Motorcycle Work Stand
Article by Mark Trotta
If buying a motorcycle lift stand is not in the budget, consider making one. They can be built from wood, but metal will be sturdier.
The stand featured in this article was designed and built by a local metal fabricator. It was built back in the 90's, before lift stands were commonly available.
Dimensions
- Work Height - 36"
- Work Length - 76"
- Overall Length - 96"
- Width - 30"
Work Stand Construction
The six-inch metal channels that make up the stand frame were from warehouse pallet shelves. After measuring and cutting, the pieces were MIG welded together with an old Miller 250 (from before they started making welders with a lot of electronics in them).
The metal was cleaned with acetone, sprayed with oxide primer, then blue enamel, then clear-coated.
The stand rolls on casters and has a shelf underneath to store parts.
Although the average table height for a motorcycle work stand seems to be around 24" to 26", this one is at 36".
Take a close look at the wheel pockets - both front and rear pockets were fabricated from the front bumper of a 1997 Chevy Blazer.
The rear wheel pocket is removable with a wing-nut bolt.
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Scissor Jacks
A scissor frame jack is necessary to lift the bike up; such as during tire removal. A standard automotive scissor jack may work, but if you don't have one, motorcycle scissor jacks are fairly inexpensive.
The Extreme Max Scissor Jack extends up to 14" height and is easily operated with a socket or a wrench. It has a lift capacity of 1,100 pounds, which is good for most sport bikes, but not really enough for an 800 pound cruiser.
Another choice is a Black Widow BW-1604A Scissor Jack, which is a compact and simple center lift scissor jack made for motorcycles. It has a lift capacity of 1,100 pounds and operated with a socket or a wrench.
Having a scissor jack can also be an inexpensive way to store your bike long-term without flat-spotting the tires.
A set of wood ramps are kept on the sides and serve as work shelves.
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Garage Footprint
Consider where you will keep it or store it--a work stand like this takes up quite a bit of floor space.
Notes and Misc
Aside from the floor space this stand takes up, to get the bike on and off, you need to clear about 20 feet of room, attach the C-channel ramp to the back, and find someone to help me guide the bike up or down.
Another negative is that you can't change the height of the bike.
Lift Stand vs Work Table
A motorcycle lift stand allows easy on and off and adjustable work heights.
Another advantage of a lift stand is that you can park a motorcycle on it when it's down.
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Five Reasons To Buy A Basket Case Motorcycle
Sunday Morning Motorcycle Ride
Kick-starting an Old Motorcycle
