Author Topic: How do you get a 750 or 550 down stairs to basement? (Read 8122 times)

DH · « **on:** March 14, 2013, 07:01:05 PM »

I have an ideal area in my basement to work. The stairs are
obviously my problem. Thinking of getting bike in a mostly disassembled stage, then have a few helpers to get the frame
and engine down as a unit. Anyone have another more creative way?
What's the least I could disassemble and it still be manageable?
Fishin for ideas. Thanks...

wowbagger · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2013, 07:16:02 PM »

Subscribed since I'm considering digging out a bulkhead and ramp to get mine into my basement.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2013, 07:43:09 PM »

Unless you have a turn part way down I'd just ride it.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2013, 07:43:23 PM »

I know a guy in Ohio who was going to raise his house a couple feet and bought lots of 20 ton jacks and the like and in the middle of the process had a major OOPS and the house shifted and fell off the jacks and turned a bit in the process. Insurance company paid for company to come in and lift the house and return it to where it was suppose to be aligned. He paid them to raise it enough and dig out beneath it to put a 2nd story beneath it.
They used big air bags and shoring to lift the house and re-align it. Then installed necessary beams and pilings to restabilize the house about 5 feet higher than originally. They took out a wall after stabilizing it and had special bobcat front end loaders that did the excavation under the house. New footers were poured for the house and lots of the cracks in the walls came back close in the upstairs (drywall cracked and split in many places...). Added a lot of value to the house but it also was a ton of work.
They lived in the barn for a couple months until the house was safe to occupy again.

David

brewsky · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2013, 07:43:52 PM »

ATV with a winch would be the easiest way

bluesoverlord · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2013, 08:02:42 PM »

The real question is how do you get the nice finished bike back up?

gecko672 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2013, 08:22:18 PM »

Yeah getting it out is the problem. My mate took apart his gsxr once and reassembled it in his bedroom over a period of months ( yeah he is a bit nuts) kept wondering why he had a head ach each morning.
Finally finished it and went to wheel it out. The bike wouldn't fit around the door jamb and hallway. Ended up pulling most of it apart to get it out. He always had a cracking story about thing like this.Those are the good friends you keep for life.

City Boy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2013, 08:30:59 PM »

Hi.In my yout,I took a '70 750 down a slightly curving staircase of average width to the basement as follows;removed mirrors,tank, seat,rear fender and tailight assembly,and exhaust pipes,left installed flat bars on as not as wide as stock to begin with.Bar width may be an issue for U depending.Myself and a friend then walked it down the stairs,me in front working brake and pal in back slowing things down holding frame at fender mounts.
A subsequent winter rebuild on same machine was much easier!Took it piece by cleaned piece to my apt on 9th floor and back down elevator assembled in spring missing only rear fender assembly. Have Fun and Rock On

754 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2013, 08:35:17 PM »

Cavebear knows how to get the bike out..
,

Johnie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2013, 08:47:35 PM »

You probably already figured out it will be easier going down than back up.

If you have a bunch of buddies you should be able to do it in pieces. Maybe a Come-Along would make it easier. You will not be able to rely on the front brake as the bike will just slide if you use a ramp. Let us know how you come out.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2013, 10:25:58 PM »

I took an XS650 apart completely on the deck and took it all down the stairs by myself. I could pick up the frame and carry it down. The engine I strapped to a two wheel dolly (with a little padding or course) and went down the steps one at a time. Me and all my burly 160 lbs. of solid muscle.

Many years ago I took another XS650 up a flight of stairs into my second floor duplex. If I remember three of us just wheeled it up and then back down in the spring and where surprised at how easy it was.

Sawdust723 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2013, 01:35:40 PM »

I took in to a basement ONCE!
If I had to do it again I would have taken the motor down with my kids sled and a rope. To br

sixthwisconsin · « **Reply #12 on:** March 16, 2013, 01:50:19 PM »

Wow... 11 replies and not one mention of "Animal House". You guys are slipping...

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2013, 01:53:51 PM »

I would fabricate a ramp and use an electric cable winder -whatever the name in english is, that thing that most off-road vehicles have in the front to help them get out of sand dunes, mud etc. to slowly get the bike up and down the ramp.
My shop is actually underground, but I'm "lucky" that there is an elevator. Problem is the CB750 doesn't fit inside. Only smaller bikes fit, but only if they are in diagonal....

Sawdust723 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2013, 01:57:07 PM »

I took one into a basement ONCE! One guy in the back one guy on the side. I put the bike in gear and used the clutch and brake. Like everybody else said it was really hard to get it up (no pun intended)
I think if I did it again I would have bought a 60$ winch from harbor freight and I piece of ibeam in a door jam

DJ_AX · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2013, 02:03:14 PM »

I'd just do it like any climber would..
Rig up a 3 point equalized anchor system at the top, run the rope from the bike to the anchor and back. And then use a belay device to lower it down....
To get it up you'd have to rig at least a 4 to one hauling system... or just ride it

DJ_AX · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2013, 02:14:43 PM »

Then again I just happened to have all the needed stuff on hand.

DH · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2013, 09:47:53 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Some creative thinking goin on

I have space constraints to deal with, so its looking like Partial disassembly is my best solution. Gonna study it for a while to see
what can stay on the bike and what needs to be taken off.
Thinking exhaust,tank,covers, seat, battery, wheels, front footpegs,
and forks if necessary. I'll post results when i do it, and list what works best and takes the least time.

Dimitri13 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2013, 10:04:33 PM »

Pull the engine. Have a couple friends roll the rolling chassis down the stairs. Carry the engine downstairs. Removal is the reverse of installation.

Vinhead1957 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2013, 06:09:42 AM »

When I was Spry, I would do that ( carry the engine )! Now I carry thing with brains to save my back. I would make a temporary engine mount out of a couple 2x4s and have two people tote the engine like King tut down the stairs. Good luck, oh while thee nine is out good opportunity to power wash it and totally degrease.

dhall57 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2013, 06:17:06 AM »

Very, very carefully

Stoli · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2013, 08:19:01 AM »

I am facing the same problem in a month or two when I need to get a finished bike out of my basement. My plan is to strap the bike upright onto a piece of plywood (about 6' long and 2' wide) with a couple of 2x3s attached to the bottom (along the edges) for some support (kind of like a pallet). Then I am going to fasten a couple of 2x4s (on end) to the stairs (spaced just under 2' apart) that will act like rails for the "pallet" (they will fit just inside the 2x3s on the underside of the plywood). Then pull the pallet+bike out with a $49 winch I bought from HF. I'll be sure to take pictures so my wife can show people how I died.

rb550four · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2013, 09:38:13 AM »

I rebuilt my cl350 many years ago in a steep entry 1880's basement. It was in boxes when I brought it down.
When finished, getting it out was the trick, besides clearance issues (bars +mirrors...) and extraordinarly steep stairs, it took a half a day , all my patience and every ounce of energy to pull it out of that place by the front rim.
I was so pissed for being so stupid ,I put a FOR SALE sign on the bike when I put the kickstand down. While putting the handlebars back on and just starting to cool down, this guy in a truck pulls into the driveway , makes me an offer and drives off with the bike.....never even got to go for a ride.

DH · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2013, 09:59:17 AM »

Quote from: rb550four on March 17, 2013, 09:38:13 AM

I rebuilt my cl350 many years ago in a steep entry 1880's basement. It was in boxes when I brought it down.
When finished, getting it out was the trick, besides clearance issues (bars +mirrors...) and extraordinarly steep stairs, it took a half a day , all my patience and every ounce of energy to pull it out of that place by the front rim.
I was so pissed for being so stupid ,I put a FOR SALE sign on the bike when I put the kickstand down. While putting the handlebars back on and just starting to cool down, this guy in a truck pulls into the driveway , makes me an offer and drives off with the bike.....never even got to go for a ride.

That's sad man

.... I've done it the past, but was 14 years old, stupid, and the bike was a ct 70. Used to ride around in the basement when mom wasn't home.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2013, 12:19:33 PM »

Quote

I'll be sure to take pictures so my wife can show people how I died.

News:

Author Topic: How do you get a 750 or 550 down stairs to basement? (Read 8122 times)

DH

DH

DH