How Do You Lift the Front Wheel Off the Ground?

I used to have these really cool crash bars that bolted onto the engine front on my 750 twin. I could use the cross tube to lift the front end. Put it on the center stand then lift under the tube, no problem

Now I have mac 2-1 headers and the crsh bar won't fit on because the MAC pipes stick too far forward at the bottom where the pipe turns rearward. No reason except they were too lazy to put a longer smooth radius bend there, they just use a short right angle bend and the ,ower portion of the pipe sticks far out.

So, I can't use the crash bars and the pipes also run under the frame tubes.

I know you can't jack under the oil pan, I know there are aftermarket jacks that mate with the frame (which the pipes block anyway).

Not sure what the best thing to do is, sure don't want to have to pull the pipes every time I need to raise the front.

Anybody know if there are bolt on bars which will clear the stupid MAC pipes?

I've been lifting my front end w/a come-along, hooked to a rafter, in garage, and the handle-bars.

a 2x4 under the motor will distribute the weight evenly and allow you to use a bottle jack without harming you engine.

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Ok I'll say it MORE THROTTLE:woohoo:
But the come along sounds like the best bet.

KZ250LTD wrote:

If you don't need it too high and the bike has a center stand, pop it up on the center stand and throw some sandbags on the back of the seat. I have a lift but I used this method for switching out the forks on my 750

So you use the rear wheel and center stand as a tripod stand?

Never thought of that.

Doubt I would ever have the nerve to try it....:blush:

ronjones wrote:

I've been lifting my front end w/a come-along, hooked to a rafter, in garage, and the handle-bars.

Good point, but I dont have one and the rafters in my garage are too rickety.

531blackbanshee wrote:

a 2x4 under the motor will distribute the weight evenly and allow you to use a bottle jack without harming you engine.

I'll admit that's what I was thinking (wood block). Cutting one a bit to get it to fit the oil pan and then use my floor jack under it....

bountyhunter wrote:

531blackbanshee wrote:

a 2x4 under the motor will distribute the weight evenly and allow you to use a bottle jack without harming you engine.

I'll admit that's what I was thinking (wood block). Cutting one a bit to get it to fit the oil pan and then use my floor jack under it....

I used the floor jack and 2x4 under the motor to take the front off of the 1000...worked just fine.

531blackbanshee wrote:

a 2x4 under the motor will distribute the weight evenly and allow you to use a bottle jack without harming you engine.

I've been doing it for years, and on a bunch of different bikes, usually with a floor jack but sometimes with a bottle jack.
Never caused a problem

Maybe not applicable on the 750 twin, but on the large fours, I use a short length of 2x4 with a shallow hole drilled in it which fits snugly around the oil plug and keeps the 2x4 held in position under the engine whether using floor jack or bottle jack.