How to jack up rear of bike while on a lift

1

1216bandit

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Nov 26, 2025
Messages
12
Country flag
I need to be able to raise the rear of the bike while on my lift. Putting it on the center stand while on the lift wont work for me as I would need to un-clamp the front wheel and try to balance the bike while extending the stand on a raised platform, and at 72 yrs old would be a challenge.....the deck height is 7" when lowered. I am thinking of a length of 2x4 under the raised center stand...raising with a bottle jack then lowering it on 2 jack stands to give more stability then resting on a single lift point. I am open to any suggestions!
 
Last edited:
1216bandit said:
I need to be able to raise the rear of the bike while on my lift. Putting it on the center stand while on the lift wont work for me as I would need to un-clamp the front wheel and try to balance the bike while extending the stand on a raised platform, and at 72 yrs old would be a challenge. I am thinking of a length of 2x4 under the raised center stand...raising with a bottle jack then lowering it on 2 jack stands to give more stability then resting on a single lift point. I am open to any suggestions!
Click to expand...
There's lots of relatively cheap bike jacks you can get that'll slide under the engine/frame
I use a car scissor jack with 3 bits of angle iron welded to it
 
My commando is at present sat on two motorcycle scissor jacks under the frame. One under the engine and one under the gearbox. my winding one or other I can raise the front or rear of the bike. They have rubber support cradles that protect the frame. A ratchet strap will add to security
www.ebay.co.uk

SwitZer Scissor Lift 500KG 1100LBS Jack Stand Motorcycle Bike Repairing Station | eBay UK

SwitZer 500KG 1100LBS Scissor Lift Jack Stand Motorcycle Bike Repairing Station. SwitZer 1100LBS Motorbike Repaire Stand Jack Lifting Tool Large Platform 500KG. Capacity: 500KG(1100LBS);. 500KG Large Capacity Load;.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
One of the best things I brought for my workshop was a life table and a bike scissor jack the same one as above for under $100 delived to my door it works great with the lift table and not only for the Norton but all my British bikes, they are very stable, easy to lift and the best thing they don't stick out to much when working on the bikes when on the ground or on the lift table, wish I had it 40 years ago.
Ashley
How to jack up rear of bike while on a lift
How to jack up rear of bike while on a lift
 
ashman said:
One of the best things I brought for my workshop was a life table and a bike scissor jack the same one as above for under $100 delived to my door it works great with the lift table and not only for the Norton but all my British bikes, they are very stable, easy to lift and the best thing they don't stick out to much when working on the bikes when on the ground or on the lift table, wish I had it 40 years ago.
Ashley
View attachment 123985View attachment 123986
Click to expand...
I found pretty much the same thing on Amazon for $105...thanx for the tips!
 
1216bandit said:
I need to be able to raise the rear of the bike while on my lift. Putting it on the center stand while on the lift wont work for me as I would need to un-clamp the front wheel and try to balance the bike while extending the stand on a raised platform, and at 72 yrs old would be a challenge.....the deck height is 7" when lowered. I am thinking of a length of 2x4 under the raised center stand...raising with a bottle jack then lowering it on 2 jack stands to give more stability then resting on a single lift point. I am open to any suggestions!
Click to expand...
I use the scissors jack from the boot of my car and a piece of wood under the frame. It stays rock solid as long as the front wheel is clamped.
 
This is what I got on amazon. I like that it lifts from both sides of the frame....I'm sure it will be very stable.

VEVOR Motorcycle Lift, 1100 LBS Motorcycle Center Scissor Lift Jack with Saddle & Safety Pin, Steel Motorcycle Jack Hoist Stand for Street Bikes, Cruiser Bikes, Touring Motorcycles : Amazon.ca: Automotive

VEVOR Motorcycle Lift, 1100 LBS Motorcycle Center Scissor Lift Jack with Saddle & Safety Pin, Steel Motorcycle Jack Hoist Stand for Street Bikes, Cruiser Bikes, Touring Motorcycles : Amazon.ca: Automotive
www.amazon.ca
 
1216bandit said:
This is what I got on amazon. I like that it lifts from both sides of the frame....I'm sure it will be very stable.

VEVOR Motorcycle Lift, 1100 LBS Motorcycle Center Scissor Lift Jack with Saddle & Safety Pin, Steel Motorcycle Jack Hoist Stand for Street Bikes, Cruiser Bikes, Touring Motorcycles : Amazon.ca: Automotive

VEVOR Motorcycle Lift, 1100 LBS Motorcycle Center Scissor Lift Jack with Saddle & Safety Pin, Steel Motorcycle Jack Hoist Stand for Street Bikes, Cruiser Bikes, Touring Motorcycles : Amazon.ca: Automotive
www.amazon.ca
Click to expand...
I’ve got one identical to that. When I got it, it was very stiff to use so I took it all apart and greased everything. It was much better then.
 
Andy Higham said:
My commando is at present sat on two motorcycle scissor jacks under the frame. One under the engine and one under the gearbox. my winding one or other I can raise the front or rear of the bike. They have rubber support cradles that protect the frame. A ratchet strap will add to security
www.ebay.co.uk

SwitZer Scissor Lift 500KG 1100LBS Jack Stand Motorcycle Bike Repairing Station | eBay UK

SwitZer 500KG 1100LBS Scissor Lift Jack Stand Motorcycle Bike Repairing Station. SwitZer 1100LBS Motorbike Repaire Stand Jack Lifting Tool Large Platform 500KG. Capacity: 500KG(1100LBS);. 500KG Large Capacity Load;.
www.ebay.co.uk
Click to expand...
Can you post a picture of your bike on these 2 stands? I don't see how 2 of them would fit side by side with the support cradles on the available 9" or so length of frame behind the side stand mount. If you butt the two inside 80mm stabilizers together plus the two 75 mm of distance from the center of each support cradle to the edge of the platform, that equals 310 mm or 12.2". Did you offset the stabilizers? That would get you down to 230 mm or 9.1".
 
Andy Higham said:
Yes the stabiliser / outriggers are side by side
Click to expand...
You can also slide the arms off and lift the bike up on a flat top of the bike stand, I use the arms when I worked on my Thruxton when I had it but on my Norton I take the arms off and use the flat top of the jack, you set the lift jack for each bike you work on. but takes very little time to do.
 
1216bandit said:
This is what I got on amazon. I like that it lifts from both sides of the frame....I'm sure it will be very stable.

VEVOR Motorcycle Lift, 1100 LBS Motorcycle Center Scissor Lift Jack with Saddle & Safety Pin, Steel Motorcycle Jack Hoist Stand for Street Bikes, Cruiser Bikes, Touring Motorcycles : Amazon.ca: Automotive

VEVOR Motorcycle Lift, 1100 LBS Motorcycle Center Scissor Lift Jack with Saddle & Safety Pin, Steel Motorcycle Jack Hoist Stand for Street Bikes, Cruiser Bikes, Touring Motorcycles : Amazon.ca: Automotive
www.amazon.ca
Click to expand...
I welded on a big metric socket so I could use a 1/2 ratchet
 
For more extreme lift, I use an engine hoist and two soft ties around the shock mounts. Used this earlier this week to replace rear iso rubber bushings. You can lift the rear as far as you want, in that case frame raised from cradle. That being said I normally use one of the scissor jacks.
 
Back
Top