Motorcycle Dolly

[gaurocoen]

Hi guys - Once again, need some help from you wizards. Hermosa Beach CA is not known for their huge garages.  Mine is a small one car garage.  I can fit both the Valk and and the car if I put the Valk up along the front wall.  Problem is...how do I get it into position?  I have seen some motorcyle dollies online...expensive though.  Any other ideas.

Also, if anyone knows a local Valk mechanic that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[Jess from VA]

You have to get it up against the wall as tight as you can with back and forth motions, then put down the kickstand, then push the bike upright and add a two by four and a one by two on top of each other under the stand, which will stand the bike nearly straight up and down.  It can't fall over since it's right on the back wall.  I have to do this with two interstates side by side in a 10 by 12 shed, but side by side is easier than flat against a back wall. 

[PAVALKER]

Harbor Freight has a MC Dolly that you ride on and can move it around the garage without lifting the bike.   They had one (but no longer have) that I jack my VTX up on to and can move the bike around.  With the Valk tho, I just use the Motorcycle lift, jack it up then lower it to the locked position to take the pressure off the cylinder and wheel it into position in the garage.

Here is the HF one, which you can hang up on a garage wall when not in use (from what I understand)....    http://www.harborfreight.com/low-profile-motorcycle-dolly-95896.html

[3fan4life]

Check this one out:

http://www.harborfreight.com/low-profile-motorcycle-dolly-95896.html


I would have to test it before I felt comfortable putting the valk on it. But, I'd have no problem putting any of my other bikes on it.

Harbor Freight puts this thing on sale often for $59.99

It's not on sale right now but this month's Cycle World does have a 20% off Harbor Freight coupon.

[gaurocoen]

Thanks for the feedback.  I think I will give the Harbor Freight a go.

[BradValk48237]

I use my Craftsman Motorcycle jack to move mine around and into place in the garage.... just make sure the floors smooth...... and clean...... I found out the hard way.....

[Bladedog]

Howdy

Check out the SoCal VRCC chapter (click on "regional boards" on the VRCC home page) BigMac and Mike Hahn are great guys and know the Valk from front to back.

Good luck!

[MNBill]

Try this, I used it for my trailer, printable 20% off coupon

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/SingleMagLanders/americanprofile/images/20_c.jpg

[alph]

I made a stand with some good sized 4" casters.  my shed is 15'x20'.  it's easy to ride the valk in, then jack it up, put my stand under the bike, lower it onto the "dolly", pull the jack out, then easily turn the cycle around. 

[V-NAV]

Hi guys - Once again, need some help from you wizards. Hermosa Beach CA is not known for their huge garages.  Mine is a small one car garage.  I can fit both the Valk and and the car if I put the Valk up along the front wall. 

Once upon a time, and a long time ago (late 60's,) I lived at 1015 Loma Dr. HB 90254 followed by a short move across the yard to 1014 Sunset Dr. HB 90254.  My garage was so small I had to duck under the door when it was up.  My 65 VDub would fit in there but nothing else. 

[gaurocoen]

V-NAV.  I might have your garage.  My garage is on Loma just behind beckers a block off of Pier Ave.  Glad to hear you have felt my pain.

MNBILL thanks for the coupon, will surely use it.

Blasdedog-  thanks for the info on Big Mack and Mike, ill get in touch shortly.

[Oss]

for crying out loud man

Park the car outside

We have 9 rooms and the garage is MY room, well mostly my room


The Valkyrie goes IN the garage, with the Beemer  the snowblower, lawn mower, pressure washer and the spare Valkyrie wheels (never know when you will need extra parts I say)

The cars go Outside

[NITRO]

I made a stand with some good sized 4" casters.  my shed is 15'x20'.  it's easy to ride the valk in, then jack it up, put my stand under the bike, lower it onto the "dolly", pull the jack out, then easily turn the cycle around. 

Making one like Alph's is the best I've seen. It rolls incredibly easily and you could have a party on top of the bike without worrying about it falling off.

[ptgb]

...http://www.harborfreight.com/low-profile-motorcycle-dolly-95896.html


I would have to test it before I felt comfortable putting the valk on it...

Got one... has a 03 Valk Standard on it right now (the one we are going to trike this spring). I drive it on, and then lightly strap it (while on the kickstand) just to stabilize it a bit. Can push it all over the place with no problems whatsoever. Have it slid into a corner of the one-car garage now.

... my cars do stay outside though so I have room to work on the I/S over the winter.

 

[sheets]

Curious what your jack looks like. How do you lift it... then put the solid rack under it... lower the bike, and pull out the jack.

Looking at it... I don't get it.  ???

[highcountry]

I have the HF dolly that I use for my FJR which is on it now.  The FJR only weighs about 70 lbs less than the Valk and there is no problem with the dolly.

[Garfield]

At least you all have a garage. I have to keep my valk inside my Motorcycle trailer.

[alph]

Curious what your jack looks like. How do you lift it... then put the solid rack under it... lower the bike, and pull out the jack.

Looking at it... I don't get it.  ???

Sheets, alright, you made me go out to my shed, in the rain, at 10 o’clock at night to take more pictures to explain my lift.  Here’s my cycle jack in place.  I have to remove a cross bar, that’s probably what doesn’t make sense to you, and the jack just slides in.
 



Here’s a picture from under the cycle, where the rear wheel would be.  You can see my lift bracket that I made from the plans found in the “tech” section of the VRCC.  It rests on top of my dolly.



Here’s a quick link to that lift bracket;
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/CustomLift/lift.htm

I don’t know about the party thing, but I have sat on the saddle and she’s very stable.  My 14 year old daughter can move it around with a little effort.   One of these days I’m going to have to start making video’s and posting them on YouTube. 

Now, as for it being something that “gaurocoen” could use, I don’t think it would work for him.  The harbor freight dolly looks to be the perfect idea for his situation.

[Jess from VA]

Man that is ingenious!! 

[PAVALKER]

Curious what your jack looks like. How do you lift it... then put the solid rack under it... lower the bike, and pull out the jack.

Looking at it... I don't get it.  ???

Sheets, alright, you made me go out to my shed, in the rain, at 10 o’clock at night to take more pictures to explain my lift.  Here’s my cycle jack in place.  I have to remove a cross bar, that’s probably what doesn’t make sense to you, and the jack just slides in.
 



Here’s a picture from under the cycle, where the rear wheel would be.  You can see my lift bracket that I made from the plans found in the “tech” section of the VRCC.  It rests on top of my dolly.



Here’s a quick link to that lift bracket;
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/CustomLift/lift.htm

I don’t know about the party thing, but I have sat on the saddle and she’s very stable.  My 14 year old daughter can move it around with a little effort.   One of these days I’m going to have to start making video’s and posting them on YouTube. 

Now, as for it being something that “gaurocoen” could use, I don’t think it would work for him.  The harbor freight dolly looks to be the perfect idea for his situation.

That is a nice set up for those that can use it.  I have a similar type Dolly that I got from HF years ago, that works well on my VTX...  jack the bike up... slide it under the frame rails and lower the bike to the dolly.   However, with my Valk lift adapter being the permanent mounted type... it doesn't permit me to use that kind of dolly on my Valk... not enough room for the lift and Dolly on the rear adapter.  However, I do use my HF lift as my dolly by lifting, lowering to the lock position and relieving the pressure off the lift cylinder.  Might not be as easy to move..... but it works.

Nice job on the dolly....    

[sheets]

Sheets, alright, you made me go out to my shed, in the rain, at 10 o’clock at night to take more pictures to explain my lift.  Here’s my cycle jack in place.  I have to remove a cross bar, that’s probably what doesn’t make sense to you, and the jack just slides in.

Okay... now I get it! That's the hot set up there.... Brilliant! My rig stays on the lift for four months at a time, and intermittantly during riding season. The part of the lift where the jack is sticks out a couple feet past the side of the scoot. Always an obstacle to trip or step over. Do you have the design copyrighted?    Thanks for clarifying.

Now back to the original thread . . . 

[G-Man]

Man that is ingenious!! 

AGREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PAVALKER]

While I was "searching"... I came across this idea for those that might have a Center Stand....

Park-n-Move Motorcycle Dolly	powered by Aeva

[alph]

While I was "searching"... I came across this idea for those that might have a Center Stand....

Park-n-Move Motorcycle Dolly

that looks like a neat idea.  with my luck i'd catch a tinny pebble while moving it forward, kicking it off the centerstand, dropping it onto it's side!!  that is a good one for a tight garage though.

[98 T]

I tried Harbor Freight... liked it... and bought another for my son's Shadow...
 
If you watch for a coupon, you can get it for $59.... a great deal.  (Thanks Stude31 !!!)

I will say, that with a Valk... it's very tight.. you have maybe 2 inches of play... you have to remove the stop pins at each end.  The Valk is about the longest bike you can fit on the dolly. One you flip up  each end "ramp" you can move it around fairly easy... the wheels are a little small, so hopefully your garage floor is real smooth... but it's not to hard to push it around. 

[PAVALKER]

I tried Harbor Freight... liked it... and bought another for my son's Shadow...
 
If you watch for a coupon, you can get it for $59.... a great deal.  (Thanks Stude31 !!!)

I will say, that with a Valk... it's very tight.. you have maybe 2 inches of play... you have to remove the stop pins at each end.  The Valk is about the longest bike you can fit on the dolly. One you flip up  each end "ramp" you can move it around fairly easy... the wheels are a little small, so hopefully your garage floor is real smooth... but it's not to hard to push it around. 

Looks like you are the Subject Matter Expert when it comes to those.  So, I will ask a question or 2...

1.. How hard is it to pull on, back off or drive off of those?

2.. It is an illusion or is the Valk in a more upright position than the shadow?

3..  Ok, 3 questions....  Are you Dark Side on the Valk and do you think it would work with a DS tire?  Not that I am, but others might be curious about it.

[98 T]

Looks like you are the Subject Matter Expert when it comes to those.  So, I will ask a question or 2...

1.. How hard is it to pull on, back off or drive off of those?  Backing off is real easy....there's a little flip down wedge at each end. If you look close at my son's front wheel, you can see the handle on the right side. When you push 'em down, it sort of lifts the ramp off it's wheels a little. I usually pull right back in onto the ramp when I'm done riding. I've found if you come in too fast, the ramp will tend to creep forward and not let you pull on to it. I have found keeping my riding mower in front gives the ramp something to butt up against so it doesn't keep sliding out in front of you. Having said that, some times, if you ease on to it, it doesn't always slide forward. I always fold up the little end ramps so I can tuck the bikes in real close to each other to make more room in the garage.

2.. It is an illusion or is the Valk in a more upright position than the shadow? I have 12.5 inch Progressive 412's on the Valk... so it sits a little lower than with the stock 13's shocks and that makes it stand a little more upright.... something to keep in mind when parking on a hill.

3..  Ok, 3 questions....  Are you Dark Side on the Valk and do you think it would work with a DS tire?  Not that I am, but others might be curious about it. In theory a car tire should fit in the dolly slot... but I have found my Dunlop rear is tight and if you come in a little off center, when you put it on the side stand, it can force the tire over as it presses against the side walls of the ramp... it can even throw your balance off a little rolling up on to it if you're not dead center... the side walls of the tire can rub along and push you over a little.. not bad once you get used to it.   



All in all, I'm very happy with the dollys....it opens up lots of room and going into the winter months here in Wisconsin, I can cover the bikes and push them tight together.... almost making room for that second Valk Chrome is going to help me buy  

[98 T]

Here's a little different angle picture of what I was talking about.....

[G-Man]

My garage floor is concrete that is pretty rough (no large cracks or chunks missing).  I have tried to move the Valk around while up on a lift and it was impossible due to the rough floor.  How can I get the floor smooth enough to use the lift or dolly?  Would those do-it-yourself epoxy kits work well?  The floor is flat  just very rough).

[G-Man]

Here's a little different angle picture of what I was talking about.....

Thanks for the info, Loth!  This is something I could definitely use in my little garage!

[98 T]

G-man,

There are some epoxy kits out there that you can pour on a garage floor to smooth it out... sometimes I think it's called skim-coating.  ChrisJ would know more about  that since it's related to his expertise  with mixing cement/epoxy counter tops.  I've seen some garages with a smooth floor poured.

If there was anything I could change about the Harbor Freight Dolly, it would be to have a little bigger wheels so it would roll a little easier.



Here's a picture of a house I showed to a buyer earlier this year where the garage was done up real nice and a hard plastic coating put down on the concrete.. almost like heavy vinyl tiles...