WOF surprise

[Blueskies]

Hello KBers.

I have a question for the mechanics amongst you.

The other day I took my Vulcan 900 for a wof and stood by watching what was happening. When it came to lifting the bike to spin the front wheel I was a horrified to see the front of the bike raised by placing a car jack under the right front fork. The bike was lifted by that fork. Also lifted was the considerable weight of the large mechanic who was sitting on the bike, keeping it upright.
I would appreciate if someone could tell me if this is normal practice ? This was done at a testing station. I understand they had to get that wheel off the ground and perhaps that is an ok way to do it ? It looked pretty brutal to me.
Now every time I ride I imagine ? ? vibrations that were not there before that event .

I guess I am looking for reassurance that my much loved bike was not damaged by such cavalier treatment.

Regards and thanks all.

[quickbuck]

As long as they didn't leave any garch marks in the bottom of the fork leg, it will be fine.
In fact even if they did, there is so much meat there, it will still be fine.

The load they put on it is NOTHING compared to the force your forks are under during braking.... for example.

[hayd3n]

if the forks can handle your weight i don't think there would be a problem think of the hard work they get in in cornering and hard braking

[Mom]

Hello KBers.

I have a question for the mechanics amongst you.

The other day I took my Vulcan 900 for a wof and stood by watching what was happening. When it came to lifting the bike to spin the front wheel I was a horrified to see the front of the bike raised by placing a car jack under the right front fork. The bike was lifted by that fork. Also lifted was the considerable weight of the large mechanic who was sitting on the bike, keeping it upright.
I would appreciate if someone could tell me if this is normal practice ? This was done at a testing station. I understand they had to get that wheel off the ground and perhaps that is an ok way to do it ? It looked pretty brutal to me.
Now every time I ride I imagine ? ? vibrations that were not there before that event .

I guess I am looking for reassurance that my much loved bike was not damaged by such cavalier treatment.

Regards and thanks all.


Long time no see! Take your bike into Wilmot Motors. Jim is the tester there and is a biker, top guy, even works evenings and weekends too. I hate the testing station!

[R1madness]

Na, thats fine. Better to jack it off the frame rails but what they did will not cause any probs.

[wingnutt]

gidday, have to say, I wouldn't like my goldwing lifted that way, that is an awful lot of weight, being lifted on one leg, that is not designed for that kind of
lift.

the normal place to lift the froint wheel, is the half way point, just under, at the front of the motor, not sure about others but the goldwing has a reinforced area, there,
to take the jack.

personally I wouldn't take a wobbly pushbike to a testing station, but thats me, I think the bike is more respected at a motorcycle shop.

cheers, Bob

[quickbuck]

gidday, have to say, I wouldn't like my goldwing lifted that way, that is an awful lot of weight, being lifted on one leg, that is not designed for that kind of
lift.

the normal place to lift the froint wheel, is the half way point, just under, at the front of the motor, not sure about others but the goldwing has a reinforced area, there,
to take the jack.

personally I wouldn't take a wobbly pushbike to a testing station, but thats me, I think the bike is more respected at a motorcycle shop.




cheers, Bob
Yes, there is most likely a jacking pad on the Wing.

Fact remains, it is NOTHING compared to the load the bike feels when you tip it into a bend in the road.

[firefighter]

Yes, there is most likely a jacking pad on the Wing.

Fact remains, it is NOTHING compared to the load the bike feels when you tip it into a bend in the road.

True, but it's designed to have that kind of load on it. Not designed to take the load for lifting it I would'nt have thought.

[quickbuck]

True, but it's designed to have that kind of load on it. Not designed to take the load for lifting it I would'nt have thought.

So, what happens when you are rounding a corner and hit a pot hole?
Not as gentle as a jack i tell you...

And so long as you do NOTHING the bike will stable and you will be fine.

[Maha]

Na, thats fine. Better to jack it off the frame rails but what they did will not cause any probs.

I helped my Uncle jack off a Horse once.....

Poor old bugger had a dodgy hip.

[Chooky]

Yer I always drop my front and back paddock stands at the testing station on the back of the ute before I go for a wof....
I just dont like them putting a trolly jack under the motor to lift the bike..

[Subike]

The last WOF I had they used the side stand to level the front wheel off the gound.
I had no worries with this as I use the side stand to spin my bike around in a tight place and know it can take the weight.
As for the jack on the front fork, maybee its ok, but has me wondering how they check the steering head bearings?????

[BMWST?]

The last WOF I had they used the side stand to level the front wheel off the gound.
I had no worries with this as I use the side stand to spin my bike around in a tight place and know it can take the weight.
As for the jack on the front fork, maybee its ok, but has me wondering how they check the steering head bearings?????

why every bike should have a center stand...

[quickbuck]

As for the jack on the front fork, maybee its ok, but has me wondering how they check the steering head bearings?????

Good point!

Forgot about that part of the inspection myself....

[george formby]

Yer I always drop my front and back paddock stands at the testing station on the back of the ute before I go for a wof....
I just dont like them putting a trolly jack under the motor to lift the bike..

Thats shrewd, i will do the same next time.:niceone:

[firefighter]

I had no worries with this as I use the side stand to spin my bike around in a tight place and know it can take the weight.

Mine broke from doing this, believe it or not. Dunno if I was just unlucky or what. I've seen heaps of guys in the shop do it, I think I may have just been unlucky.

I'm just lucky I noticed the split as I put it against the stand, and it slowly split apart, so I did'nt drop it.

[Blueskies]

I am still uneasy about what they did. It just didn't look good to me. I have been right up North on it in last few days . . my imagination aside, it seems ok - but I sure won't be taking it to any testing station in the future. Next wof I will make inquries re how they lift it before letting them at it.
Wilmots will be my first port od call. . . thanks for the suggestion Mom
Cheers and thanks all for your thoughts on this one.

[FROSTY]

question being--How would you have them check the wheel bearings?

[Crasherfromwayback]

They should've lifted the front in a different manner...but only so they could check the steering head brgs at the same time.