Found a cheap front lift!

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Joey_Dude, Jan 5, 2009.

  1. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    It's time to get a new front tire and I got tired of doing it poor man style (ATV jack and crossing fingers) But I don't want to spent over $140 for a pitbull lift.

    So I found and bought the black widow motorcycle stand: Motorcycle Front Wheel Stand

    I just got it a few days ago and I'm really happy with it. It lifts my 5th gen VFR just high enough for me to take the front wheel off. And the fact it's an universal product will allow me to share the meager wealth I got with my biker buddies!

    I highly recommend this product but a caveat is that it's designed as a "good enough" solution for getting the forks propped up. I wouldn't recommend sitting on the bike while on the black widow stand; it doesn't look that sturdy. You would have to get the pitbull if you want to do backflips on the bike.
     
  2. jsherer91

    jsherer91 New Member

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    Very nice, looks similar to the ones my buddies have for the rear tire of their bikes. Having a center stand is a good benefit. So did you pay $80?
     
  3. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    thanks for reminding me.....I have one of these stuffed in storage.... I wa wondering what it was for.......
     
  4. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    Yeah, didn't have to buy the rear stand since the bike already has a center stand!
     
  5. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    holy crap the PitBulls are up to $140, for some reason I just don't remember them being that much. Granted it has been a couple of years since I got mine, but I thought I paid closer to $100-110...

    maybe I am just remembering the "wife" price
     
  6. Lifttruck

    Lifttruck New Member

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    The front stand you purchased looks sturdy enough. Not to start a flame war but; it's not good practice to use a front stand without a sturdy rear stand. I've heard many stories of guys using a front stand with the bike's center stand. While lifting the bike from the front the motion tends to pull the bike forward collapsing the centerstand resulting in the bike falling over to the side. If you're going to use a front stand you really NEED to use a rear lifting stand for safety's sake!
     
  7. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    "Important safety tip, thanks Egon"

    Dr Peter Venkman
     
  8. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    At least with the Pitbull, and the one that lifts from the bottom of the sterring stem and not the bottom of the fork legs as shown above, it actually lifts it off the center stand, so all the weight is on the lift, and the rear tire, no center stand. I can't remember with the Pitbull that lifts from the bottom of the fork leg as I haven't used that lift in a while.

     
  9. Lifttruck

    Lifttruck New Member

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    I have a whole kennel of Pit-Bull stands and rarely use the fork lift stand. I never use any front stand without a rear stand period! I also own a Lockhart Phillips swingarm stand an a NO-Name swingarm stand. I read somewhere, where at the moment I can't recall, that you should NEVER EVER lift the front of the bike without it being on a rearstand first. I will find the info. and post it and you guys can read the info. what ever way you wish. Please be careful when lifting your bikes!! Bad things happen and can happen quickly.
     
  10. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    What can I say? Danger is my middle name.
     
  11. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    my parents suck then! All they gave me was Joseph, Phht! Danger is sooo much cooler
    :cheersaf:
     
  12. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    keep in mind, once it is on either stand it will make it much more difficult to put it on the other stand, as the other stand is putting extra weight on it.
     
  13. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    I looked at the Pitbull website and at least they don't have anything about putting the bike on a rear stand before you put it on a front stand. But they didn't have an instruction sheet that I could download. But, of important note, in the video they have of them using a front stand they do show the bike already on a rear stand... So take that however you want. Just because lots of us, myself included, have used the front stand solo, doesn't mean it is safe or is smart!
     
  14. Joey_Dude

    Joey_Dude Member

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    You know what I find somewhat ironic is we are discussing safety and yet we partake in a pretty dangerous activity, namely riding motorcycles. I mean, come on, most motorcycle accident victims end up in the hospital while car accident victims just get a sprained neck.
     
  15. Lifttruck

    Lifttruck New Member

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    Personally I think I'd rather risk dropping my bike during a spirited ride rather than dropping it while servicing it. Since riding is what the intended purpose of the bike is. Try lifting it with a rearstand set and without one set and tell me which is more stable while lifting the front. Use any style front lift you choose.
     
  16. Tightwad

    Tightwad New Member

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    why not just put it on the center stand, remove the rear wheel, and then life the front via overhead hoist of some sort?
     
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