Bike storage

I picked up several of each of these 3 years ago on Amazon. Have worked just fine for me. I think when I got them they were $50ish apiece. Each has their place where they are the best choice to use.
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I also used to use an old automotive scissor jack to lift the front wheel off the ground. This Jack Stand and wooden wedge is even easier and very sturdy.
With the bike on centerstand and the forks at full lock, I now simply set the height of the stand before sliding into position. Left hand on the fork to lift the engine mount just high enough for the stand to slide in under with a foot and then reposition by hand.
:shrug:
(Kwik Strip is no good)
 
When I got my welder, one of my 1st little projects was these "motorcycle jackstands". I scored some cut-off scraps of very heavy all-thread (like 3/4") from a power plant job and this was the perfect use for them ......

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My buddy made me the aluminum extension from scraps at his work. Normally I use the little plate top fitting for under the engine. This works well for elevating the front end.
 
Cost me nuffin':


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Came from an old Skoda we scrapped.

Couldn't be bothered to pull the low wooden platforms outside to photograph - they're stacked under the workbench. The platforms were knocked together from a fitted wardrobe we pulled out of a bedroom, so they cost nuffin' too.

In fact, the workbench is the old back door re-purposed . . .


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Note Yamaha special tool #1.
 
Pete, I tried adapting a normal scissor jack like yours and Gary's. I welded a bigger plate base on along with a bigger plate top. No go, the narrow scissor part is too "loose" and the thing tips side to side too much once lifted.

Yes 5T - I had similar concerns which I assuaged with a 3-pounder (very similar to Raymond's YST-1 in his photo above) and a punch prior to putting the little blue Chinesium jack into regular service. That tightened things up very smartly.
 
I purchased a motorcycle stand yesterday and need to do a couple of things to it to make the bike more stable while in the air. One task is to bolt the front wheel chock to the platform as the supplied tire vise is useless. When the bike is on the platform, the wheel chock will keep it vertical but I feel safer strapping the front end down with a couple of ratchet straps. This obviously compresses the front suspension. Do you think it’s a bad idea to leave the forks partially compressed for long term storage? If the consensus is yes, I may try to strap it down on the swing arm.
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Hi Bosco,
use the work stand for maintenance. For long term storage, hang the bike from the rafters..
 
I've always long term stored my bikes on their centerstands. I've never had any tire flat spot issues because of it. I think the stand is supporting most of the bike's weight, there's not much at all applied to the wheel/tire that's touching the ground. But if it concerns you, block that wheel up so both have no weight at all on them.

That jack you're considering looks like one of the Chinese copies. Have you searched "motorcycle jack" on eBay? You can probably find it cheaper. They're only about $50 down here in the States.
 
Oh, ok..... I’ll see if I can get a couple of eye bolts long enough to go through the tank and seat!

Hi bosco,
no problem.
You can DIY an eye-bolt of the required length with an eye-nut and threaded rod
Although I'd suggest hanging the bike from four strong C-screws threaded into the rafters, using two sturdy straps from it's 'bars and another long one looped under the top of it's rear wheel.
But you already knew that, eh?
 
Hoisting from over head is actually very practical. 1983-4 ish I assembled all kinds of brand new crated Japanese motorcycles and ATV's in preparation for distribution to the local dealers at a business named "Dealer Transport".
There were four "Stalls" which each had two electric cable winches and nylon straps. Pneumatic tools for the uncrating (and some of the assembly) ;)
ATV's could be uncrated, hoisted and thrown together very quickly, Honda FL350 Odysseys and GoldWings definitely benefited from this. Yamaha Vmaxs etc were all brand new and it was fun to see the new stuff even before the dealer salesmen did.
I learned then that Yamahas and Hondas went together the best. The hardware and fit was superior.
:thumbsup:
Think how little space it takes to have an overhead cable hoist?
 
Hoisting from over head is actually very practical. 1983-4 ish I assembled all kinds of brand new crated Japanese motorcycles and ATV's in preparation for distribution to the local dealers at a business named "Dealer Transport".
There were four "Stalls" which each had two electric cable winches and nylon straps. Pneumatic tools for the uncrating (and some of the assembly) ;)
ATV's could be uncrated, hoisted and thrown together very quickly, Honda FL350 Odysseys and GoldWings definitely benefited from this. Yamaha Vmaxs etc were all brand new and it was fun to see the new stuff even before the dealer salesmen did.
I learned then that Yamahas and Hondas went together the best. The hardware and fit was superior.
:thumbsup:
Think how little space it takes to have an overhead cable hoist?

Hi Machine,
hanging stuff up to work on is limited by how strong the overhead support is.
The 14" RSJ across my old garage that held up the house front bedrooms was strong enough to hang a chain hoist on to pull a Detroit V8 engine.
The comparatively frail 2x4 rafters of my new garage, not so much.
 
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Hi fredingtoon back acha. A hanging Detroit V8 sure sound fun to play on. 2 Stroke diesel?
Anyway, the last XS I hung the front end on was actually in the then living room on a flower hanger hook hole lol. I did screw in a bigger hook tho. Now my living room is on the second floor so no more of that.. (classier gal now too tho);)
I just don't have room for a floor lift now. Too bad too. My 78E is still on a 4×4 on the floor, wheels off.
 
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Picked up the jack today and tried it out on the lift. Easy to get the front or back wheel off of the platform. Storage on the jack will avoid flat spots on the tires this winter. The bike frame on the jack, plus a couple of straps on the frame makes the whole assembly very stable. Bolting the jack to the platform was just a safety precaution and is super easy to remove. Bolting the jack on also stiffens the platform. I found a 2x4 is more stable than the supplied saddles. Pretty happy with the whole set up. Glad the garage door isn’t a couple of inches lower.
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You'll quickly grow to love that jack. It works great on the ground too. I use mine all the time, for all my tire and wheel changes, fork work, whenever one end or the other of the bike needs to be lifted. Yes, I also use wood on mine for padding instead of the supplied "posts". One little tip - grease or anti-seize the threads on the big lifting screw.
 
You'll quickly grow to love that jack. It works great on the ground too. I use mine all the time, for all my tire and wheel changes, fork work, whenever one end or the other of the bike needs to be lifted. Yes, I also use wood on mine for padding instead of the supplied "posts". One little tip - grease or anti-seize the threads on the big lifting screw.
Thx, yes I gave it a good coating of grease.
 
Looks like the bike will spend the winter in the coldest part of your garage, or is that position just a test site?
 
You might consider adding a Blackjack1000 (or similar knock-off) to your lifting arsenal. It is a compact screw jack specifically designed to be used on a lift table ......

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It can be used on the ground too, but like I said, it was specifically designed small enough for use on lift tables. A mechanical screw jack is so much better than those hydraulic units. It won't "settle" or sink if left for a long period of time, and it's infinitely and easily adjustable for just the height you need.

Just ordered one... my credit card company thanks you! LOL
 
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