Is there anything wrong...

[henryk]

....with storing a motorcycle lifted on a jack?
Can this do any damage to the front springs and shocks?
Thanks

Henryk

[Cajunrider]

Henry, I'm by far not an expert but I wouldn't think it would hurt anything. You would be taking the pressure off of the rear shock bladders and the fork oil. Can't see where that would hurt a thing.

[henryk]

Thanks Cajunrider, I didn't think so but I wasn't sure. I wouldn't want to cause any trouble for myself when riding season comes around.
henryk

[cocheese72]

I did that last year to get the rubber off the ground. I'd be more worried about this Harbor freight jack giving in, than anything else.

[henryk]

Cocheese72 thats the same reason I want to keep it
raised. Get the rubber off the ground for the winter.
I was talking with some of the guys I ride with
and we were split on whether it was safe or not.
Thanks

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I'm with Cocheese72 and CajunRider in that it shouldn't harm anything. I don't story my Nomad as I get in some riding every month of the year. I think I too would worry more about the lift than the harm it would do to the bike.

[MAS Tequila]

How is your jack as far as leakdown?

Will the seals hold for that extended period of time?

How stable will it be if the seal lets go and the jack drops?

Back in the day cars were stored on jack stands. If you could find a way to use stands, like under the front and rear crash bars, it should be fine.

I just ride mine year round.

MT

[Jared]

The HF jack has a manual lock, that would hold it up even if it did leak air. Make sure you use these and you should be fine

[cactusjack]

You'd hate to go out in the spring and not be able to raise the lift to release the safety pawls because the seals blew in the jack over the winter. Just sayin'...

[cocheese72]

I find that I cannot get a really stable lift using the HF jack. The way the engine sits lower than the side rails places this piece of metal from the center of the engine directly on the front rail of the jack. I can get to flat squared pieces on the rear of the bike, but the front is not as stable as I like. If I move the jack any more forward, the back barely gets off the ground.

And the lowering feature of the jack does not work as advertised. You are supposed to press the pedal fully for a slow decent. That works 1 out of 10 times on mine. It is either herky jerky if you take it slow, or a crash landing. It is fun lowering this thing when it is fully raised.

[cactusjack]

I find that I cannot get a really stable lift using the HF jack. The way the engine sits lower than the side rails places this piece of metal from the center of the engine directly on the front rail of the jack. I can get to flat squared pieces on the rear of the bike, but the front is not as stable as I like. If I move the jack any more forward, the back barely gets off the ground.

And the lowering feature of the jack does not work as advertised. You are supposed to press the pedal fully for a slow decent. That works 1 out of 10 times on mine. It is either herky jerky if you take it slow, or a crash landing. It is fun lowering this thing when it is fully raised.

Ah, you are a prime candidate for an Idaho Jack Adapter. It's a frame that attaches temporarily to the underside of the Nomad and provides a very stable lifting surface.

[cocheese72]

Ah, you are a prime candidate for an Idaho Jack Adapter. It's a frame that attaches temporarily to the underside of the Nomad and provides a very stable lifting surface.

No idea what that costs, but I am more a candidate for a cheap DIY that I can do myself in the garage.

[ballast]

Ah, you are a prime candidate for an Idaho Jack Adapter. It's a frame that attaches temporarily to the underside of the Nomad and provides a very stable lifting surface.

No idea what that costs, but I am more a candidate for a cheap DIY that I can do myself in the garage.

$85 shipped. Find em in the For Sale area. Worth every penny to me. No messing with wood chunks or hockey pucks. Just slap on yer Patented Genuine Idaho Jack Adapter and that Nomad sits pretty as you please on yer jack.

[rickyboy]

....with storing a motorcycle lifted on a jack?
Can this do any damage to the front springs and shocks?
Thanks

Henryk

That's exactly why I always lift my bike for the winter. I was under the impression that it was a recommended thing to do.
I don't worry about the jack leaking because I have one like "hammer".

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh319/sentpacking/gadgets/8133910.jpg

[glwilson]

In looking for lift-jacks for a motorcycle... I found that several talked about storing a bike "up" on the jack.

Given that... I would assume it would be okay to do so as long as the jack is a quality jack, and in good working order. As CJ said, you wouldn't want the seals to blow -- especially when it is locked in the air. That would be a cluster to get out of that mess.

Regarding the bladder; you could always reduce the air in it to let the weight rest more on the rear shocks. They will hold the weight just fine for the winter months (if leaving the bladder full bothers you that much).

Just remember, the bike sits on the ground most of its life, and it is designed to sit on the ground without problems (at least you had better hope so).

The only real issue I have ever heard discussed repeatedly was about preventing flat-spots in the tires over winter-storage -- so it is recommended the bike to be moved occasionally to prevent that. Other than that... your bike can stand to sit on the ground if the ground isn't wet or high in moisture. Even then, you'll not avoid all the moisture by raising it up.

I know at the dealership; where they "professionally" store dozens and dozens of motorcycles... none are jacked-up off the ground. They are in a warm, dust and moisture-free environment -- but not jacked-up.

[hammer]

My garage is heated and dry so I don't lift it for the season. I do roll it forward and back to avoid flat spots on tires. I do know others who like to have their bike on a lift so they can roll it against a wall out of the way and "careful" is what I would say there. The bike sissor lift I have as Rick shows gets the rear up pretty easy and very stable. I am considering getting a front roller stand so I can lift at the back and be able spin both whells as needed.



I do have a jack adapter (made by Duffy) which does the same thing the Idaho Jack Adapter does and it looks like a great solution too.

[cocheese72]

No idea what that costs, but I am more a candidate for a cheap DIY that I can do myself in the garage.

$85 shipped. Find em in the For Sale area. Worth every penny to me. No messing with wood chunks or hockey pucks. Just slap on yer Patented Genuine Idaho Jack Adapter and that Nomad sits pretty as you please on yer jack.

Yeah, I think I paid about that for the whole jack.

[Idaho]

$85 shipped. Find em in the For Sale area. Worth every penny to me. No messing with wood chunks or hockey pucks. Just slap on yer Patented Genuine Idaho Jack Adapter and that Nomad sits pretty as you please on yer jack.

Yeah, I think I paid about that for the whole jack.

If I could get the price down on these things I would do so. My problem is that I don't have a welder and have never done that sort of thing so I'm at the mercy of a machine shop to put them together. They sure work great tho.

[Top Cat]

First let me say Bud's adapter is worth every cent of the $85 it cost. So don't worry about the cost Bud, just keep the quality as it is.
Now, if someone wants to mess with boards and metal pieces to get the bike in the air thats up to them. But I like the ease and security of the adapter.
I don't raise my bike in the winter, it sets on cardboard on the cement floor of the garage, Do I get flat spots, yes, do they go away in the spring after a mile or so, Yes.
I don't see the problem. ;)

[Idaho]

First let me say Bud's adapter is worth every cent of the $85 it cost. So don't worry about the cost Bud, just keep the quality as it is.
Now, if someone wants to mess with boards and metal pieces to get the bike in the air thats up to them. But I like the ease and security of the adapter. ;)

Thanks, TC. Much appreciated.

[cactusjack]

$85 for a jack adapter is a lot less than it will cost you if your bike falls off the blocks of wood or hockey pucks and hits the garage floor.

[glwilson]

Yep... I happen to know an unfortunate sad-sack that happened to...

He now owns a rather nice jack and adapter to prevent a re-run in his life. ;)

"Good work isn't cheap, and cheap work isn't good!"