who hangs their motorcycle for working on it?

[purpony]

Who hangs their motorcycle from the ceiling when working on it? I was going to hang it from my lift but its going to be hanging for a couple weeks and I will be using my lift during this time. I have a sport bike so it only ways 400lb-500lbs. I was thinking of putting to eyelets in the ceiling and using ratchet straps. Is a wood style screw style eyelet screwed into a rafter strong enough? Im guessing it should be fine but figured i would ask? Would it be better to get a threaded eyelet and put a 2x4 around 2 rafters and bolt the eyelet to this? Ill have the rear of the bike on a rear swingarm stand, and the front hanging for fork and triple tree removal.

just wondering what others have done.

thanks

 

[Stuart in MN]

I wouldn't do it.

 

[MxRider2637]

same hear...

 

[G1K]

I do it, have never had a problem.


R

 

[stroked93]

You would need to spread the load and have nuts and washers on the other side.

 

[DzNuts]

Use two of them to divide up the load and you shouldn't have any troubles. I've done it myself.

 

[iagsxr]

Have a GT550 Suzuki that's been hanging that way for a few months now since I sold the front end.

Took a scissor jack out of an old Caravan fastened a 12" or so piece of 1" x 4" to it so I could lift against the lower framerails/cases on my bikes w/o marring them. Do something like that and the jack will be actually holding the weight and the straps will just keep it from getting knocked over.

If your rafters are exposed why not just loop the straps over them rather than any hooks?

 

[purpony]

i have a motorcycle jack but its a pain to use, I would have to remove my rear shock and muffler since they are both under the bike. The more i think about it... ill hang it just for the time to remove the front end and then make a 2x4 stand to put under the neck of the bike. Ill probably run a 2x4 over 2 trusses and bolt an eyelet through that to distrubute the weight.

 

[rpsurfr]

I have a pal who does it all the time. Very well supported, I do also store my bikes on pallet racks ( Home Depot cheapo) lift them with a cherry picker so I have floor space. Barber stole my idea when he did the museum

I use a lift and a great jack flat top screw model
I will post a photo soon.
the only issue I have is not enough space or too many bikes. I need to get rid of a few.
Who said "build a garage and you will fill it, America is a nation of people with stuff"?

 

[cyamaha2007]

Ive hung a ton of dirtbikes and even quads and side by sides from my trusses. No problems at all it just ***** that they swing.

 

[JSBriggs]

I would get a 2x4 (or 2x6) and span at least 3 rafters for each end of the bike.

-Jeff

 

[dlwilson]

I used to hang the front end from my carport rafter before I got a garage. Now I hang the front end from my engine hoist. I put the rear on a stand to keep it from swinging side to side.

 

[R6 Racer]

I do it all the time! Support is key!
You will need access to the attic above your garage.

Materials
1- 14&1/2" long 4x4
1 50" (or more) 2x4
1 H.D. eye hook bolt 2 nuts &2 XL washers 8" min tot length
26 3&1/2" spiral spikes

Method
Figure out where you want the bike to hang then mark & drill a hole up into the attic. Go up & find your hole (stick a coat hanger up threw the hole to help with this).Put the 4x4 between the 2 rafters where the hole is, measure/mark the 4x4 (a pencil will do up threw the hole in the garage ceiling)back in the attic place the 2x4 over top of the 4x4, insuring that the 2x4 strattles at least 2 joist on either side of the 4x4. Nail the 2x4 to the 4x4. remove the 2 & drill threw both 2x & 4x where you marked the 4x threw the ceiling.Back up replace the 2x & 4x making sure to line up your hole. Back down & insert the eye bolt with 1 nut & 1 washer already installed & threaded all the way down. back up stairs & attach the other washer & nut (having help helps, but I used tape to hold the eye bolt in place)tighten it up real snug & then nail or screw the 2x & 4x in place (I used 26 3&1/2" spiral spikes) This works on a ceiling with 2x4 joist that are 16" on center. This will hold your bike with no problems at all!
If you want more stability (stop swinging bikes) do 2 like this about 4' apart & use both hooks to hang up 1 bike. I use tie down straps & always double up (4 total)!
Never had a bike fall using this set up & I have lifted up some really heavy bikes.

Good Luck
Steve

 

[Hatman52]

If you want to hang the bike, I agree with Steve's post above.

Another alternative is to support the bike with a pair of tall jackstands, such as these from Pitbull:

http://www.pit-bull.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PBMSA&Product_Code=F0062-000

While designed to be used with frame sliders, you can also generally find a spot on your bike (assuming you have the bodywork off) to slide a piece of 1/2" black iron pipe through the chassis and then use the jackstands to support the pipe (similar to the stands used by MotoGP teams).

 

[barn full]

Barber stole my idea when he did the museum

Hahaha! Me n' the wife are going to renew our vows there.

 

[hetkind]

get a Handy lift...

 

[Zrexxer]

Or just use a tree.

 

[Hatman52]

get a Handy lift...

A Handy Lift isn't going to support the bike while he takes the forks and triples off . . .

 

[hetkind]

A Handy Lift isn't going to support the bike while he takes the forks and triples off . . .

It sure does, once up put the sissors jack in place.

How do you think shops do it?

Howard

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I would not do it but to each their own. I use a motorcycle lift to take the shocks and wheels off my bike.

 

[R6 Racer]

It sure does, once up put the sissors jack in place.

How do you think shops do it?

Howard

Shops around here use a 2000lb atv style winch bolted to the ceiling, it's better than ratchet straps!

 

[geeza09drz]

Sounds foolish to be hanging thousands worth of bike with a couple dollar eye bolt from ace. I have a lift for sale in classifieds....check it out.

 

[Hatman52]

It sure does, once up put the sissors jack in place.

How do you think shops do it?

Howard

You're clearly not understanding the question asked by the original poster. He needs to support the front of his motorcycle to remove the forks and triple clamps. To do that, he either must support the front of the frame from above (from the rafters) or from below, with some sort of frame stand (like those shown in my link) or other support. Modern sportbikes like his R6 are virtually impossible to safely support from underneath the engine due to the lack of any secure jacking points.

A Handy Lift is a work table -- I have one in my own shop and love it. But it's not going to magically support the front of the motorcycle with the front end removed.

And yes, I know how the shops do it -- I've raced and worked on motorcycles for 35 years and have worked at several shops, including my own business, in those years.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I use an engine lift to get mine off the ground

 

[Venumb]

I just finished installing the hardware needed to suspend the front of my ZX-12R from my garage ceiling. I used a method mentioned previously in this thread. Materials used were: (2)threaded 10" eye bolts, (2) lock washers, (2) nuts, (4) large and med size washers, (2) 50" 2x4's. I straddled them across the span of 3 rafters to help distribute the weight (aprox. 500 lbs.). Here's some installation pics.

 

[Paco Pena]

As my bike weighs 238 dry I use a milk crate for support. Xt 225.

Paco

 

[Venumb]

As my bike weighs 238 dry I use a milk crate for support. Xt 225.

Paco

Rub it in why don't you?!?

 

[Jack90210]

Great bump for a worthy old thread. I meant to do this in my last garage with an electric hoist on an I-beam bolted to the ceiling joists, but never got around to doing it. Really, a 400-pound bike is not much weight -- especially spread between two joists or trusses. (How many of us 200-pounders will go up into an attic and walk on the trusses without thinking twice about it?)

 

[DzNuts]

Venumb, why give up the R6 for that pig?! Lol
What kind of overhaul is the 12 getting?

 

[TONE]

Are those 2x4's for joists? Also, what are the center measurements?

And lastly, how big a hole did you drill through them? Looks like half the material is gone now?

 

[Venumb]

Venumb, why give up the R6 for that pig?! Lol
What kind of overhaul is the 12 getting?

I've had that "pig" since new..the R6 was a project bike for a buddy of mine. I'm a 6' 3", 300 lb recreational bodybuilder/powerlifter and make that big 12R look tiny once I throw a leg over it. It's one of the only moments I wish I were a lil' guy.

As for the overhaul..I'm installing new steering stem bearings as well as sending out my forks for a Racetech treatment including new springs engineered for mine and the 12R's tonnage.

 

[Venumb]

Are those 2x4's for joists? Also, what are the center measurements?

And lastly, how big a hole did you drill through them? Looks like half the material is gone now?

I used 1/2" eye bolts to provide the strength needed for this project. The joists are 2x4, 24" center. Looking back over my pics, you're right, the holes/bolts do appear huge but only occupy .50" .. or less than one third of the 2x4's actual width of 1.75".

 

[robs400]

At my last house, the garage was part of the basement around back. You had to drive under a deck to get to it, so I simply drilled through the neutral axis of the deck beams, coupled two pieces of pipe and attached my ratchet straps to the end of them.

The bike is not in the air here, but you get the idea...

I think the above way is one way to do it, and clearly its working for you. I do have a suggestion tho, for anyone interested in doing something similar. The current method still puts the bulk of the load on that one truss, its depending on the load to be carried and spread out to the other trusses using the weak direction of the 2 x 4. The other trusses wont see a true 1/3 of the bike weight.

I would suggestion putting the 2 x 4's on end across and even number of trusses and loading them between the trusses so the load is spread evenly between the truss.

 

[Venumb]

OK..I have to ask...what the heck is the deal with the brick???

 

[drmoonshine]

I've never heard of this is it difficult to lift them up? Usually people just put it up on a lift of just work on the ground on their bike.

 

[ratdoggy]

I don't know about using trusses. They really aren't meant for holding weight. Is this a really temporary thing? I was freaking over putting a catwalk up there and storing some Xmas ornaments

 

[Venumb]

I don't know about using trusses. They really aren't meant for holding weight. Is this a really temporary thing? I was freaking over putting a catwalk up there and storing some Xmas ornaments

Trusses aren't made for holding weight??? Well then I'm screwed the next time it snows!

 

[Venumb]

I've never heard of this is it difficult to lift them up? Usually people just put it up on a lift of just work on the ground on their bike.

That was covered in this thread already...

 

[OccupantRJ]

I suspended my employee's bike. See this thread.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50197

 

[ratdoggy]

Trusses aren't made for holding weight??? Well then I'm screwed the next time it snows!

Not from the bottom. They are designed to be compressed, Snow load is factored into the design.