Thanks Rook Anybody else?C'mon guys-I know there's a few more of ya out there!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/17/2009 @ 7:36 PM *

Just got to remember not to try to adjust the arms on the stand to high, you will never get it up!!!!
I tried but found out I adjusted it way to high, it's too much weight to do, and not enough leverage action.

Mine's all the way up on the adjusters.

Mass-HOW do you lift yours?Thanks.

Mass' bike is about 100 lbs lighter than most other 14s.

I have never tried this but I think it would work -- Screw a couple 2x4s down side by side to a piece of plywood. Run the back tire up on that and that should reduce the handle angle enough to allow for a lot easier lift. Maybe even try 2 layers of 2x4s. Only problem is that when the handle locks down to the floor, the wheels will probably push your little homemade ramp out from under the tire. You will have to lower it without the ramp unless you can rig the ramp to the stand so that the stand drags the ramp back under when you lower. Sounds risky. That's why i think a rear handle is safer if the bike is too heavy to lift with a forward handle. You just place a 2x4 under the side stand so the bike is vertical and then scoop it up on the stand holding pressure against the tail toward the sidestand. As you know, there is very little chance of the bike falling once it is vertical and the lift forks are on the spools -- as long as you hold pressure on the handle to keep the bike vertical.

$250 will get you a Hiedl pivot stand and you will lift that thing safe and easy after 3 or 4 tries. I guarenty you that, Blue. The Heindle is not as strong. It would still hold the weight of the bike and a rider but I probably wouldn't suggest that as much as I would with a Pit Bull.

See look Blue, it's your bike.

http://www.heindlengineering.com/Online_Store/pivot_stand.htm

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/18/2009 @ 12:25 PM *

Thanks ROOK-interesting approach to doing a lift.I'm not hearing any "real world" inputs on this topic.For the record-I have a forward facing PIT BULL rear lift.Just like Mass's.I have my adjuster arms all the way down-this works for me.But I am trying to find out how others are doing this lift and return to the ground.The "selling point"on this stand was...."one handed lift,without raising the kickstand".I've got mine modded to allow the kickstand to remain DOWN.And I'm able EASILY to do the lift and lowering WITH a simple procedure that removes ALL the risk of "dropping the bike" over,one way or the other.Just curious how close my technique is to the other Forward facing stand owners here.You have an interesting solution there ROOK-that's what I'm trying to discover.Everyone says "it lifts(works)great",but no one is saying HOW it works so great.BTW-I'm very pleased with mine-very simple to work with.With this stand,you can't just "put it under the spools and lift"-I'll say that straight out.So c'mon owners-let's hear your techniques here!!

Well, here's another little thing I do.

With bike on side stand, pass the wheels of the Pit Bull under the bike far enough that the handle which will be in a vertical position almost touches the side of the bike. When you raise the the bike off its side stand to a vertical position, the lift hooks will be just about perfectly in line with the spools. No messing around trying to get the hooks in line withe spools.

Hope we get some more tidbits here. The front handle has been recommended often enough. Someone else has to have one.

WoHooo-Closer-but not quite...you're definitely runnin first ROOK!"will be just about".....okay my man..what if they're...well,you know.And what about that SIDESTAND?.......Any issues gettin that handle PAST that puppy?Anything at all.How are ya "raising the bike" usin that handle?How about lowering?Any issues there?I'm havin fun with this-but really,I'm curious as to what others found about setting up the stand to work right,and how they're actually doing the lift and lowering.I had to figure out some shortcuts with mine because I found SEVERAL serious(potentially bike damaging)issues before I could comfortably use mine-stuff they don't tell ya when ya buy it.That said-I love mine -works excellent-but it can be tricky.Mine didn't work like they show ya on the website with that literbike,I'll say that!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/18/2009 @ 4:36 PM *

They are tricky and I have to lift the side stand also to use it, but I do with the ROOK technique of rolling the stand under the bike with it still on the side stand. Next is to lift the bike off the side stand, raise the side stand and do some small repositioning of the pit bull and push the handle, on the hard side right up. I also wrap electrical tape around the forks of the stand so that it doesn't scape the swingarm.

Very cool Extra!Yer runnin neck and neck with ROOK!Yes-about that pesky sidestand.What if?.......the spools aren't lined up with the forks-you know,one side lifts PAST the midpoint?How can you tell FOR SURE the spools are lined up?And HOW are you pushing up the sidestand,while simultaneously pushing down the handle?You do have it in the spools by now,yes?At the tipover point?Where are your hands?I know I know-sounds really dumb what I'm trying to find out.Nobody else is joinin the topic.Chuckster was in the HOT ZONE: "scary on the first lift though"........WHY?

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/18/2009 @ 5:13 PM *

what kind of stands are you guys discussing here...sounds confusing....lol heres what works for me

You my friend have a DANGEROUS looking motorcycle--anyone brave enough to want to give ya a run? (lol!-we're talkin about the forward facing handled Pit Bull rear stand...the one Pit Bull claims "you can do a one-handed lift" with...."without raising the kickstand").

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/18/2009 @ 5:35 PM *

i do that now with my rear stand once left side is in place it brings the bike up and in place on the right side. i like raising from the rear where i can see both sides...but thats just my preference. blue thanks yes ive had a few takers and they've all had a nice view of the rear of the mighty 14...hehehehe

WoHooo Scott-ya-EXCELLENT!You also are "right on target" with your statement-wonder if anyone else can figure this little puzzle out?"seeing the rear of the mighty 14"-weeeeeeeee!!!!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/18/2009 @ 6:13 PM *

Don't tell me you are putting the forward handle on there backward with the wheels behind instead of under! and lifting from the rear?! That would certainly not interfere with the side stand. I can't imagine why this would not work but I haven't tried yet.

Okay-I won't tell you that then.(JK!!!)No, she's not going on backwards!(that would be quite a trick though!)I won't say it didn't cross my mind-briefly.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/19/2009 @ 12:24 AM *

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life, but I really need to lift my rear wheel so I can properly lube and clean my chain. I'm planning on getting a Pit Bull because everyone says its one of the best and I can easily order it from Amazon. Now, all this talk of "spools" is a mystery to me. What the heck is a "spool" anyway?

There are several different flavors pit bull rear stands available; whatever I get, I just want it to work out-of-the-box with my '08. I'm looking at the "Pit Bull Spooled Rear Stand" (there's that word again); here's the Amazon link to it: http://www.amazon.com/Pit-Bull-Spooled-Rear-Stand/dp/B0024O4QQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1264465131&sr=8-1

Is this the right one to get?

Thanks.

spike heres the spools youll need

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-ZX14-06-07-10-MM-SwingArm-Spools-Slider_W0QQitemZ250566419344QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56ec2390#ht_2156wt_1167

spike get you a stand that can lift the bike by both spools or swingarm heres one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GREEN-MOTORCYCLE-SWINGARM-STAND-PADDOCK-RACE-STANDS_W0QQitemZ390145214082QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5ad6778682#ht_3580wt_1177

Thanks for the links Scott. So, what does it mean when they say the stand itself is "spooled"? I would think that would mean that one wouldn't have to buy extra spools but rather that the stand itself would come with needed spools. So, if I buy the "spooled" Pit Bull stand I also still have to buy the spools that you linked to on ebay to make it work with my '14. ?

that is correct if i were you id get the stand that will work both ways for you. i have the spools but mostly use the swingarm lift instead. as far as the meaning of spooled stands the part that catches the spools on the bike is like a u shaped piece of steel that the spools on the bike sit it the spools are safer cause the bike cant slip out of them

heres the stand i use if you look closely 1 side is for the spools and the other side is a rubber block that just slides under the swingarm and lift the bike that way if you look up on this page i have pics of that stand with my bike on it

http://www.bikebandit.com/powerstands-max-rear-lift-stand

* Last updated by: scottjkyl on 1/25/2010 @ 6:54 PM *

I have the spools Scott recommended and they work good. It's important to get spools that will stick out a bit from the mounts for a ZX-14 or else the hook that goes on the spool will scrape on the swingarm. I have a Pit Bull forward handle rear stand and two Pit Bull front stands. All of them are much stronger than is really necessary. Stands made of much thinner tubing would be fine. The forward handle rear stand is kind of hard to engage with the spools because it is hard to see both spools from where you stand and you have to finess the hooks onto the spools by holding the handle which is 3' away on the opposite end of the stand. It works good but it takes practice.

A word to the wise, lifting your bike on any stand will be a little scary the first few times you do it and letting it down is a even worse. It is a lot lighter and easier with an empty gas tank and aftermarket exhaust.

This is the stand I first used with the 14 and stock exhaust.

http://www.heindlengineering.com/Online_Store/pivot_stand.htm

I use the Heindl for the busa now because that bike is too heavy to lift with the Pit Bull.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/25/2010 @ 9:06 PM *

Rook,

Any chance you would shoot a video of the Heindl stand in action?

I would but I haven't got a video cam. They used to have a vid somewhere on their site but I don't see it anymore.

The stand is in two halves. The procedure is you walk up to the bike which is supported on its side stand. You stick the pin in the swingarm pivot hole on the same side as the side stand. Walk over to other side of bike with the other half of the stand and slide its pin into the swingarm pivot on the rear brake side of the bike. The two halves of the stand slide together at the same time. Make sure the pins are seated in there nice and snug and tighten two thumb screws which hold the two halves of the stand together. I know your thinking, "Oh god - thumb screws to hold my rear stand together." I agree, but it does work. I always make sure those thumb screws are tightened down really good and I've never had them come loose. Next, you stick the removable lever bar in a sleeve on the side stand side of the bike. Point the front tire straight ahead (because it will roll about 6"), then keep a hand on the lever bar while you push the bike up to vertical. As long as you keep a slight tension up on the lever bar, the bike will stand vertical almost by itself -- just don't let go of the lever bar. All you do then is heave ho on the lever bar pulling up and you can assist the lift by stepping down on the bottom of the stand. The bike rolls forward past center and the bottom locks down. You're done.

I have high flow pipes which stick down a bit more than stocks. The stand almost touches the exhaust when hooking up the stand with the bike leaning on its side stand. Once it is lifted to vertical there is plenty of clearance everywhere.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/26/2010 @ 6:33 PM *

What spools is everyone using?? Also I'm guessing there 10mm ?? I like the driven spools they seem very well constructed and look good...

Gen1 needs to have th espools with spacers to reach under the rounded edge of the swingarm.. Vertical horizon was one that worked well but if you order just make sure it is stated to fit a 2006-2011 ZX-14.

Pit Bull spools are very small. They will not act as a slider like some other brands (if you think spools/sliders are a good thing---I do).