Poor Man's K-bike Jack

[Motorhobo]

This has served me very well. Harbor Freight has a platform bike jack for about $350. Maybe someday I'll spring for one of those, but in the interim this $100 HF ATV jack with the little service block inspired by Chris Harris has really done the job. In fact, in a lot of ways it's better than the MC platform because even on the platform you have to jack the bike up anyway to get the wheels off the ground.



The service block allows you to jack up the bike with or without the center stand attached. It sits right up against the engine guard mount (if you have one) on the left side of the engine which hangs down from the oil pan a half inch or so. It's 7.25" wide, enough to span the supports of the jack exactly. The service block consists of 2 sections of 2X8 and one section of 3/4" plywood. The dimensions are:



Using this it takes literally seconds to get the bike off the ground. I also made a platform out of 3/4" plywood with two sets of eyelets - one front and one rear - for tie-downs. The plywood will bend lengthwise if the tie-downs are too tight but still it provided more than enough stability for anything I wanted to do i.e. pull transmission, lift front or rear wheel etc.



The HF part is:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-capacity-atvmotorcycle-lift-60536.html

It's HF, so...well, nuff said about that. Make sure you work with it before the 90 day return period is up to make sure everything that's supposed to be included is actually there and it works as described.

Van

[2000rsv]

Get the HF platform lift.  You will not regret it.  Coupon in Rider magazine and elsewhere for $299.  Will handle the K bike easily as I currently have my Yamaha Venture up on it (900+ lbs in its current configuration).  I won't even notice the K bike being on there.

Worked for years with only a jack and then got the lift.  Wish I had gotten it years earlier.  Lower it down to get to the top of the bike (fairing, tank, seat, etc.), lift it up to get the engine and below.  Drill a couple of holes along each edge and mount some tiedown screw eyes at the front and the rear.  That will allow you to tie down the front and lift the rear (back tire removal, final drive service) or to tie down the rear for front wheel service.

I would suggest also picking up one of the small $29 automotive style floor jacks for auxiliary lifting as described above.  Also, if you will be loading they bike on the lift by yourself, I might suggest upgrading the front wheel clamp to the ride-in style.  It will hold the bike up while you tie it down.

[rbm]

My solution was a set of angle irons, as outlined in this post.

[Motorhobo]

My solution was a set of angle irons, as outlined in this post.

That's cool -- you work that way with no tie-downs? I don't know if I'd be comfortable with that.

Get the HF platform lift.  You will not regret it. 

I will not regret it for sure and I will get one eventually -- it's on my list after new tires, paint, and whatever parts I'm going to need start on the other K75's spline lube and valve adjustment :-)

[rbm]

My solution was a set of angle irons, as outlined in this post.

That's cool -- you work that way with no tie-downs? I don't know if I'd be comfortable with that.

No, I use tie-downs.  The center of gravity still tends to be rearward even with the angle irons and tiedowns help to stabilize that.  I replaced this setup with a air-driven hydraulic lift this past year.

I will be welding up a bracket that will bolt to the oil pan (like the angle irons) and to the lift arm.  Therefore, the bike and lift arm become one unit.  No need for tie-downs.