How to (easily) raise rear of bike for rear wheel/chain maintenance?

[Guest Kalikiano]

G'day group. New member here who recently added a nice 5th-gen VFR800Fi to his stable (my other bike is a 1991 Yamaha FZR 1000). Several things about the VFR are new to me, including Honda's use of FI versus carbs and the fact that the rear axle is suspended via spindle secured to left swing-arm only. THAT leads me to ask what most use to raise the rear Viffer suspension for maintenance work (such as chain lubrication). Obviously, a conventional fulcrum-style rear axle support stand (such as I use on my Fizzer) won't work. I presume the correct answer would be a generic motorcycle 'lift jack' that fits under the lower frame and raises the rear wheel off ground, but thought I'd toss the question out for general review since some of you may have ideas I hadn't thought of.

Aloha nui loa, -K

[Guest FalseFiction1]

While a generic motorcycle 'lift jack' would work, the center stand is by far the easiest. Just one of the many benefits of the VFR

[mello dude]

Centerstand?

[Veefer800Canuck]

They make rear work stands for SSSA bikes too.

And yeah, the centerstand. Maybe someone removed yours before you owned the bike?

[KevCarver]

Unless the previous owner removed it, center stand works a treat! Blocks or a jack under the headers will lift the front while on the center stand.

Otherwise get yourself a rear stand made for a single swing arm bike. Go for the Pitbull, you won't be sorry! As for other brands, some are good, some aren't. Pitbull is great.

[Monk]

While we're talking "Pit Bull"......... Can you have it run in gear on that stand?????

[Guest]

Yes, you can run the bike on the PitBull. Don't leave the bike though, I have seen the bike start to crawl off the pin.

My .02 is that PitBull stand sucks.

I have both. I find the one with the lift lever going the front is much more user friendly.

The one pictured above is good when there is a lot of open space to work. However the arm does get in the way when moving around the rear of the bike.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Guest

[NakedViffer]

Looks like you can remove the pin on that pitbull stand and flip it so you can have the handle in the front, no?

[Guest]

No!

There would be a problem with some scienfic theories... Like equal Balance and weight transfer.

The stand would need to be used on the other side for it to work.

The stand will be used on the left side more than the right.

[BusyLittleShop]

Pit Bull stand work great in getting the wheel off but if you wish to adjust the chain or remove the swingarm... you need a pair of hard stands under the foot pegs...