Topic: How do I support the bike so I can remove front wheel/forks?

[jmelche2]

1972 CB500.  Not sure of the proper way to support the bike while on the center stand so that I can remove the front wheel. 

[ekpent]

I use a small scissor or bottle jack with a block if wood under the front of the engine. A two by four wedged up under the frame can work also. Balance, at least on the 750's is pretty good on the center stand.

[calj737]

With bike on center stand, weight rear of seat forcing bike onto rear tire. Wedge a 2x4 of wood under steering neck from below, this will give you enough room to loosen the axle clamps, slide axle out, drop wheel, and roll forward to service. You only need to clear the clamp studs anyway.

[Stev-o]

I use a ratchet strap attached to the ceiling rafters to lift the whole front end off the ground. 
Works great and no chance that the bike will fall off a jack. 

[wowbagger]

I use a ratchet strap attached to the ceiling rafters to lift the whole front end off the ground. 
Works great and no chance that the bike will fall off a jack.

+1 Just make sure the anchor in the ceiling that you hang it off of is structural.

[Adam_F]

Its definitely worth it to buy a lift.  I found a decent (craftsman/sears) one on sale for less than $200.  Rolls right under the bike and lifts the entire thing off the ground.  Comes in really handy if you plan on doing a lot of your own work or just need to remove both wheels at once. 

[Lostboy Steve]

I use a ratchet strap attached to the ceiling rafters to lift the whole front end off the ground. 
Works great and no chance that the bike will fall off a jack.

+1 Just make sure the anchor in the ceiling that you hang it off of is structural.

+2 Thats what i did as well.

[Schnell]

I have a lift but the exhaust pipes are in the way.

I have a 2x4 cut to the right length to prop up the front end. On the 750 there is a short horizontal frame member between the 2 down tubes that is a perfect prop point.  Or you could suspend the front end with a strap from the ceiling. Both solutions with the bike on its center stand.

I got a shock when I removed the caps at the top of the fork tubes the first time, and the bikes front collapsed with the front coil springs coming out the top! This is because on my other bikes (BMW) on their center stand, the front wheel is off the ground.

[lrutt]

I have 2 lifts which work great on the 750 as they are pretty flat on the bottom. HF has some pretty good deals on them.

If not, then center stand and jack under front motor mount.

[evanphi]

This is what someone on another forum I frequent has built, which I also plan to build after my deck. For quick checks I put my car jack onto the oil filter cover because I have a 4-1 exhaust, but usually only just to check if front wheel is spinning freely when adjusting front brake... Anything long-term I have used a strap from my father-in-law's ceiling.

[Bankerdanny]

That's pretty ingeniou. That would work fine with my 550, but my GoldWing was really hard to get on the stand from flat ground I don't think I could have hoisted it up on a 2" board without a crane.

[Tews19]

With bike on center stand, weight rear of seat forcing bike onto rear tire. Wedge a 2x4 of wood under steering neck from below, this will give you enough room to loosen the axle clamps, slide axle out, drop wheel, and roll forward to service. You only need to clear the clamp studs anyway.

I've done this method for a few yrs.31 inches

[flybox1]

I use a ratchet strap attached to the ceiling rafters to lift the whole front end off the ground. 
Works great and no chance that the bike will fall off a jack.

+1 Just make sure the anchor in the ceiling that you hang it off of is structural.

+2 Thats what i did as well.

+3
I used two straps anchored about 3' apart @ the ceiling.  helps it not swing.

[eigenvector]

I use a ratchet strap attached to the ceiling rafters to lift the whole front end off the ground. 
Works great and no chance that the bike will fall off a jack.

+1 Just make sure the anchor in the ceiling that you hang it off of is structural.

+2 Thats what i did as well.

+3
I used two straps anchored about 3' apart @ the ceiling.  helps it not swing.

+4 Exactly right.  Each tie strap goes to its own rafter.

The bike is trivially light, so there's no concern over breaking the rafters.

[Deltarider]

Gosh... after reading all the above I'm afraid the way I do it is maybe too simple.
1. Bike is on the center stand.
2. I prepare by positioning a block of wood* of the right height in front of the engine.
3. I grab the frontfender and lift the front of the bike till the rearwheel hits the floor.
4. Then with one foot I shove the block of wood under the oilpan till it won't go any further.
5. Bike rests solid on block of wood and front wheel and/or front legs can be removed.

Actually I use an old car battery with a wooden block on top.

[Don R]

I use a chain hoist from above with a nylon strap. Around the handlebars keeps the forks aimed straight too.