Lift-table and winter storage

[Adirondack Bill]

I am getting too old to crawl around on the garage floor to do oil changes and other maintenance,  so I bought a motorcycle lift table from Harbor Freight. The tire vice that came with the table was pretty chincy, so I found a much better, sturdy tire vice from Derek Weaver Company and fitted it to the table. My question is: does anyone see any issues with storing my Valk. On the table for the  winter? Will having the front tire secured in the tire vice for several months harm the rim/forks ect.?  It seems to me that it should not be an issue as I also will use tie-downs. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Robert]

I dont see any issues personally, but I would just make sure that where the rim contacts the holder it had something in it that was soft enough not to scratch the rim and yet allows moisture to evaporate. The other thing is do not make the straps to tight, so as to pull the suspension down.

That is of course unless you are going to get on it, and start it with a movie screen in front of you and a fan blowing in your face like its not winter out  

I have heard that the virtual reality goggles that the put the phone in are pretty good also.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBWOe3c8iLg

This could be fun for off season


https://mashable.com/2015/03/13/oculus-victory-motorcycles-sturgis/

[dans2014]

Just don't compress the forks. snug is good

[hubcapsc]

When I got my el-cheapo wheel chock, it pinched my tire. I stuck a jack in it and spread it out some.
I wouldn't want to store my bike with the tire forced into even just a little bit of an
un-natural shape...



In The South I don't have to store my bike, but during some maintenance shots
it has sat in the chock for a week or two...

-Mike

[indybobm]

Mike, saw your post on the chock years ago and did the same. Worked great.

[Merfman]

Just a heads-up.  I had my Super10 flip my table a few years ago and was at a loss how...
Mine is a hydraulic table.  I'd left the air connected and apparently, the foot treadle was slowly allowing air into the system... the increase was slow enough that it didn't slowly push up the piston... instead, it reached a "pop" point and shot upward to the max and that was apparently enough to send it careening into my toolbox and turning the entire table over.  It too was tied down... so... disconnect the air! 

Walking back into my shop to witness that carnage was heartbreaking... don't be me!

[Adirondack Bill]

The wheel vice I installed from Weaver is almost  (L) shaped. It supports both the bottom of the wheel and the front of the wheel-very secure. I then discovered that strapping down our Valks from the handlebars is very difficult due to the radiator  shrouds. So I secured the bike to the lift table by hooking on to the bars that protect the engine heads. This way when I crank on the tie downs a little, the whole bike is pulled down not just the forks.