Thus the Project Begins

When I first got my V-Star, and started working on it, I found as I'm sure most of you have that having it leaning to it's side on the side stand doesn't make life easy. Sure the right side's easy to get to, but the left means you're often laying on the ground working on it, not exactly the ideal.

I'd read about a wood bike lift on the forum, but thought the plan was over complicated, and it used materials that were both expensive and hard to find. So....as per usual, I decided that I could do it better :)

Clamped 2X4's

Here's what I came up with. It's a basic lift, allows easy oil changes, makes cleaning the bike alot easier, and allows you to work on the bike in a level position. Also gets one of the wheels off the ground at a time, and it's cheap (a good thing).

It's basically a stack of 2x4's nailed together with an angle iron handle bolted to one end.

Here's how to build yourself one:

First, this lift will raise the bike approx. the width of one 2x4 off the ground, so about 1 1/2". So figure out how far off the ground your bike sits, the stock 650 Vstar uses a stack of 5 - 2x4's, mine's lowered so it uses a stack of 4. Take the clearance of the bike, frame to ground, and divide by 1.5", then add one 2x4 for the lift.

List of Materials Needed:

8' - 2x4's (for stock 650 Vstar need 3) straight, no loose knots, no splits and square (take your time choosing them)
4' - 1" x 1" x 1/8" angle iron, 48" long
12" - 1" x 1/8" steel strap
16 - 10d (spikes) nails or 3" drywall screws
3 - 5/16" x 2 1/2" lag bolts
1 - 1/4" x 3/4" machine screw with lock washer and nut
2 - 7/16" x 5 1/2" screw eyes
wood glue, prefer yellow carpenter's glue (optional)

Measured Angle Iron

Start by cutting the 2x4's into 45" lengths, this length allows you to trim end splits, bad knots etc. from the pieces.

Stack the 2x4's and mark the screw/nail positions so you don't try to put 2 nails in the same spot. Screws/nails on bottom board are nailed up, all the rest nail down (nails/screws are slightly longer than 2 boards)

Spread glue on a board, nail the next to it, continue till you have your stack.

Finished Lift

Let glue harden before the next step. (if you're using screws, you can continue, as the screws will hold the work till the glue sets) Take your angle iron, drill two 5/16" holes in one end at 3/4" from the end, and at 2 3/4". (allows 3/4" spacing from edges of 2x4). Drill 1/4" hole for angle brace 9 1/2" from the same end. (holes are drilled in center of the angle and brace) Cut steel strap to 10" long, drill a 1/4" hole 3/4" from each end.

Place stack of wood on a flat floor, position the drilled angle at the end (forming an L shape) mark the wood for the two holes in the angle, then drill clearance hole, 1/4" into the edges of the 2x4. Screw in 2 of the lag bolts securing the angle to the 2 x 4. Angle iron sits with flat side on floor. Next take the strap, attach to angle iron with 1/4" machine screw loosly. Rotate strap so it sits next to the top 2x4 in the stack, mark hole position and drill. Screw in the last lag bolt holding the strap to the top 2x4.

Lift In Use (right)

Eye bolts, are used to hold bike secure on the stand, makes it very secure. They are positioned 3" from each end, drill clearance hole and screw them in.

There, the lift is finished :)

To use: slide lift under bike, handle (angle iron) up, while holding handle, and handlebars of the bike, rotate the handle down while standing the bike up (takes a little practice and easier with a helper), let the lift hold the bike upright, then push the handle down to the floor (use care to not get fingers under the handle between it and the floor).

The lift is plenty secure just like this, but if you're gonna be wrenching on it alot, any chance of tipping it over, it's safer to have it strapped to the lift. Bike straps, get from dealer, can be run to either the handlebars, or to the frame with the seat removed (see pictures)