Problems with my home made bike trolly

[feejer222]

I have made a trolley to move the bike around the garage. The bike sits on a wheeled platform on its main stand. I had a few teething problems, the first being that the lever that you put your foot on to lift the bike clashed with the trolley. It was adjusted to get round this, strengthened to stop a sag with the weight of the bike, and now works perfectly, until I try to move the bike.

I envisaged being able to easliy spin the bike on its axis or shift it diagonally into a corner. However, the weight of the bike is, I would guess 80% on the front wheel. If I lift the front and try to turn the bike the stand slides on the steel platform and I risk it toppling over. The bike just will not move, nor will it spin as there is just so much weight on the front wheel.

I have seen purpose made trolleys on the internet but can't see how they would work any better. The only way I can see for it to work is to make the trolley much longer to carry the front wheel as well.

Is the FJR too heavy for this?

Has anyone else done this and overcome the problem of the front end weight problem?

I am able to spin the bike on its mainstand, but I don't believe it does the stand any good, nor do I want to dig a hole in my workshop floor.

 

[Fencer]

Pics of the contraption would help

 

[madmike2]

Is the "round table" rated for the FJR's weight? If so, can you put the bike more "rearward" so that you can lever the front wheel off the ground to spin it? You may be redesigning the "trolley" with a larger set of caster wheels for the weight of the bike.

You could always try something like this:

 

[Go Far]

I've got a trolley I bought from a bike shop. I'll let the front wheel roll if I'm moving the bike in line with the wheels. Spinning is tough, but holding the front brake and spinning around the axis of the front wheel works if you have enough room. I usually get the front wheel about where I want it, put the bike on the 'dolly', then pivot it into it's final spot. I ALWAYS strap the centerstand to the front wheel so the bke doesn't jump off the stand and land in a heap. It's cheap insurance!

I have made a trolley to move the bike around the garage. The bike sits on a wheeled platform on its main stand. I had a few teething problems, the first being that the lever that you put your foot on to lift the bike clashed with the trolley. It was adjusted to get round this, strengthened to stop a sag with the weight of the bike, and now works perfectly, until I try to move the bike.
I envisaged being able to easliy spin the bike on its access or shift it diagonally into a corner. However, the weight of the bike is, I would guess 80% on the front wheel. If I lift the front and try to turn the bike the stand slides on the steel platform and I risk it toppling over. The bike just will not move, nor will it spin as there is just so much weight on the front wheel.

I have seen purpose made trolleys on the internet but can't see how they would work any better. The only way I can see for it to work is to make the trolley much longer to carry the front wheel as well.

Is the FJR too heavy for this?

Has anyone else done this and overcome the problem of the front end weight problem?

I am able to spin the bike on its mainstand, but I don't believe it does the stand any good, nor do I want to dig a hole in my workshop floor.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Two easy methods:

1. Buy or make two low-boy furniture dollies and put them under the center stand feet. Press down on the rear seat to lift the front tire and you can go pretty much anywhere in the garage. They have to be just a hair off the floor or you don't get enough leverage to get the bike up. To get the bike up or down, I use an old paint mixing stick to chock the casters or the centerstand will just slide on them. BTW, trust me in that the bike is heavy enough to crush the casters on the cheapo dollies from Home Depot.

2. If you're just trying to spin the bike, take two pieces of 1/4" Teflon (nylon should also work) and put just 3-4 (don't over do this!) drops of oil between them. Actually, be careful doing this the first time and hold the front brake, as you just aren't used to the physics of a 600 pound bike with zero friction! It helps to put a bit of aluminum foil on the floor first for the oil that weeps out over time.

Bob

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

These are on sale for $79.99 :dntknw:

clicky

Looks like they put the bike on the sidestand to avoid the problem of fore and aft tipping.

There is also another commercial small round version of a dolly; and another that is a drive-on and drive-off version that has been written about somewhere on this forum. Just can't remember by whom.......

 

[feejer222]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I think it's a start again job. The dolly in your link looks best shiny parts up. I think that shipping it to the UK would be expensive. I will look to see if there is anything over here as cheap, if not it's back to the steel stockholders and place an order for some U channel.

A home made version of THIS might do the trick. Photo's to follow if it works.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I think it's a start again job. The dolly in your link looks best shiny parts up. I think that shipping it to the UK would be expensive. I will look to see if there is anything over here as cheap, if not it's back to the steel stockholders and place an order for some U channel.
A home made version of THIS might do the trick. Photo's to follow if it works.

Hi Feejer,

The tailswinger is an interesting product. I'm not sure if the 600 lbs. of the FJR may be too much if the momentum gets going though.

If you change your mind about the dolly I referenced earlier, (for giggles) I called customer service, and they do ship to Manchester England through their international office. I didn't call that number, but if interested, the phone number is: 805-388-3000

Good luck.

 

[feejer222]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I think it's a start again job. The dolly in your link looks best shiny parts up. I think that shipping it to the UK would be expensive. I will look to see if there is anything over here as cheap, if not it's back to the steel stockholders and place an order for some U channel.
A home made version of THIS might do the trick. Photo's to follow if it works.

Hi Feejer,

The tailswinger is an interesting product. I'm not sure if the 600 lbs. of the FJR may be too much if the momentum gets going though.

If you change your mind about the dolly I referenced earlier, (for giggles) I called customer service, and they do ship to Manchester England through their international office. I didn't call that number, but if interested, the phone number is: 805-388-3000

Good luck.

Thats good of you mate, thanks. Half of me wants to just buy one and have done with it, the other half wants to persevere and make the thing work. I figure it will cost me about another £60 and an hours work. I will ring the number just to see how much a get back to you tomorrow.....wait a minute its 8.30pm here, so its still office hours there....back in a bit.

OK back......the nice lady tok my details and said someone would call me back within 48 hours. She declined to take my email address which would have been simpler, but we shall see.

Thanks again for the help. I can't find anything like it in the UK.

 

[feejer222]

Found it in the UK. A LOT more expensive but no risky expensive transatlantic shipping.

CLICK

As a matter of interest I typed into google 'motorcycle trolley' and it brought this thread up!!

My 15 year old son who is heading for an A star in his physics GCSE breezed through when I was struggling with it the other day. He glanced at it and said

'not enough wheels dad, too much weight on each wheel, you can't expect them to work properly....can I borrow a fiver?'

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

...the other half wants to persevere and make the thing work.

Persevere!

Never give up!

Sounds like you're halfway there. At least you get the bike on the dolly. If you push down on the tail of the bike to get the weight off the front wheel, can you move the bike around using your dolly? If so, another dolly under the front wheel and you’re done. Right?

Please post some picks of your project. I know I'd like to see 'em.

 

[feejer222]

I apreciate the support. I have found one in the UK for £90 which will do the job perfectly. I have priced the rest of the materials this morning to complete the home made version and they come to around the same, so I can save myself a lot of work by buying the purpose made thing. Besides which the company who sell them are at the bike show next week and may well do me a better deal at the show.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

I apreciate the support. I have found one in the UK for £90 which will do the job perfectly. I have priced the rest of the materials this morning to complete the home made version and they come to around the same, so I can save myself a lot of work by buying the purpose made thing. Besides which the company who sell them are at the bike show next week and may well do me a better deal at the show.

Glad you found a solution that works for you. That's the whole point, I believe. Good luck and let me know how it works, nits and all..........might be one in my future someday as I have a small garage for maneuvering.

 

[abarron576]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I think it's a start again job. The dolly in your link looks best shiny parts up. I think that shipping it to the UK would be expensive. I will look to see if there is anything over here as cheap, if not it's back to the steel stockholders and place an order for some U channel.
A home made version of THIS might do the trick. Photo's to follow if it works.

Just went up on Internet and it appears that the Tailswinger is no longer available. You can try replying, but I got message that the .com was no longer in use.

Just thought I'd pass it on. Sure loooked like a good idea that wasn't marketed.

 

[feejer222]

The 'tail swinger' is available here (* see below) but I really don't fancy the weight of the FJR on that thing, once she started to go it might be a struggle to keep her up.

I have contacted the only British company I can find that import THIS to find that they will not be getting any delivered for 4 months.

I think that this is the only design that is suitable to a bike the size of the FJR. I have ordered the steel to make a copy of this and will take photo's as I go and post them when done.

Thanks for the help guys. Watch out for a new thread in about a week.

*(or so the website says, but then again it says the full length dolly is and will allow you to go through the ordering process only to be told a day later that they are not in stock, which leads to a phone call only to be told 4 months)