap::clap:
Ed

I got the one from Harbor Freight. Works great. Use two 10mmx50mm fine thread bolts as spindles. Was $ 40.00 incl. shipping. They did not have the spindles but the bolts work fine. I will get a second one and make cup adapters for the front. I will put 10mm buttonhead screws into the spindle threads so no dirt will get in the holes
Does hardly take any effort to lift. Also it is alumenum so it won't rust.
They are built to hold 700 pounds.

After seeing the remarkable quality of the
T-Rex front jack, I really wish I'd opted to
spend the extra ten bucks for the rear
instead of the Harbor Freight one. The
T-Rex spindles also double as sliders in
the unlikely event the V goes down.

Sure is nice to finally get the back wheel
up for cleaning and chain maintenance
though.

Where did you get the Spindles?

Spools. Typo, sorry. T-Rex spools.

Ok where did you get them?

Oh, I thought you were being, well

Well, originally I ordered some with the
Harbor Freight stands. When the stand
arrived, no spools. That sucked because
without the spools the lift doesn't.

Then my wife noticed that the invoice
had the spools coded and it appeared
they were refunding my money. Without
telling me. Nice. What a bunch of yokels.
You'd think they knew they quit handling
them at the outset?

So now I've got to wait another week
to get some elsewhere. T-Rex sells
great spools that double as sliders. Only
the shipping is almost as much as the cost!
To save ridiculous shipping expense I
order the T-Rex front lift too.

So T-Rex is the answer to your question.
And I wish for anything I'd just ordered
both stands and the spools from them in
the first place.

http://stores.ebay.com/T-RexStands

I got two M10x60 mm hex screws at ACE. It works fine. You can put a couple nylon washers between the swingarm and the lift so you won't scratch the paint.
I noticed the same on my packing list, they did just remove it from the shipping list without any special note.
Since I am lucky lo have a machine shop, I made the spindles up.

The screws are M10x1.25mm. You can get them at any hardware stores. I got them at ACE but Tru Value has them too.

One point about spools: They not only provide
a lifting point but also double as sliders in the
event of a get-off so you don't ruin the axle
threads. Just a thought.

I almost wound up making my own but my
time on a lathe and the materials cost would
exceed the cost of buying them. I actually
keep nylon stock on hand for such projects.
It's very machineable. Available at most any
bearing or fastener supply. I just don't work
as cheap as I used to...

I used the Speedy-jack when I installed the Speedy's lowering kit last Sunday. It's two five gallon buckets turned upside down and placed under the pegs (same location as the jacks above). Since I didn't have a stand or jacks, they worked great. Thanks Speedy.

I know this is a kind of old post I'm quoting, but I'm wondering how you got the bike onto the buckets.:confused:

Thanks,
David

T-Rex stands and I am quite happy with them.

Here's what I built but it only works with the bike secured at the front wheel.

This one looks great!!

How stable it is? and why you have to block the front wheel? I mean that because other foot-peg-methods don't say anything about it.


:goodidea:

I've got the HF Aluminum rear stand and HF tubular stand with adapters for the front.
The whole setup cost me $92.50 or so after tax, not counting the spools.

The spools I bought on ebay from 'supplyndemand' for a pretty good price.

Unfortunately, the delrin spools have too large a diameter for the notches in the harbor freight rear stand. So, I just use the mounting bolt with no spool on it when Im actually lifting the bike, a little annoying. At some point I'll go someplace with tools and grind out the notches in my rear stand so that they fit around those delrin spools.


Anyway, if Harbor Freight wasn't 2 minutes from my house, I probably would have dug deeper in the pockets and bought the T-Rex ones. The Harbor Freight stands definitely aren't all that well-built. The aluminum one feels a bit flimsy and the welds look like they were squeezed out of a toothpaste tube. The steel tubular one could use a thicker coat of paint, it had a little rust on it before it even left the store.

Functionally, though, they work great.:thumb:

I have been looking on the UK and USA forums at ways of lifting the bike. There have been some good ideas.
I have a bike lift, but as others have stated it's not easy to jack the bike from underneath as there are no frame tubes or flat motor parts to put the jack on.
I have adapted the idea of spiderman shown on the previous page who made a angle iron frame with lugs to support under the footrest's and a front brace to fit under the frame above the radiator.
To save putting the wheels onto 6x2 so the jack and frame can be rolled under the exhaust, I made it so the frame can be fitted to the bike while it is on the side stand hence the rubber bands made from inner tubes, (ten second job to fit frame).
The small resting points behind the footrests still allow the operation of the brake and gear levers.
The lift is then able to roll in underneath and jack the bike as if it was resting on frame tubes.
Very stable and able to get about 18" off the ground.

I wish I had the skills to fabricate something to lift the whole bike.

Those one off ones probably took a lot of time to construct and could not be made effeciently enough to offer on this forum.

I use a Harbor Freight for the rear. works good.

used a Pit Bull on the front. Lifted fine but after pulling the axle the lower fork tubes twisted and it was impossible to get the front wheel back on until my son came to my aid.

Mark, I made the frame from odd scrap 1" box and some old pipe I "found" in the garden.
It was one of those jobs where I spent more time thinking and measuring than cutting and welding. I only have an old stick welder that I have had for years and would not call my self a fabricator more of a good bodger.
I am sure it could be made fairly easily if mass produced, but someone would have to be sure of selling in quantities to get set up.
I would say to anyone why not get a cheap arc welder and have a go.It seems impossible at first but get some scrap and you will have great fun (and save loads of money).

nice job on the bike stands!
I havent needed to do anything yet to lift my bike but when I do I will do something like what clivecoo made. nice job man!

Makes me wish I could weld. Great job!

Dave C

I would say to anyone why not get a cheap arc welder and have a go.It seems impossible at first but get some scrap and you will have great fun (and save loads of money).


I really like the way you think. I have been telling my son that one of us should go to the local comunity college and take some classes. who knows, maybe get certified. welders will always be in demand no matter what the economy is doing. Even in a bartering situation.

I really like the way you think. I have been telling my son that one of us should go to the local comunity college and take some classes. who knows, maybe get certified. welders will always be in demand no matter what the economy is doing. Even in a bartering situation.

Started working on a farm when I left school (1970 just past the horses era ;))and farm machinery is allways breaking so had to learn to weld and find a way around problems by making things.
Went to evening classes for arc and gas welding, great fun and kept nice and warm on a winters evening.
Arc welders are one of those tools where you think how did I manage without one ! :)