How to jack up a GS for working on the front fork? Taking off exhausts required?

[roeme]

Help a wrenching newbie!

With the center stand is mounted slightly to the rear of center of gravity, I can/was able to work on the rear end of my bike(s) without any separate bike stand/jack. Good work by the Engineers of yore.

However, sooner or later I've got to do some work on the front, so this won't really do. From what I hear, taking off - and remounting - the exhausts isn't exactly trivial (or is it?). But with them on, the bottom of frame seems obstructed, a jack/wooden block/etc. doesn't really fit this way...?

Pulling down the rear end with some weights while exerting all kinds of forces to the front end seems shaky.

So, putting it on reverse on a motorcycle lift, clamping down the rear?

How do you guys go about this?

 

[roeme]

Mods: This should've gone into the "Tips and Tricks" Subforum.

 

[GSCafe]

I used the "shaky" approach. I used to stick a weight set bar for curls through the rear wheel and put enough weights on it to do the trick. Other times I used bungie netting on the back of the seat to hold on enough counterbalance weight.

 

[jsandidge]

I use a wooden block between the center exhausts against the oil filter housing. Jack it up with a bottle jack. Stabilize it however you can. I've seen some use a 2 x 4 under the steering neck. I've got case savers, so I put jack stands under them.

 

[Guest]

If you have something overhead that you can tie it off to works good also

 

[Allie]

I've always just used a bottle jack under he crank case. There's very little force involved in raising he front and no damage has ever occurred. Just don't leave it that way overnight with the front wheel off. .........................

 

[tkent02]

If you have something overhead that you can tie it off to works good also

This, I use a ratcheting tie down to lift the from by the handlebars.

 

[almarconi]

I use an engine hoist to raise/hold the front end.

 

[Datsa Noydb]

A bottle jack or small scissor jack from the car, placed under the front of the crankcase near the oil filter cover does a wonderful job.

A tip: use a ratchet strap from the front of the frame to the centerstand to prevent accidental movement/folding of the stand.

 

[cowboyup3371]

I used to use the scissor jack for my horse trailer with a block of wood under the front part of the block but since purchased a motorcycle lift that I use extensively. Is there a place around you that you can pick one up fairly inexpensively?

Something like this on the UK Ebay page:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTORCYCL...451799?hash=item1c62030e97:g:HREAAOSw3KFWcvLX

 

[Shaft]

I use a height adjustable front paddock stand on my GS1000GX, I quickly remove the choke/starter cable which passes thru the steering stem this allow's the spigot/pin to locate in the lower steering stem

The paddock stand was only ?45 delivered off eBay UK.

My 1st post here Guy's, it's been a great source of info............top forum :applause:
I'm coming to the end of a time consuming house renovation so I'll hopefully be able to contribute to the site soon on a regular basis.

 

[gustovh]

Nothing fancy here, I just slide a small piece of plywood under the front wheel that is thick enough to rest the rear wheel on the ground, with the bike on the center-stand. Not in the way and hard to knock out of place. To remove forks and front wheel, a good old fashioned hoist does the ticket.

V

 

[eil]

A tip: use a ratchet strap from the front of the frame to the centerstand to prevent accidental movement/folding of the stand.

The center stand has (or should have; mine did) some holes up near the top where you can shove a thin screwdriver through to lock it in place.

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, Shaft.
You obviously need more room for your bike.
To help you out could you please put that blasting cabinet in a couple of those boxes in the background and ship it over to me.

I use a height adjustable front paddock stand on my GS1000GX, I quickly remove the choke/starter cable which passes thru the steering stem this allow's the spigot/pin to locate in the lower steering stem

The paddock stand was only ?45 delivered off eBay UK.

My 1st post here Guy's, it's been a great source of info............top forum :applause:
I'm coming to the end of a time consuming house renovation so I'll hopefully be able to contribute to the site soon on a regular basis.

 

[Shaft]

Welcome to the site, Shaft.
You obviously need more room for your bike.
To help you out could you please put that blasting cabinet in a couple of those boxes in the background and ship it over to me.

Thank you for welcome Steve............Yep, your right I could do with more room but the Guyson Cabinet is a keeper, so I'll have to decline your kind offer to help me free up some space for me

 

[Dogma]

Shaft, that bike is so clean it sickens me. Congratulations.

I have some beat up GK luggage on my 1000G. On the center stand, with that weight added, and then with the usual load on, you can pick up the front end by hand. Once the front wheel is off, the front doesn't come back down. I usually start by lifting the front enough to get a jack stand under the engine case, for safety reasons.

 

[Tim Tom]

With the bike on the centerstand sfust stick a block of wood between the pipes and a bottle, scissor, hydraulic, really doesn't matter what kind of jack. The pipes are so thick walled that they won't be deformed at all by this.

In a pinch I've also used ratchet straps and heavy weights to pull the rear tire down. Removing the gas tank makes this much easier as it removes a bunch of weight in front of the centerstand.

 

[Shaft]

Shaft, that bike is so clean it sickens me. Congratulations.

I have some beat up GK luggage on my 1000G. On the center stand, with that weight added, and then with the usual load on, you can pick up the front end by hand. Once the front wheel is off, the front doesn't come back down. I usually start by lifting the front enough to get a jack stand under the engine case, for safety reasons.

Thanks Dogma..............she is clean & a once in a life time find!
I'll post a proper intro & some pic's once I've finished the front end maintenance

 

[Guest]

I use one of those small two ton floor jackets. Stick it right under the front of the oil pan just touching one of the pipes. I found it useful when re-installing the front rim. With the jack angled toward me and I set everything up and lower the jack a wee bit until the axle slides in just right.
Just be careful when jacking up the front, you can jack it right off the center stand on to the the back tire...you can guess what would happen next if the balance of the bike is off.

 

[jdvorchak]

Just did this today on a GS850 and used my motorcycle jack under the pipes. When I pulled the front wheel and forks off, the bike went back onto the rear tire without any jacking on my part. Even with the front end attached there is very little jacking force required to lift the front wheel off the ground. What you can see is the rear tire on the floor and you can't tell, but the lift is not even touching the pipes. I have used bottle jack, floor jacks, scrap wood what ever to get the front wheel off the ground for removal.