Best way to lift the 1800?

[Rdaugherty]

What's a safe way to lift the 1800 to take off rim's to change tires ? I dont have any Jacks or anything yet looking to buy some

[Jack B]

If you put a heavy duty belly pan under your bike then you have a flat surface to jack it up.

[Rdaugherty]

Got any links to a heavy duty pan ?

[pago cruiser]

I purchased a belly pan a few months ago, but to me, it seemed kind of light to be jacking against.

If you cut a couple 2x4's at about 6-7" each, they fit perfect on a Sears Craftsman Moto Jack pad.  I jack up the front about 3", then put auto aluminum jackstands under the crash bars, then lower the bike onto the crashbars; you only need about an inch clearance to get the front wheel off - and on.

For the rear, I used to then build up some 2x4's and jack up on the bottom of the swingarm.  While functional, I was never comfortable with the angle of incline necessary to get the rear tire out from under the fender.  The darn taillight sticks down too far, and the bike was always borderline stable.   .

If you have a centerstand, this way I figured out this last weekend is best.  Put the Valk on the centerstand, with the rear wheel extending over the edge of a concrete slab.  A 4" slab works fine. Then scrape away some dirt leading up to the slab, so the rear wheel hangs over.  Now, the tricky part.  The rear license/light assembly is held in place by (4) 10mm head bolt, and (2) of those stupid push pins.  The bolts are easy to get out with a 10mm ratchet wrench - slower with a fixed box end.  I can never seem to get the pushpins out, so I end up destroying them.  Some pushpins you push "in" on the center part to release, and it pops out like its spring loaded - not these...    They are about $3 each at Honda, or $25 for maybe 100 on Amazon.  Once you pull the taillight bracket, the wheel is below the rear fender, and drops onto the ground, easy-peasy. No jacking the rear of the bike up at dangerous angles.

All that said, some day I'm gonna get a rolling pneumatic bike table, with the cool drop out panel for changing the rear tire...






 

[Jack B]

There are aluminum pans which I have on my bike (not strong enough but I never tried) but I believe this is the one that you can jack your bike up on.
Or as Pago Cruiser said a sidewalk, I used the edge of a wooded deck.
http://wingstuff.com/products/37566-performance-black-vented-belly-pan?context=accessories-f6b

[Rdaugherty]

There really isnt frame rails that you can put the Jack on cause the engine do you guys just put the motorcycle  jack on the engine with some 2x4 or where the best place to place the jack? Dont want to damage the bike or engine

[hubcapsc]

There really isnt frame rails that you can put the Jack on cause the engine do you guys just put the motorcycle  jack on the engine with some 2x4 or where the best place to place the jack? Dont want to damage the bike or engine

I don't know of any belly pans that don't bolt directly to the plastic engine fairing...

Don't want to jack my bike up on the headers...

-Mike

[PAVALKER]

I park the bike upright in a wheel chock and use my 4ton floor jack (auto) under the shock tower.  I do also have a ratchet strap/come along under the rear grab rails and a garage beam to provide additional support and balance.   Got it up high enough to remove rear wheel without removing Corbin Bags or exhaust.  For front tire removal I did install a Center Stand.

[Lindsay]

I’ve just ordered the Easyrizer Big Blue jack, so will evaluate shortly!

[hubcapsc]

I’ve just ordered the Easyrizer Big Blue jack, so will evaluate shortly!

Can't wait 

-Mike

[Hot Rod]

J&S jacks now have an adapter set for the 2014 -2015 Valkyrie.







After using the J&S s rear adapter I cut the smaller square tubing off & welded the larger 1 1/8 x 1 1/8  8" long piece on the adapter plate . Bike lifts more evenly IMHO .... I'll post some pics as time permits ...

[enroute1]

Can only find this  https://jsjacks.com/product/honda-gl-1800-adapter/
on their site...????

[Hot Rod]

Can only find this  https://jsjacks.com/product/honda-gl-1800-adapter/
on their site...????

You have to call them .....Rod

[bscrive]

Just build one of these and you will be good. 

Use it under a motorcycle jack. 

I have been using it since I got the bike in 2015.

[hubcapsc]

Just build one of these and you will be good. 

Use it under a motorcycle jack. 

I have been using it since I got the bike in 2015.

The two boards on the left cradle the bottom of the engine and the two boards on the right fit where? Or... ?

-Mike

[bscrive]

The adapter is backwards in the picture.  The two 3/4" pieces go on each side of the bottom engine ridge. The two taller pieces go under the center stand mounts on the frame.
Works on bikes with, or without a center stand.
In the first picture that Hotrod shows, you can see the two center stand frame mounts.

[Jess from VA]

You probably need at least three guys.   

[Hot Rod]

Pictures added to post #10 .....Rod

[Jack B]

I have a belly pan and a center stand I added some wood on the jack.
 

[hubcapsc]

I made a jack adapter similar to the one in bscrive's post.

All (?) belly pans are bolted it to the plastic cowling. I wouldn't want to jack
my bike up on the cowling or the headers...

-Mike

[Jack B]

I made a jack adapter similar to the one in bscrive's post.

All (?) belly pans are bolted it to the plastic cowling. I wouldn't want to jack
my bike up on the cowling or the headers...

-Mike

I thought the same thing but a lot of Goldwing’s are jacked up that way and I never heard of any problems.

[Tundra]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread, some good info.
 
Question...Isn't the rear easier to just remove the left side exhaust can, eliminating the need to Jack it up so high and unstable? Remove from the side, no need to jack up high to clear the rear fender? Does anyone else remove the can?

[hubcapsc]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread, some good info.
 
Question...Isn't the rear easier to just remove the left side exhaust can, eliminating the need to Jack it up so high and unstable? Remove from the side, no need to jack up high to clear the rear fender? Does anyone else remove the can?

I never thought of that. I like it that I don't have to jack my 1500
hardly any off the ground - I take the rear fender section off. With
the board adapter, my 1800 seems pretty stable which makes me
pretty comfortable jacking up a foot or so (enough to get the wheel
out). I am uncomfortable, though, letting the bike down... I have the
sears aluminum jack, and it seems the release is like a toggle switch...

-Mike

[Tundra]

Last weekend I installed Avon Cobra chrome 200 series rear tire and didn't have to jack it much at all and just pulled the left section off comes off very easily and you just slide the wheel right out. I did not even use a motorcycle jack.

[hubcapsc]

Last weekend I installed Avon Cobra chrome 200 series rear tire and didn't have to jack it much at all and just pulled the left section off comes off very easily and you just slide the wheel right out. I did not even use a motorcycle jack.

Thanks for the tip, I will try it next time... I didn't wear
out my tire this year  ... but I'll try harder next
year... before or after InZane for sure...

-Mike

[Farther]

I have a belly pan and a center stand I added some wood on the jack.

Does the belly pan and center stand work together?

[Jack B]

I have a belly pan and a center stand I added some wood on the jack.

Does the belly pan and center stand work together?

Yes

[Robert]

The bike under the crash bars and the bottom joint on the shock or spring is rock solid and easy to do.

[Robert]

I made the wood adapter. it fitted like a glove with the bike on the side stand.

I put the adapter on top of my Craftsman lift.

Tried to push it under the bike. Nope. Not going. The rear blocks are too tall. I made those from 2 pieces so I remover one making the block shorter. Nope still not going. Not even with the bike upright.

Base of my adapter is plywood.

I stand on the lift to make sure it's fully lowered.

Nope still not going under the bike.

I remove the rear block completely.

Now the remains of the adapter will go under the bike but I need to have support under the engine guards when I leave the bike without the front wheel in place.

When you put the bike almost upright there is more ground clearance maybe you can slide the adapter under when it is almost totally upright. The shock mounting in the rear is a great jack point for the rear of the bike. The engine guards work well in most circumstances.

I hate to say it but 2 jacks one under the rear shock mount and one with adapter under the engine guards would allow full access to the bottom of the bike.

A jack under the back shock mount allows just enough clearance to get the rear tire out.

The problem with adapters is you have to remove them to service anything under the bike.

[Robert]

When you put the bike almost upright there is more ground clearance maybe you can slide the adapter under when it is almost totally upright.

Nope.

I will try to see if I can come up with something.

I am very fortunate to have the setup I have and looked for a way to in the beginning to put it up and found I could lift it like I do.

[Parkway440]

How thick is your 21 x 11-1/8 inch plywood? If you were building another one would you change anything? My 2014 Valkyrie does not have a center stand. Thanks for your help, I look forward to building one!

[Tundra]

The bike under the crash bars and the bottom joint on the shock or spring is rock solid and easy to do.

Robert, do you own a shop, or is that your personal garage lift? Nice setup for sure.