ELI5: wheel lifts vs lift stands vs jack lift stand

[cmdrSheppard]

Hello,

Now that I have a garage of my own I would like to start doing basic maintenance myself. As such, I am looking into lifts and I am realizing that i dont understand the nomenclature of different devices that elevate the motorcycle above ground.

Can someone please educate me on the difference between wheel lifts, lift stands and jack lift stands? What other parts do I need to purchase and install in order to use the aforementioned stands?

I am thoroughly confused by the multitude of options and would like to understand the classification of different kinds of lifting devices

Or just tell me what I need to buy to service my 2016 FZ-09 )))

keelah se'lai!

PS apologies if there is already a thread about this and I havent found it.

 

[aciurczak]

http://www.pit-bull.com/category/fz09_stands.html

To work easily on the chain and rear wheel area, you need a rear stand. The rear stand can lift underneath the swingarm as is, or for more stability you can (and should) use a rear stand for spools. Spools are cheap little round knobs that you screw into the holes that are already on both sides of your swingarm. The top of the rear stand fits the spools perfectly, so it holds the bike stable while lifting (and while lifted). Your bike takes spools with 6mm threads, you can get them from any stand vendor, ebay, any dealer or m/c shop.

If you get a front stand, you can more easily do maintenance tasks on the front wheel, front brakes, and even forks. The two main types lift either from the bottom of the forks on both sides, or from a pin that fits up under the tripletree. With a head lift (tripletree), the forks are unweighted and can be more easily worked on. You can also turn the handlebars in either direction while the bike is lifted, to route cables or any other necessary work.

There are some other types of lifts that pick up the bike from the frame mounts on the side, like the Bursig: http://www.bursigusa.com/bursig-center-lift-stand/

But those are less common. If you get a decent spooled rear stand, and decent front stand (hybrid or head lift), you'll have everything you need to service your bike. You don't need to buy Pit Bull brand, there are some others out there. But if you do get a Pit Bull, it will last longer than your bike will, and you can use them on the next few bikes you own. (Or sell it here or on craigslist for some return). In fact, checking out the classified or craigslist for pitbull stands wouldn't be the worst idea either.

 

[motomania2007]

A "lift" usually refers to a maintenance TABLE that you ride or push the entire bike on and then raise the table (usually hydraulically).

Lifts start at about $300 for the Harbor Freight (look for coupons) lift and can go to $2k or more. Pretty decent lifts can be had for $6-800.

I have one of the HF lifts and it works great with my FZ09 and any other bike I have put on it, including my former R1100RT (750 lb bike).

http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-motorcycle-lift-68892.html

You also need a rear maintenance stand that grips the spools that go on the spool mounts on the FZ09 swingarm. The best maintenance stand is Pit Bull and they come up for sale used on Barf all the time or you can buy a new rear stand for about $150 or so.

Cheaper stands tend to wobble and can drop the bike or allow it to tip over.

Front steering head stands are good for lifting up the front end. I have one but very very rarely use it.

Instead, I use a big flat jack like this:
http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-lift-jack/p/MC-JACK/

It works great. Put the bike on the lift. Put the maintenance stand on the rear, add tie downs to secure the bike and pull the rear of the bike down, and then use the jack to lift the bike using the collector/catalytic converter of the exhaust or a block to raise the front of the bike with the jack until the front tire is off the lift. Then raise the lift table to work on the bike. If I am raising the front end, I am usually removing the front wheel. If I am not needing to remove the front wheel, then I don't use the jack.

Some people use motorcycle jacks like this one:
http://www.discountramps.com/discount-motorcycle-jacks/p/BW-0101/ and I find they are not very useful on anything but a dirtbike or a small street bike. The just are not very stable.

 

[motomania2007]

You can also make a fixed maintenance table that is about 24" high for about $100 in lumber and screws. They are great if you have the space and can't afford the lift table. You use a ramp to roll your bike up on the table.

These come in all sorts of configurations.

 

[cmdrSheppard]

hi all,

thank you very much! this is very helpful!

I think that a "lift" will be overkill for my purposes but thank you very much for explaining the meaning to me.

It seems that "stands" is what I am looking for.

Much appreciated. Off to revzilla now

keelah se'lai!

 

[auntiebling]

GOOD deal on a used pitbull rear stand

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=498301

they're also called track stands btw

 

[cmdrSheppard]

Thank you all again, just ordered a rear stand and spool sliders from revzilla.

@auntiebling - thank you for the link to the deal on the stands, it is indeed a great deal but that would involve driving to SJ and i am dead set on not getting in a cage

Up with the Alliance and down with the Reapers!

Commander Sheppard

 

[2strokeYardSale]

If you get a decent spooled rear stand, and decent front stand (hybrid or head lift), you'll have everything you need to service your bike.

I wish. You can't service the steering head with the bike on a steering head stand or fork stand.

 

[Surj]

Thank you all again, just ordered a rear stand and spool sliders from revzilla.

@auntiebling - thank you for the link to the deal on the stands, it is indeed a great deal but that would involve driving to SJ and i am dead set on not getting in a cage

Up with the Alliance and down with the Reapers!

Commander Sheppard

If you're "dead set on not getting in a cage" for whatever reason, you're gonna need to start carrying stuff on your bike. A stand isn't even that hard to do. For example, I took a Baxley with me to Redding one time when I went to look at a truck up there, so that I could buy it and load up the bike—didn't work out. Just the other day, I rode home from the airport with my carry-on and a bigass Yosh box strapped to the passenger seat. It's totally doable, man.

 

[TonUpTimes]

ELI5 - I still don't quite understand front stands. Are some bikes unable to accommodate the triple-tree-pin thingy?

If it is universal, why would anyone use anything else?

Why does the Pitbull site have a list of 30+ different pins to choose from, even after selecting my own specific bike model?

 

[cmdrSheppard]

props on getting that much stuff on the bike safely!
I may be getting old but i am getting a lot less adventurous with my usage of the bike. Back when i had only a Harley and no other vehicle of any kind i managed to carry a lot of stuff year round, but comfort is an addictive drug. Once you try ordering stuff online, you kind of lose desire to go to the store

If you're "dead set on not getting in a cage" for whatever reason, you're gonna need to start carrying stuff on your bike. A stand isn't even that hard to do. For example, I took a Baxley with me to Redding one time when I went to look at a truck up there, so that I could buy it and load up the bike—didn't work out. Just the other day, I rode home from the airport with my carry-on and a bigass Yosh box strapped to the passenger seat. It's totally doable, man.

 

[Surj]

Once you try ordering stuff online, you kind of lose desire to go to the store

Oh, I know. I've worked in ecommerce for 16 years. But I still make it to local bike shops and carry stuff on my bike.

 

[aciurczak]

I wish. You can't service the steering head with the bike on a steering head stand or fork stand.

That's fair. But it handles everything that I'd ever do in my own garage. And if someone then needs to service the steering head, it's likely they were doing half a dozen jobs prior to that where a front stand would be useful.

ELI5 - I still don't quite understand front stands. Are some bikes unable to accommodate the triple-tree-pin thingy?

If it is universal, why would anyone use anything else?

Why does the Pitbull site have a list of 30+ different pins to choose from, even after selecting my own specific bike model?

The size of the hole in the center of the triple tree varies. The pin size is so it fits well. There is only one size for your bike that fits perfectly. But any size that is smaller than the hole will work. I've had bikes with slightly different sized pins, and I never take the time to swap out the smaller pin when switching between them. If PitBull is giving you 30 different sizes for a particular bike, it's a problem with the web user interface.

The head lift can interfere with some bike front fairings depending on their design. It goes over the front fender, and when you lift the bike, it should be lifting the weight from the tripletree; not lifting from the plastic fairing if it hits it first. On some of my bikes it has made contact with the plastic, but the bulk of the weight was always held by the stand. (and nobody cares about scuffs that you can't see on the bottom of the inside fairing anyway)

 

[Strigoi]

I think that a "lift" will be overkill for my purposes but thank you very much for explaining the meaning to me.

I bought one of the Harbor Freight lifts awhile ago and it was 100% worth it. It's so nice to be able to stand when doing any kind of work to the bike. Also makes a good spot for other project stuff. The stock wheel chock on them is junk, but HF has better ones for around $25. I paid $300 for it after a coupon.

They're one of those things where you don't realize how handy they are until you have one.

 

[auntiebling]

Re: Pitbull pins
some of them have compound angles machined into them. I have one in my toolbox from... maybe a 2001isx zx7r? It's weird and so long since I used it in don't recall why it is what it was. Smaller pins will lift the bike but having the correct one makes things just a touch more stable... and they're cheap. BUY ALL THE PINS!!!! /OPINION