Author Topic: How can i support the front end of my bike? (Read 3437 times)

Forde · « **on:** July 20, 2007, 06:37:28 AM »

Well ive got my centre stand but i need to support the front of the bike off the ground to change the fork seals, im thinking take the exhaust system off and use a car jack with a bit of wood on it under the engine?

erik · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2007, 09:28:06 AM »

I just put a few blocks of wood under the engine while the bike's on it's centrestand. Next to the exhaust so it keeps the bike back. When you've got the front wheel off (+ maybe forks?) it'll stay on it's back wheel anyway.

stormi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2007, 02:16:32 AM »

You can also try this:
http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=5937

I'll see if I can find the original pics too.

del la sol · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2007, 12:19:36 PM »

thats a brilliant solution

stormi · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2007, 12:46:09 PM »

Well I can't take credit for it, but I can attest to how well it works. It's about to get used again too on the CBR so we can change the fork seals. Damn bikes with no centrestands.

In all honesty though, I'd use it for Dita if she needed a front tire too. I'd just feel like she was more secure.

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2007, 03:53:37 PM »

There are also front end stands that lift the bike from the lower triple-tree/steering stem, like this.

And if you have frame sliders, there's a new Pit Bull jackstand that lifts the bike by the sliders (or footpegs).

turbofb · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2007, 10:42:41 PM »

Its very little weight thats left on the front tire,when the centerstand is down.

When I did my frontend conversion,I just put a piece of wood on a small scissor style car jack,and placed it under the header collector.It stayed that way for a couple weeks,with no problems at all.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2007, 01:29:30 AM »

Hooks in the garage rafters and ratchet straps has worked for me.

Forde · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2007, 07:29:35 AM »

yeah, my garage is a bit wack it would collapse if i did the ratchet strap thing, im just goin to use blocks of wood under the engine by the look of things. alhough stormi's pipe thing is awesome, i have to make one

should i take my exhaust off first?? a couple of people have said just put the block of wood under the headers or collecter box but wouldnt that damage the exhaust system?

thanks for all the replies guys

Banditmax · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2007, 08:20:11 AM »

Or just strap the rear wheel down to the ground stops the front end going down.

stormi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2007, 10:47:55 AM »

Quote from: "Forde"

yeah, my garage is a bit wack it would collapse if i did the ratchet strap thing, im just goin to use blocks of wood under the engine by the look of things. alhough stormi's pipe thing is awesome, i have to make one

should i take my exhaust off first?? a couple of people have said just put the block of wood under the headers or collecter box but wouldnt that damage the exhaust system?

thanks for all the replies guys

Yup mine too. And the plastic shed we put up says specifically "don't hang anything from this cross beam."

Our shed is 1x4 construction in the rafters. I'm guessing it would be pretty spectacularly messy if I tried to hang a bike in there.

really you're not supporting much with the blocks, you're just wedging the bike so that it remains on the rear tire, discouraging it from coming forward. That amount of pressure on the exhaust -shouldn't- cause damage to the exhaust.

I liked the design of the pipe thing for a few reasons:
1. it'll do the job we needed and the shed doesn't have to fall down in the process.

2. it was relatively inexpensive (cost about $90 in parts, though I've read that in the states it would have been half that. We also went to the store that was open that day, not the cheapest one.) but it's already paid for itself, by not having to take the bike to a dealer for lack of lifting ability.
3. it's collapsible, or fold the feet flat and it's out of the way
4. it doesn't hold by the forks, so you can also work on the forks this way. In fact, there's a headless CBR hanging from it today. Fork seal replaced and waiting to be put back together. It's gonna wait til we get home from the GP today though. Speaking of which, I suppose I should go wake the other half.
5. it'll work for every bike we have, regardless of configuration. ( unlike the rear stands you can get that you require the spools for. Not as useful if you have more than one bike.) Dirtbikes, streetbikes, it doesn't matter.