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Raising front wheel off the ground

  • JR
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12 Sep 2014 12:55 - 12 Sep 2014 12:58 #647275 by JR
Sometimes it's necessary to raise the front end. Front wheel bearing replacement, tire replacement, winter storage, brakes, etc
Here's my simple and cheap solution.
Bike on centre stand
Three pieces of 2 x 4 with brackets left over from a fence project at the bottom corners form a "U" shape The top cross piece slides into a fence clip on the left upper. The longer the cross piece the more leverage and the less muscle required to lift the bike. Very little muscle actually required. There's a bit of wood under the cross piece at the right upper to shim to required height so front wheel rotates freely.

For winter storage I use a shorter cross piece on the top and throw a cover over the whole lot for the duration.



1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust
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Last edit: 12 Sep 2014 12:58 by JR.
The following user(s) said Thank You: 531blackbanshee

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14 Feb 2016 07:00 #710664 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
Good idea John.

B)

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

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14 Feb 2016 09:51 #710692 by davido
Replied by davido on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
I used to just push it down at the back and slide a couple of blocks of wood under the exhaust where the downpipes turn in. Cant do that now though,I binned the centerstand!

www.kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/594313-csr1000-project-build
CB550 (1978)
CB500/4 (1972)*
KZ1000CSR (1981)
XT 600E (1999)
TDM900 (2003)

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14 Feb 2016 10:07 #710693 by redhawk4
Replied by redhawk4 on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
That's a simple idea, the last few times I've worked on front ends I've removed the tank and used my 2 ton engine hoist to lift the front in the air, that way I can go high to slide the forks out if necessary and there's absolutely no way it can tip of fall while working on it.

1978 KZ1000A2 Wiseco 1075 kit
1977 KZ650B1
1973 Triumph Tiger TR7V
1968 BSA Victor Special 441
2015 Triumph Thunderbird LT
1980 Suzuki SP400

Old enough to know better, still too young to care

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14 Feb 2016 10:25 #710696 by peter1958
Replied by peter1958 on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
One time I just put a bag of cement on the back of the seat. Put a towel over seat first.

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  • ThatGPzGuy
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14 Feb 2016 10:41 #710698 by ThatGPzGuy
Replied by ThatGPzGuy on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
I took a piece of scrap plywood about the size of the bike. Put two exhaust clamps in the back on either side to use for tie downs. With the bike on the plywood you can ratchet the back down enough to raise the front end. When not in use I parked the GPz on it. Worked well until I could get a HF motorcycle table.

Jim
North GA
2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES
1982 GPz750 R1
1974 Kawasaki H1
1976 Kawasaki KZ400
1979 Yamaha XS650 cafe'
2001 KZ1000P
2001 Yamaha YZ426
1981 Honda XR200 stroked in an '89 CR125 chassis
1965 Mustang
1967 Triumph GT6
1976 Bronco
"If you didn't build it, it's not really yours"

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14 Feb 2016 13:05 #710712 by 650ed
Replied by 650ed on topic Raising front wheel off the ground

ThatGPzGuy wrote: I took a piece of scrap plywood about the size of the bike. Put two exhaust clamps in the back on either side to use for tie downs. With the bike on the plywood you can ratchet the back down enough to raise the front end. When not in use I parked the GPz on it. Worked well until I could get a HF motorcycle table.


That works for sure. I put the bike on the centerstand on a sheet of plywood; place a bottlejack under the front of the engine (with a small plywood block between the jack and oil pan to protect the fins); jack it up until the front tire is off the ground (being careful not to jack it up so high as to lift it off the centerstand); and tighten a strap through the swingarm with the strap ends hooked to the plywood plywood just in case the jack was to leak. Ed

Attachment ForkOff2-3.jpg not found


1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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14 Feb 2016 14:44 #710721 by Bowman
Replied by Bowman on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
Can't believe nobody so far has suggested rev the shit out of it and drop the clutch B)

Honda 55 Trail don't ask me what year, 65? (sold)
79 Yamaha XS400 (sold)
76 KZ750B Twin (project)
72 Honda CT70 (project)

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14 Feb 2016 15:18 #710723 by mopguy
Replied by mopguy on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
Bowman I did that with my 750 and I ended dragging the bike on my licence plates, still ride with those original 1980 plates that are all scratched up, I don't know how I managed to put the bike back down with out dropping it.

I have a 1980 Kawasaki KZ750 Ltd. I bought new. I recently managed to get it out of my garage after 28 years and put it on the road again (2010). I feel like a kid all over again. Since I have acquired 3 78 KZ1000 Ltd, 1 1981 KZ1000 Ltd, and another 1980 KZ750 Ltd. Love the LTD's.

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  • SWest
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  • 10 22 2014
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14 Feb 2016 15:27 #710724 by SWest
Replied by SWest on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
A $19.95 small floor jack, also holds my exhaust up and doubles in the back of my truck. B)
Steve

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28 Feb 2016 07:31 #712836 by Kwaker2000
Replied by Kwaker2000 on topic Raising front wheel off the ground
that is one clean motor Ed

:)

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