Service Lift for R12R

[Jed]

I'd like to find a service lift for my R12R. I don't really have room for a large table style lift. What do you guys use or what have you seen that you like. Now that the bike is tucked away for the winter, I'd like to get started learning how to tear it apart and put it back together. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

cheers,

[lewellen]

Hi, Jed,

The main things a lift will do for you are:

• Provide a means of raising the bike up to a more convenient work height; and
• Provide convenient tie-down points to secure the front or rear of the bike so you can work on the other end (e.g. tie down the back with the centerstand down, so the front wheel can easily be pulled).

While I don't presently have one, my intent is to procure a platform lift as soon as I clear some moving boxes from my garage. (You'd think after a year... *sigh*). They look bulky, but they don't take up that much more floor space than the bike itself - none, really, if you use the lift as a parking spot.

I really don't like the grab-the-bike-by-the-frame lifts very much - they strike me as somewhat less stable, and they also will let the front or rear wheel fall a ways if you drop it while installing / removing. (Since I'm something of a klutz, the platform lift provides a bit of a backup....) I also wonder how well they work for something like performing an oil change - where do you put the pan? All that said, I've never owned nor used one, so I'm barking in my helmet here. YMMV.

What sort of things are you intending to do that you want to do more easily with the lift? That will help dictate the type of lift you go for.

Regardless of type, I'd recommend going for a lift with multiple height settings; and definitely go for one that has a locking system so that the lift will stay where you put it if the motive source fails. (E.g. a lawn chair-like arrangement for hydraulic or pneumatic lifts.)

If you can go for a narrow platform type, I'd also really consider a wheel chock for the "front" end - and get one large enough to take the rear wheel too, if you back the bike onto the lift. That's convenient if you need to work on the front end.

In any case, let us know what you go for.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[gezerbike]

If space is the issue, Kendon makes a pretty nice lift that when not in use stands up in the corner and takes very little space. They run about $ 500 but are pretty nicely made, are stable when your bike is up and you vcan perform most services while on it. I think there is a Chinese knockoff out there now as well ( surprise ).

I've never seen a BMW on one of the small Harley type of stands, but I don't think they would lend themselves well when it comes to working on a BMW. I picked up a like new Handy Lift 4 or 5 years ago in the dead of winter off Craigslist. New they run about $ 1,000, but I got mine for 1/2 that. When not in use servicing a bike, I use mine as a workbench. Whatever you choose, just reember that dropping a $ 15,000 motorcycle from even 20-30" will still cause a few thousand in damages, or lost bike value.

[BigEasy]

The problem with the Sears/Harbor Frieght/J&S bottom lift jacks with the R12R is the interference from the exhaust. I have one of the legendary junk Craftsman red jacks that a friend gave me and I used it to install the Ohlins on my R so it "can" be used, I just didn't care for the lack of stability, even with tie downs. The lack of stability was an issue with lack of available lift points caused by the exhaust, not necessarily the jack itself.

I have since bought a Handy lift and yes it does take up some room but as mentioned you can use it as a bench or as I do as a parking spot for one of my bikes.

If a platform is definitely out of the question I would recommend Pit Bull race stands. I also have a set of these (yes I'm a gear/tool junkie) for my japanese bikes and they are rock solid. They do not lift the bike very far off the ground but the do lift them a couple of inches and their stability is pretty amazing. They allow wheel removal with no problem and most other maintenance. The only problem I can see with a set of these for R work would be swapping the front shock as the one for this bike lifts the front end from the bottom of the front fork. You could always use the Pit Bull stand for the the back and use a floor jack and 2x4 to support the front.