Lifting your Touring Bike

[bobclift]

Hey all - I'm new to the forum and to my 09 Ultra and need some advise. Although I've been putting it off in favor of riding, soon it will be time to clean up my wheels. I'd like to hear from members who have discovered the best way to lift their touring bike so the wheels can be turned for easy cleaning. I don't want to spend a bunch. If you like using a jack, is it safe to lift your bike without straps, etc. Thanks for the help! Bob

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[k&j eglide]

Ever try cleaning half a wheel and then rolling forward (or back, your choice) three feet? Cheaper and safer. Otherwise, the HArbor Freight cycle jacks, ($80 or so) work fine, no need for straps.

[dawg]

I use a Sears yellow craftsman aluminum jack and generally don't use the straps.

[Ronp42]

Originally Posted by bobclift

Hey all - I'm new to the forum and to my 09 Ultra and need some advise. Although I've been putting it off in favor of riding, soon it will be time to clean up my wheels. I'd like to hear from members who have discovered the best way to lift their touring bike so the wheels can be turned for easy cleaning. I don't want to spend a bunch. If you like using a jack, is it safe to lift your bike without straps, etc. Thanks for the help! Bob

welcome to the forum, I'm a newbie too! I have a 09 EGC wish now I had bought the ultra. I'm a little afraid of these inexpensive jacks like the Harbor freight one. Scares me to think about an eight hundred and fifty pound bike on it. When I clean my rear wheel, I pull the hardbags off and put it on my trailer with the front tie downs in place, I use my auto scissor jack or my hydraulic floor jack under the back of the frame near the crossover pipe. Works well for me and I don't worry about dropping it. I'll buy a nice lift jack someday. I have read some threads about being careful letting the bike down with some of these cheaper jacks. Some have said they come down quick and can cause you to drop it. Good luck!

[tencrore]

Here is the jack I have been using for my Road King.


http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductD...tNumber=640753

Relatively inexpensive and works well. Can't condone not using straps, but I haven't used them so far.

Hope this helps

[HarleyWood]

I use a J&S jack to lift the bike. I've never used straps.

[dirtdobber]

If you are just wanting to get the tires off the ground for cleaning and do not want to spend much then use a bottle jack. I made a stand similar to the condor and use a bottle jack. You do not have to have a stand to use the bottle jack.

Many different ways of doing it.

I do prefer my bike jack though.
I have the cheap sears jack, took washers to tighten up the wobble.


In God we Trust

dd

[2nd Mike]

I've been using a Larin jack ,similar to what others have shown, for years with no issues.

Let it down slow and make sure the kick stand is down and you won't have any problems.

If your going to remove a wheel,I'd recommend putting a crate under the other to keep it from shifting.

[wglide69]

Sears yellow aluminum jack.....No straps

[jglide05]

Got a harbor freight bike lift for xmas and never had a problem with wobble or fear of bike falling. I've never strapped it down. I do all maintenance myself and use the lift often.