Bike support. Front wheel in the air.

[The Pastor]

How do you support your bikes when you need to take the front end off?

It must be stable. I can use a car jack under the sump, but that is VERY unstable. (Wibble wooble jelly on a plate) The bike will be with out a front end for at least a fortnight and must be able to resist a slight knock from a passer by (damn old people touchin my ryde au)

I have nothing to hang the bike from.

I'd rather not buy anything expensive. (from a students point of view)

[FilthyLuka]

you can get a paddock stand for the front fork, not too dear either. I use a block and tackle and suspend the bike from the garage ceiling

[Ixion]

Well, I generally hang it from the roof or use an engine hoist, but I gather neither is an option.

Most bikes you can get a pretty stable set up if you use the side stand and a jack under the engine/frame. Arrange things so its a sort of triangle of rear wheel , sidestand and jack. Jack on the right hand side, forwardish. It's easier if you have frame tubes under the engine.

Another possibility (it works really well on the BMW) is to put a support like a saw horse, crate etc on each side of the bike and put a strong beam/lump of wood through from side to side (you'll need to jack things up a bit before you put the beam through , so the wheel is off the ground). Obviously the beam needs to be under a strong bit of bike, like the main frame members, and said strong bit needs to be such that the beam won't slip forward or back. If you have a "classic" frame geometry with top tubes parallel to the ground this can work really well (and BMWs are HEAVY).

Alternatively, jack under the motor , jack up, remove front end, put strong crate/stack of wood under motor, let jack down so bike rests on crate. Probably at a funny angle , but it should be stable.

[crazybigal]

axle stands!
1 under each side of the swing arm and another under the sump.
or depending on the bike, one under each side of the motor or frame.
some modern bikes have a hole for a bar to go through from side to side.
Place a bar through and axle stands on each side. + one on one swingarm side.

[xwhatsit]

When I had the front end off my bike for a couple of days (needed to be stable too, for the same reasons you mentioned), I just put it on the centre stand then put a bag of cement on the pillion seat. But I don't think CBR250s have centre stands.

You don't need as much clearance as you think. That's why you pull the front wheel off first, which gives you the room to get the forks out.

[Maha]

The easiest way? ( and without a word of lie) get someone else to do it, its what i do, why fuck around trying to do something that will cause you issues when there are people out there that will do it for you!

[enigma51]

I use my massive man hood but failing that I tend to use a paddock stand They are exspensive but worth it (even though i dont have one .... go figure)

[tri boy]

Wood and/or bricks. Get a mate to lean it over on the side stand. Slide the wood/bricks under the lower frame rails/sump. And both of you lift/pull it onto the wood.
You can put axle stands or more wood under the footpeg mounts to act as stabilisers also. Solid as.

[Sam I Am]

i use to pull the bike over on the side stand and tie the bike to a fence post, not the most stable but if you have losened the bolts first and re tighten the bolts when the bike is back on the ground i could do most things on the front end.

[Hoon]

I just lie my bike on the ground.

Seriously though depending on your bike you can lie it on its side with a few strategically placed blocks/planks supporting the frame and keeping the weight off the bodywork.

[The Pastor]

you can get a paddock stand for the front fork, not too dear either. I use a block and tackle and suspend the bike from the garage ceiling

Not sure how'd you use paddock stands under the forks when you are wanting to remove the forks.

The easiest way? ( and without a word of lie) get someone else to do it, its what i do, why fuck around trying to do something that will cause you issues when there are people out there that will do it for you!

Im poor. Note i didn't ask for the easiest (womans) way of doing it.

I use my massive man hood but failing that I tend to use a paddock stand They are exspensive but worth it (even though i dont have one .... go figure)

I'm not sure how you guys use ur paddock stands for removing the forks??? I've never used one but my understanding is they attach to the forks....

[The Pastor]

Wood and/or bricks. Get a mate to lean it over on the side stand. Slide the wood/bricks under the lower frame rails/sump. And both of you lift/pull it onto the wood.
You can put axle stands or more wood under the footpeg mounts to act as stabilisers also. Solid as.

Only problem is my exhaust headers are under my sump as well (at least from memory they are, but thanks i'll give this a try.

axle stands!
1 under each side of the swing arm and another under the sump.
or depending on the bike, one under each side of the motor or frame.
some modern bikes have a hole for a bar to go through from side to side.
Place a bar through and axle stands on each side. + one on one swingarm side.

Not sure I quite follow you, i have an idea what you mean tho if it turns out I need to get a pair of them then I'll give this a go.

Well, I generally hang it from the roof or use an engine hoist, but I gather neither is an option.

Most bikes you can get a pretty stable set up if you use the side stand and a jack under the engine/frame. Arrange things so its a sort of triangle of rear wheel , sidestand and jack. Jack on the right hand side, forwardish. It's easier if you have frame tubes under the engine.

Another possibility (it works really well on the BMW) is to put a support like a saw horse, crate etc on each side of the bike and put a strong beam/lump of wood through from side to side (you'll need to jack things up a bit before you put the beam through , so the wheel is off the ground). Obviously the beam needs to be under a strong bit of bike, like the main frame members, and said strong bit needs to be such that the beam won't slip forward or back. If you have a "classic" frame geometry with top tubes parallel to the ground this can work really well (and BMWs are HEAVY).

Alternatively, jack under the motor , jack up, remove front end, put strong crate/stack of wood under motor, let jack down so bike rests on crate. Probably at a funny angle , but it should be stable.

Some great ideas there, thanks ixion I like the saw horse Idea.

Just remembered my exhaust is stuffed so i might be removing the headers after all.

[FROSTY:Me]

Paddock stand out the back and a steering head stand at the front.
--Might have a set ya can borrow for a couple of days

[homer]

How do you support your bikes when you need to take the front end off?

It must be stable. I can use a car jack under the sump, but that is VERY unstable. (Wibble wooble jelly on a plate) The bike will be with out a front end for at least a fortnight and must be able to resist a slight knock from a passer by (damn old people touchin my ryde au)

I have nothing to hang the bike from.

I'd rather not buy anything expensive. (from a students point of view)

I always remember tiping the old pushy up side then you can work on it .
will that help ya