Cycle work stand, question....

[brider]

HF is having (another) sale, and I'm going to give meself an early dad's-day gift and snag a work stand for $240 with the 20% coupon (GC).

Question: With the bike up on the stand, and the whole thing teetering in the air at working height, is it safe to have the bike on the center stand to be able to spin the rear wheel? Just seems kind of precarious, but I guess if the bike is strapped down...I just don't recall seeing any pics of bikes on their centerstands up in the air.

[bigbikerrick]

I find it easier to place a scissors jack under the bike, after its clamped into the lift table. I have not had much success using the centerstand when on the lift, front tire clamped down,to lift the back end. Im sure some have done it with the centerstand, but it didnt feel safe to me when I tried it. My scissors jack has two separate "feet" you can adjust to lift it from the centerstand brackets.
Rick

[Roebling3]

Sight unseen and with zero experience using the lift in question I might use it for fluids & filter changes - possibly front wheel work, if you have a means to strap the bike down securely. Any fastener requiring significant torque to release or secure same, can and will challenge your safety and the bikes'. Have you considered a front wheel chock used in conjunction with a lifting device? R3~   

[D Knaus]

I always put my bikes on the centerstand on my HandyLift, and tie them down with Ancra straps to the sides of the lift, before putting the lift in the air.  I seldom use the front wheel vice unless I need to work on the bottom of the bike and can't use the centerstand.  On the Sport1100i I use a paddock stand to lift the back tire up. (no centerstand).  But I always tie the bikes down.
Your mileage may vary.

[drdwb]

Big bike, how do you hold the bike in place to center it until you get the straps on, our California’s side stand extends to far, and the Norge and Breva seem precarious to me on the side stand. I use to just run it up by myself and step on centerstand and lift. Now I get help to hold bike while I lift it to centerstand. I always use the centerstand on every bike , but I also use a couple ratchet straps on the rear end  to make sure it remains stable. Once strapped I’m even comfortable rolling the whole works around on the very level cement garage floor. Knock on wood.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Some bikes foul the drop-out plate when on the centerstand, some don't.

[cliffrod]

At the shop, we have multiple tables- both lift and static.  Most just have a chock of some type bolted to the table.  All are drilled for straps on the front end. One HF red table has a real Handy Lift front wheel vise.  Works great but is too strong for the table and will bend the top if you crank it.  The vise that comes with the HF table is not much and really slow.  It works but you've gotta be careful.  It really helps to have a front chock or stop, especially when working alone.

Here at home, I have an old Grazia lift table and a spare Pingel removable wheel chock.  I drilled a few holes, connected them with a jigsaw to make the same keyhole shape like the original receivers and then one more for the front bolt (when needed).  Totally secure to use and instant to install/remove if the bolt isn't being used.  There's also nothing left in the way when I take it off the table.  Very cool...







Whether center stand, extra scissors jack or whatever is also used depends on the job.

[Matt Story]

I have the standard Harbor Freight lift.  I also bought an over center locking chock from them and bolted it to the top.  https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-lb-capacity-motorcycle-standwheel-chock-61670.html=
The bikes aren't too hard to push into the latched position.  The chock does have a cross bar you can lash the bike to which makes it pretty stable.  It holds the bike nicely for a few minutes while you tie down.  I had my CB750 parked in the chock for months without additional tie downs.  Once, the front tire went low and the bike leaned a bit, but it would have needed help to go over.  Locked into the wheel chock, the center stand is pretty useless (impossible to deploy) without an another jack.  Jacking seems a bit precarious though, even while tied down.  Best practice would be to always keep the bike cinched down.  The heaviest bike I have lifted would be a 2002 R1150RT - supposedly 615lbs

[brider]

Charlie-

I guess your photos are the best graphic answer to my question, thanks!

[ken farr]

I have the HFT table, and it works very well for me.
I built some boxes with 2x4's and plywood so I have additional area to place my feet when I ride the bike up onto the table.
They also store my tire changing equipment, jack etc.
Not shown in the photo, I put on the $54 HFT motor cycle wheel stand/chock.  I marked the center of the front wheel location on the table
with the bike up against the stock steel wheel stop, then bolted down the wheel stand so the wheel would be in the same location.
I can take off the rear portion when I want to put the bike on the center stand, for rear wheel removal. The removable plate makes this a snap.
I always tie the bike down when it is on the center stand or in the wheel chock, don't bother when it's on the side stand ( which I can do,now with the
outrigger boxes)
It's a good unit, just remember to put the cross bar in when the table is elevated, and don't elevate the table with the loading ramp attached.

kjf

[bikeridertim]

I have the standard Harbor Freight lift.  I also bought an over center locking chock from them and bolted it to the top.  https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-lb-capacity-motorcycle-standwheel-chock-61670.html=
The bikes aren't too hard to push into the latched position.  The chock does have a cross bar you can lash the bike to which makes it pretty stable.  It holds the bike nicely for a few minutes while you tie down.  I had my CB750 parked in the chock for months without additional tie downs.  Once, the front tire went low and the bike leaned a bit, but it would have needed help to go over.  Locked into the wheel chock, the center stand is pretty useless (impossible to deploy) without an another jack. 

How hard is it to remove from the wheel chuck? Would seem to be kind of hard to hold the bike up and undo it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I removed the swiveling "cradle" from the one that was in my van. There were a few Guzzis that I just couldn't get out of the chock with it place. Had to get a friend to help me extricate a Cal 1100i once and had to use ratchet straps to pull the Centauro out.

[Gusable]

I love my lift.  Dunno how I went without it.  I use a scissor jack from my Toyota and block of wood to get the back wheel up.  Typically don’t use the centerstand.  I also have the upgraded chock




upload image

[bigbikerrick]

Big bike, how do you hold the bike in place to center it until you get the straps on, our California’s side stand extends to far, and the Norge and Breva seem precarious to me on the side stand. I use to just run it up by myself and step on centerstand and lift. Now I get help to hold bike while I lift it to centerstand. I always use the centerstand on every bike , but I also use a couple ratchet straps on the rear end  to make sure it remains stable. Once strapped I’m even comfortable rolling the whole works around on the very level cement garage floor. Knock on wood.

The way I do it is,I push the bike up on the lift, me walking on the left side of the bike. Once the front wheel is in the clamp, i stop it with the front brake, then while holding the left bar, I reach over to the front, and tighten the clamp up. Now I am free to put tie downs on to hooks in my lift, one on each side, pulling the bike towards the front.
when I do my convert, i have it idling, me off the bike to the left side, but I can work the throttle and ft. brake.I slowly give it gas, to go up the lift ramp, and stop it with the front brake the same way, and tighten up the clamp the same way, after turning the engine off.
Rick.

[Matt Story]

How hard is it to remove from the wheel chuck? Would seem to be kind of hard to hold the bike up and undo it.

Not too hard.  Harder if the tire is under inflated.  I have taken to riding the bike right up the ram and stop just before lock in and let it engage from momentum.  I'm talking at idle speed.  I never park or de-park from the stand without sitting on the bike.

[Chuck in Indiana]

snag a work stand for $240 with the 20% coupon (GC).

Good luck with that. Every HF I've been in doesn't let you use the 20% coupon on "on sale" items.
Yes, I've used the center stand with the front wheel and rear wheel in the vise. I *did* put a better vise on mine.

[Vagrant]

Either build a wood platform for the left side at the same level as the lift or 4of the 1/2 thickness cement blocks let you walk up safely and put the kickstand down.

[twowheeladdict]

I was fortunate to get an "open box" HF lift for $200.  It has been very useful.  Especially with a bad back.  Move it up and down so whatever I am working on is within easy reach.

I keep the V7 on it in the raised position when the humidity gets too high.  I wouldn't mind getting a second one.  Mmm.