bike lifting

[FJH]

So this is my first bike without a center stand. I was thinking about getting a jack, the kind that sits under the frame, and lifting the bike off the ground so as to take the weight off the suspension and tires for the 2 months or so that I won't be riding it this winter. I had someone tell me that its not good for the suspension to be fully extended like that for long periods of time so even though I thought I was doing a good thing, the bike would be better off just leaving it parked on the side stand. And if I was worried about flat spots on the tires, just move it around the garage every couple of weeks.

Any opinions on that would be most appreciated.

 

[Gunner]

It will not hurt anything for that bike to sit for a few months.

 

[pappabear]

Two months isn't very long (lucky you). Our riding season in michigan is only 5 months 6 if you can brave the 37 degree fall mornings. But I have always stored my bikes on a strip of old shag carpet and a trailer wheel choke that a purchased from harbor freight. Just to keep pressure off jiffy stand.

 

[buckshot85]

Never heard anything about the suspension hanging not being good. You could still jack it up if you so choose, but, maybe don't pump it up all the way. You would still be taking a lot of load off the tires. Mine sits about 5 months. Never worried about flat spots. Never had them that I know off, never had tire issues except just wearing them out riding. I drive mine on top of a tarp then into a front tire chock and let sit straight up closer to a wall and then cover with a soft light cloth cover to breathe. My garage is heated. Not warm just 45 degrees. I've heard of guys driving the bike onto carpet or leaving kitty litter underneath it also. I would be more concerned about stabilizing the fuel and running the bike awhile to get it in the carb or injectors. Use a good battery tender, not trickle charger. Don't start it unless your gonna ride it. You'll only add condensation to the oil and create more problems. I'm still riding and it's only low 30's in the morning. I figure another 3 weeks or so yet.

 

[Spazz]

Yeah... 2 months is not a long time to worry about.... all great ideas and tips are already stated above.

The thing is... you did inquire about a lift... so I will say, after much research with the collaborative efforts of this forum, the J&S lift is the only lift you would ever need. I fell to the price.. and settled for a Craftsman.. for now.. but the J&S will have a home in my garage soon.

Look into it.

 

[buckshot85]

I did eventually buy a J&S lift also. It was hard paying the price but it is a great lift. Buy once, cry once. I bought mine from the dealership. Their price was $395. I used my HOG discount of 10% and got it for $373 with tax. I use it a lot now that I have it. Don't know that I would set a bike on it or any hydraulic jack for a season. Seals do fail and gravity doesn't. If I were you and wanted to lift it for a season I would use a mechanical lift.

 

[Bluebowtie]

I saw a J&S on CL for $200 but was too late it had already sold.

Doesn't the J&S have a safety lock in the up position?


Sent from the mobile leash

 

[wildchld]

Very happy with my Craftsman aluminum lift and the J&S is the ****z but for $300 less the Craftsman gets the job done

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk

 

[dlsorensen]

I'm with you wildchld. That's money I can put into the bike elsewhere.

 

[eberky]

J&S is the way to go if you want to jack you bike up and move it out of the way. If all you want to do is jack it up and have plenty of room to not go near it in fear of it not being sturdy - any jack would be fine.

not sure about the extension of the suspension. never actually thought about that - I'd be interested in that discussion a little further.

 

[paul65k]

I agree the J&S is the sh*t but...........I also cheeped out and bought the Craftsman jack on Black Friday for only $63 (with points discount) and I gotta say it works great with both the RK and new SGS........don't know how I got by without one for all these years.......especially with cleaning those whitewalls on the RK