Bike Lifts

Where is the best place to put a bike lift so that both wheels get lifted off the ground and so that the bike maintains centre balance (and don't say underneath). I am in the middle of stripping it all down and I would rather both wheels were off at the same time so I can clean it thoroughly. I don't really want to have to buy a second lift

You'll just have to get the lift underneath the bike and use trial and error to get the balance point correct Trev (where both wheels leave the ground at the same time) It'll be more towards the back of the bike (ie, front pad of the lift near the side stand) due the the extra weight of the rear end.

simbo wrote:

It'll be more towards the back of the bike (ie, front pad of the lift near the side stand) due the the extra weight of the rear end.

Oh, I thought the front end would have been heavier as that's where the engine block is. Interesting did not know this :)

It's off another site, but here's a vid of a guy jacking up an intruder to do an oil change. If you freeze it here and there you might get an idea for where he places the jack.....

Cheers Mal that video will hopefully come in handy in the morning. I have just the rear wheel to come off now (front is just on still for support). Then comes the massive clean down. I will show you all what she looks like when she is reborn :)

I normally put mine in so that it is just behind the side stand. With the bike on the side stand I find it is a lot easier to get it on the jack single handed, it balances fairly well and you can get to the sump plug a lot easier than the way he shows in the video.

If you are taking the wheels off I would probably use a ratchet strap over the bike to secure it to the Jack.

I have mine with the side stand just forward of the middle of the two rails. I always use straps to secure it as I find it does move around on the rails when you start to heave on bolts / nuts etc.

F**k sake, she slipped on the mount when the front wheel came off and now I can't get it back up to get the front wheel propped on :( It's still very study though, it's resting on the back wheel with the lift wedge in and then the front wheel is wedged in as well to help support it. Looks like I will be getting that 2nd lift now :(

I made a wood bike jack that balances has worked very well for me.  if you place it just behind kickstand on mine (2006 vs800 s50) both wheels are off the ground.