Topic: How do you get a 750 or 550 down stairs to basement?

[dougan]

I took a honda PA50II moped in/out of my basement last year.  Getting it out was actually way easier than getting it down.  Getting it out, I got a long board and just pushed it up the stairs on the board.  This moped was about at the top end weightwise for what I could push by hand, but I bet using a winch you could slowly pull it out and have a person or two to guide it on the board.  The board obviously needs to be very secure, especially at the bottom-- it could just slide straight out from under you.  I got away with just the board, but you probably should build some sort of track to keep the wheels straight.  Something like a "U" shape track.  Once you have your track in place, test it with a bicycle by hand to get a sense for how the bike will look getting on/off the board.  With the moped, the hardest part was at the top of the stairs, because once the front wheel made it on the flat floor, there wasn't enough clearance between the bottom of the bike and the first step and I had to lift it by hand.  This was very difficult since I was pretty worn out from pushing a stupid moped up the stairs.  So pay attention to this clearance, and make a plan for how to address the clearance problem, because there most likely will be one.  The top is going to be the most awkward point so it's the most crucial to plan for.  Removing the handlebars is a good idea since they are inevitably going to get in the way. 

Also, verify that your stairs are going to handle the weight.  Mine were fine for the moped but I'm sure that they would crack from under me with a big motorcycle.  Figuring out how to get someone with a crushed spine to the ambulance without a complete set of stairs is probably a challenge.

All in all, getting it up the stairs I think would not be dangerous as long as you have your winch secured to the bike and a good track to stop it from slipping out from under you.  The worst realistic cases all involve your bike getting messed up, but not you if you have a careful plan.

As far as getting it down the stairs, though, that might be tougher.  The way the moped got down the stairs involved me trying to slowly push it down the stairs.  This worked for about 3 steps until gravity took over and after that it was very easy.    I could see you using this same track/winch approach to guide it down but I can't speak on experience on that one.  If you were to do this, I'd recommend taking it down backwards and of course not getting on the bottom of it while it's going down.

Up and Down are both going to require you to have other people around to help.  Obviously, I would imagine getting the engine off of it and moving this separately (dolly?) would make things way easier weight-wise...

[lucky]

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

Do not take this seriously. You could really get hurt. Maybe start a fire.

[wowbagger]

Do not take this seriously. You could really get hurt. Maybe start a fire.

Or worse, damage the bike. 

[DH]

Do not take this seriously. You could really get hurt. Maybe start a fire.

Or worse, damage the bike. 

Not to worry, there aint NEAR enough room for that.

[Roach Carver]

Gravity will get it into the basement.

[Stev-o]

Pretty easy if the bike is running....



Motorcycle Driving Up and Down Stairs

[754]

I have been in that building..

[RAFster122s]

Just call Scotty and have him beam it in and out as needed...

[lucky]

Pretty easy if the bike is running....

Video edited out.

Now lets see the CB750 (500lbs.)" ridden up those stairs.

[stickman]

I simpathize with your situation.  It sounds to me like you will be dismantling, cleaning, replacing/ repairing most of the bike.  My suggestion is to partially dismantle the bike and carry the parts into the basement, do your thing then carry them back out and re assemble outside.  Remove the front end down tubes and front wheel as a unit and roll it down the stairs, remove the tank and drain it, handlebars, seat, and engine from the bike.  Leave the rear wheel and roll the frame down the stairs.  In case of a tight spot like a 90 degree turn near the top, its possible to raise the front end to increase the height and reduce the length to make the turn.  Place the engine on a hand truck and strape it to the hand truck securely.  With the hand truck, you can roll the engine down the steps. 

Going down, stay behind the components; going up stay in front for safety.
Repeat the process going up to reassemble outside.
Use 2 people, one in front and one behind going down and up.
Hopefully you can borrow a friend and a hand truck.
Put all fasteners, etc in baggies and label for reassembly.

Good luck and remember, if there is a gas water heater or space heater in the basement, take the necessary safeguards with gasoline and solvents.

[Kenzo1979]

+1 with Dimitri13.

All the weight is in the engine.  Pull it out, then carry it down seperately.  If the bars are too wide for whatever angles you have to make, bungee them to the side and tighten down a pipe of workable length down in its place to hold it from.

[DH]

I simpathize with your situation.  It sounds to me like you will be dismantling, cleaning, replacing/ repairing most of the bike.  My suggestion is to partially dismantle the bike and carry the parts into the basement, do your thing then carry them back out and re assemble outside.  Remove the front end down tubes and front wheel as a unit and roll it down the stairs, remove the tank and drain it, handlebars, seat, and engine from the bike.  Leave the rear wheel and roll the frame down the stairs.  In case of a tight spot like a 90 degree turn near the top, its possible to raise the front end to increase the height and reduce the length to make the turn.  Place the engine on a hand truck and strape it to the hand truck securely.  With the hand truck, you can roll the engine down the steps. 

Going down, stay behind the components; going up stay in front for safety.
Repeat the process going up to reassemble outside.
Use 2 people, one in front and one behind going down and up.
Hopefully you can borrow a friend and a hand truck.
Put all fasteners, etc in baggies and label for reassembly.

Good luck and remember, if there is a gas water heater or space heater in the basement, take the necessary safeguards with gasoline and solvents.

It's beginning to like what you've described will be what's necessary for my situation.
The bike in my avitar is the bike. It's already been restored, but has an internal engine problem that needs fixing (cheap overbore kit off ebay). I'm gonna see if I can at least leave the motor in the frame, remove most everything else and enlist the help of my son and a friend of his to get it down, and back up when the time comes.
Hey RAFster, You know Scotty's number? .............
Thanks to all who have posted, I appreciate the ideas.

[750K]

Do not take this seriously. You could really get hurt. Maybe start a fire.

Or worse, damage the bike. 

Or spill your beer, haha.

[stickman]

DH, If you are going into the motor, you have 2 options:  Pull the engine as the engine cannot be opened up unless out of the frame or.......use a frame kit to temporarily remove the frame section above the engine eliminating the need to pull the engine.

Good luck to you.  Stickman

[DJ_AX]

2000 lb winches are on sale at Harb Frt.

[nicks2319]

This is my basement last winter:



Luckily my stairs are a straight shot outside. I used a hand winch and anchored it to my SUV and then started cranking.

[DH]

DH, If you are going into the motor, you have 2 options:  Pull the engine as the engine cannot be opened up unless out of the frame or.......use a frame kit to temporarily remove the frame section above the engine eliminating the need to pull the engine.

Good luck to you.  Stickman

This is very true of the 750, but it's my 550 that's in need of attention

[DH]

This is my basement last winter:



Luckily my stairs are a straight shot outside. I used a hand winch and anchored it to my SUV and then started cranking. Just like this:

It'd DEFINATELY be worth the trouble if I had a basement like that. You have enough room
there to have a display area as well, to show off your finished works, all in a climate controlled storage area. I'm envious sir.

[750K]

Yeah thats a sweet shop set up, my basement is ground level and would be a perfect heated shop if it weren't for the suite we built and rent out. I'd almost trade rental income for a heated shop, at least in the winter that is haha.