I got a duralast lift for my metric bike and went to use it with the nightster I bought... The only problem is the frame isnt flush like my metric bike. It has two "slots" where a special lift would be used.. I want to get a lift so I can just change oil and fluids so I dont want to spend much but I dont want to build my own. Any suggestions on a solution to getting the bike upright for under 100 bucks?

 

If you have a Pep Boys near you, they have the Torin Big Red motorcyle jack on sale for $59 until 11 am this morning. I just picked one up myself. Looks like a very nice jack for the money. If you do a web search, you will see the same jack at motercycle superstore for $189 with a number of positive reviews.

 

While lifts are great for most work on a bike, they are typically in the way for doing oil changes on a Sporty and make the job both harder and messier.

 

what would you suggest to hold the bike upright?

 

The jiffy (kick) stand. Anything else under the bike is only in the way of the engine oil drain hose and the Primary/Tranny drain plug. Most of the oil will drain while on the stand.
While you have the drain pan under the bike and the drain plugs out, you can straddle the bike and bring it upright if necessary to get out the last bit of fluid.

 

I did my primary/tranny fluid the other day and that's how I did it. It seemed easier to do it that way then to mess with the lift and everything. The primary/Tranny fluid change was less than a 15 minute job.

 

if you use the jiffy stand and fill the tranny fluid it will spill out unless it is held upright.. unless I was doing something wrong.

 

You're doing something wrong. There is no need to remove the derby cover to do an oil change. After draining, simply remove the (small) primary chain inspection cover (2 screws) and add 1 quart (32oz) of fluid through that opening.

 

Note: if you want to remove the derby cover for some reason, say to adjust the clutch at the same time, simply put a scrap piece of 2x4 or 1x4 under the jiffy stand to bring the bike more upright and the oil won't leak out.

 

oh ok... I must have misread the manual...I thought I had to fill the tranny fluid through the derby cover...