Maintenance stands

So it looks like I'm going to need to start pulling my own wheels off to cut costs on tire changes. The problem is that I don't have any stands, front or rear. An even bigger problem is that I don't know squat about stands, ie what would work with the 2nd gen bikes, or what to look for in a stand, or what different types of stands there are as far as the types of bolts/mounted goodies that the stand would grab onto.

So what type(s) of stands do yall recommend? What stands have been verified to work with the 2nd gen bikes? What should I look for, and what should I avoid? I'm looking to score a front and rear stand for the bike at this point, so any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

If you're like me and against spending money ever, you can improvise a wheel removal setup with a common sizzor jack, a wall to slightly lean against and some woodblocks.

 

I use a Pitbull for the rear, and an engine lift with strap for the front. I should get off my lazy ass and find the correct pin for the front Pitbull stand so I can use it on the VFR.

 

I'm very happy with the Pitbull stand I have for the front. I have a centerstand so I don't need a rear.

 

Only stand I use is the center stand.



Or if just taking off front, I use a jack under the exhaust/case where Squirrelman has his lettuce crisper drawer and block of wood.

 

Cycle gear has stands on sale for about $40 periodically. The front stand lifts under the bottom of the fork legs- okay for changing tires, but not good for removing your forks.
A pitbull stand that lifts under the steering head is better, but they run $100 or more. Once you've bought them, you'll get a lot of use out of them.

 

Mine didn't have a center stand when I bought it so I fabbed this up real quick. You install it where the center stand would connect and put a jack under it, a wide, stable pad on the jack helps.

 

That centerstand pad looks pretty sweet. I just use my centerstands and a jack for the front and work real careful like around it when the front is jacked up. Not the best setup for the front but I have not had the bike fall over yet with the front end work I have done on both VFRs.

 

The back is easy, just use a small jack on the right side of the center stand/frame mount. I add a 2x4 block under the side stand so it doesn't lean over too much, then jack up the bike till the back wheel is off the ground.

The front is the tricky one. I take the fairings off first then roll the front wheel on top of a 2x4 to raise the bike some. You can get a 8x8 block of wood and slide it under the oil pan/exhaust. Then I lean the bike left and slide a small 2x4 block under the right pipe. Then lean the bike to the right and slide a block under the left pipe. Now the block under the front wheel can slide out and the wheel spins free.

Kinda sucks now that I write it down. I need some good stands. :biggrin:

 

If you are going to spend any money, I would really stay away from this. I have one and find it very unstable. Scares the shit out of me so I don't use it at all. I know others here use them but even they have said they find them unstable.



If I were to do it over again, I would have spent a few more bucks and bought something similar to this. Problem here though is they do take up a fair amount of room in a garage that is already full of woodworking tools. Hut it would be nice to have one

 

Are you strapping the bike down to the stand like your supposed to?

Also, since the bottom on the bike is not flat, how the heck are you lifting it at all?
I thought about building a square tube frame to attach to the bottom of the bike to use this style of jack, but never got that far.

 

I use the jack method as well for the front and i have the centerstand for the rear. After i jack the front though i will put some blocks under the exhaust just in case. It also helps to stablize it. I like your shop grey.

 

I picked up one of those from Harbor Freight that had the pump piston bent so it wouldn't pump worth a hoot. I got it for $250, took it home, pulled the pump apart and straightened the piston. It works great, and is so nice to be able to work on a bike at eye level. It sits low enough that we can park the truck over it during the winter.

 

Actually, it was Harbour Frieght that I was looking. I just don't have the room in my garage with all my woodworking machinery in there too.

NOTE TO SELF.

Next house.....tripple garage

 

Bought a set from this place probably 20 years ago Black Widow Sportbike Stands Set of 2 - $79.99 - Kit #2, under $100 shipped for both stands. I've bought and sold at least a dozen bikes since then, even go years here and there with no bike, but never regret buying the work stands and they always seem to get used for my projects or someone elses. Small tool investments like this last a lifetime. If I were at the race track or ran a service shop out of my garage, I'd spring for Pitbull or similar higher end units, but these basic ones have served me well for a long time and still are in great condition.

The work/lift style mentioned above work awesome if your lift point is flat, had zero problems with most of my bikes (even my Harley bagger) on there and I've got the less expensive model from HF or K&L (not the craftsman one). My brother-n-law has the Pitbull with turntable option, which is very nice, especially for the all the HD stuff we work on at his shop. The other lift I trust is the J&S unit, works as advertised.

As many have mentioned, you can rig up a lot of solutions, but for easy of use and fitting most any bike around, the basic service stand set I bought way back when was money well spend indeed.