If an FJR falls in the garage...

[Crash Cash]

Well, I'm a computer geek, and kind of a 280lb weakling... So I have difficulty rolling the FJR up on the HF lift. I use a longer, less inclined truck ramp, get some momentum up, and pray the front wheel hits the chock. Well, about a month ago, it hit the chock, but it sure didn't hit it RIGHT.

So this happened:

And I got this:

Then had to do this when I got home from the emergency room:

So I made this:

Fortunately, the only damage to the bike was the mirror snapped off, and the Cee Bailey's windshield shattered. The pipes, fairing, etc are fine, with only a little scuff near the front signal from the wooden wheel tool it landed on. That was a very nice surprise. Since it was just before Memorial Day, I got big sale discounts from Ron Ayer's & Cee Baileys. People heal, but bike parts are expensive!

It was a real ***** lifting it back up, because I couldn't get between the seat and the wall, plus I was worried that it would shift and settle and really damage something. So I stole the idea from the front-fork skyhook.

The winch was a pain, because they seem to only have 6ft control cords, and I needed about 25ft, so I had to extend that. The bar & U-bolt arrangement lets you steer while it's being pulled.

It's so much less stressful now. I can now watch the front wheel the whole time, and it takes about 50 seconds to tow it all the way up.

 

[TomInPA]

Next time, open the garage door, and take advantage of the tail wind.

That's all I got without jinxing myself.

 

[ahchiu]

Were you hitting the Jim Beam before you tried to load the bike on the lift??? I just noticed it on your table

 

[Fairlaner]

Looks like the engine hoist would have been just the ticket for getting that up right.

R

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Guess I would have screwed up too, becuz I would have tried to ride it slowly into position.

Perhaps that is why I don't own a lift...that and I don't have room for it.

Heal up.

 

[C&C]

"discontent is the first necessity of progress" (Thomas A. Edison); good idea.

 

[dj bill]

whose erector set did you steal to make that contraption...lol

 

[DELETE-PLEASE]

Why not just let the engine run, stand next to it, and use the clutch and gas to let it propel itself up there? Just curious. Is that bad?

 

[FJRay]

It doesn't look like you have the room but the side extensions on a lift make it safe to ride the bike on and gives you a good work surface. I have them on both my lifts. I crashed my Concours the same way. more damage to the bike but no stiches in me. I like your winch idea.

 

[Fred W]

Or you could just work on it on the floor. :huh:

Jus' sayin'...

 

[kebo123]

Oops - **** happens. I am sure it will not happen any more - you will be much more careful...

 

[frito1]

It doesn't look like you have the room but the side extensions on a lift make it safe to ride the bike on and gives you a good work surface. I have them on both my lifts.

I have side extensions for my Handy and they are great, especially when lifting the HD. It looks like you don't have room for extensions, so here's what would be a simpler option that would allow for a safe ride on. Build temporary extensions that will sit on the ground and be lift height. They could fill the entire right side space and be as wide as needed on the left. You would then have wide, stable, safe footing. It'd be cheaper, easier, and I think safer than the winch set up. I use a modified version for lifting my HD for front end work. The same set up, it's just turned 90°.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Well, about a month ago, ...

Since it was just before Memorial Day, ...

Florida must be using different calendar.

Glad to hear it wasn't more serious.

 

[JT 384]

Crap! Sorry to hear that.

 

[worldbound4now]

Hey, neat trick. I never thought about mounting an office chair to a motorcycle lift.

 

[MCML]

Wow. Bummer. At least the damage to the bike was "minor" and those stitches probably have stopped hurting too much by now.

 

[Crash Cash]

Looks like the engine hoist would have been just the ticket for getting that up right.

Yeah, that's why I dragged it in there, but the fold down extensions that keep it from tipping over also keep it too far away to lift anything. I tried half-a-dozen ways, plus trying it with the extensions folded up, or just one folded down, and anything else I could think of.

whose erector set did you steal to make that contraption...lol

Yeah, no kidding! I seriously wish I could weld!! I need to track down a local shop somewhere that'll weld stuff for me.

Or you could just work on it on the floor. :huh:

Oh man, my spine would crawl out my mouth and go hitchhiking down the road looking for better working conditions. Even when I was 20 years younger, bending over working on a bike killed my back. The lift has turned things like oil & brake pad changes from "oh dear god, maybe tomorrow?" to "ok, slap it on the lift and get it done"

I really wish I'd thought of the box-style extensions... Riding up without something like that is really iffy because I can get maybe 1/3 of my foot on the lift on each side and I had visions of the bike going over and breaking a leg in the process. On the other hand, putting the SV up there is like parking a bicycle, but then again, the SV isn't keeping me warm in 37F weather this week either!

 

[frito1]

Hey, neat trick. I never thought about mounting an office chair to a motorcycle lift.

As you can tell from the clutter, I *was* running out of room.

 

[Crash Cash]

All I gotta say is "flat-bottom bikes, you make the rockin' world go 'round!"