If you would like, I can send you some pictures, or just e-mail them to you.

Hey Blacklightning, yeah send me the pics. I am going down to Cycle Gear tomorrow and I want to make sure I'm looking at the right stand.

Thanks
Mad
maddevill@aol.com

Ask, and you shall receive.
The tire is about 2" off the ground, and the walls of the tubing is about 1/16". It is called their trackside stand. Cycle Gear also has a great return policy if you are not satisfied. I looked at a couple of stands before purchasing this one, and for a new stand, it couldn't be beat, for the money. I recently found a Pit Bull stand on craigslist for $40, but now I don't need it. The bike is also easy to get on the stand. I felt more confident when I had the luggage rack on the rear the balance the bike, but it was still pretty easy.

* Last updated by: blacklightning on 12/29/2011 @ 11:54 AM *

I believe you now, black. The Pit Bull forward handle Lifts about 2" also but it can be adjusted to lift higher if you want. I guess a pile of magazines under each wheel would suffice to lift higher too. I like the double wheeled casteres better than the Pit Bull single wheels. The larger wheel diam of the Pit Bull is nice if you need to roll the bike a little distance on the stand (but how often do you need to do that?).

Looks like the handle comes off to prevent tripping hazard/save floor space?

Do you use the 2x4 under the side stand technique to get the bike vertical before the lift?

Thanks Blacklighning. I tried the Pit Bull again and it is just too narrow to work on the 14. No way, no how. So, I'm going to Cycle Gear tomorrow to get the one you have. It looks good and the price is right. Then I can FINALLY change my rear shock and properly lube my frigging chain.

Mad

The handle doesn't come off, but you can slide it in. It has a locking mechanism that will hold it in place as well. My bike is lowered a little in the rear and has the stock stand. I only need to set it upright a little, and then slide the stand in place. Now that you mention it, I could use a 2x4 and make it a lot easier.
I think you will be happy with the stand. It can be used with, or without the spools. They also sell a front stand, but I allready have one of the harbor freight rollers that I place under the front tire, for cleaning the rim. I use this for the M109 as well. I have a center stand that I use to lift the M109's rear tire.

The handle doesn't come off, but you can slide it in. It has a locking mechanism that will hold it in place as well.

Okay...ROOK!..yer a genius my man.I raised the forks up approx one inch...no more scraping!Thanks!

wow, wasn't even tryin'.

Well, Blacklightning is right, the Cycle Gear stand is great. Pretty decent quality and the price is great! $44.95 can't beat that. So, I am pretty pleased overall. Thanks again.

Mad

Good Deal! Remember, they have a policy, that if you are not satisfied, you can just return it (at the Garner, N.C. store anyway). I have returned 1 item, but overall, I have always been satisfied. Pretty cool dudes at our store. A little young and hot roddy, but then I am just an old fart trying to be young.

I'm grateful for all of the "up lifting" info that you guys have provided in this forum over the years.

So, I reviewed most of the threads I could find on the topic, and here's what I concluded. Generally, lifting from the back, using a rear facing handled spool lift tool, is pretty scary when done solo. One has to use a 2x4 piece of wood to get the cycle mostly vertical, then position the tool and smoothly lift and hope things go well. It's even tougher on the de-lift because the 2x4 then has to be critically positioned under the kickstand, all the while holding the cycle vertical with the lift tool. If things go badly, a 0 MPH drop... It's a no-brainer with two people (one to steady the cycle from the front handlebars). The basic issue with this seems to be there's nothing to grab onto back there on a stock cycle. Those with a bag system frame, no problems, plenty of grab point to hang onto and stabilize when lifting from the rear.

Then, there' the front facing handle, rear lift. It seems to solve most of these solo lifting issues for the rear of the cycle because the tool allows one person to grab the handlebars while lifting. The best (maybe only) seems to be the PitBull tool. But, it's expensive, as these tools go.

Then, there's the cycle front spool lift tool, with some similar issues, and some more. These can get the front tire and brake system inspected, but misses the boat on a critical maintenance inspection point, the steering head bearing system, for turning radius binding and "loose-ness". None of these tools solve for being able to perform this inspection. But, between the tool itself, and the "converter", it's also very expensive (I still have the PB tool in view here).

How to solve all these problems? I'm going with the Heindl Pivot stand. The upfront cost makes it the most expensive until one looks at the problems it solves and the multiple tools no longer needed. It also makes solo lifting a non-event. That makes it a bargain, to me.

How to solve all these problems? I'm going with the Heindl Pivot stand. The upfront cost makes it the most expensive until one looks at the problems it solves and the multiple tools no longer needed. It also makes solo lifting a non-event. That makes it a bargain, to me.

I have been screaming praises for years and nobody seems to buy the friggin thing. I use a PB forward handle for the 14 also. The heindl is easier and safer. Only one minor drawback with the Heindl is that the base rests to the sides of the bike right at the middle. It does seem a bit in the way at times. The PB forward handle has the same issue but only on the side with the handle. --Anyway, very minor inconvenience and the safety of the stand is a lot more important.

to inspect steering play, I recommend hanging the bike from a reliable overhead object. The Heindle balances almost perfectly so as to cause the least possible leverage against whatever you hang it from. A steering stem stand will not allow you to perform steering play check. It does allow for the fork clamps top be loosened but the pin that sticks in the steering stem pivot causes a lot of friction if you tried to move the steering. You can lift under the oil pan to get the front wheel up off the ground but I do not like to support the bike in this way. Some do. Again, the Heindl would be the best rear stand to use while liufting under the oil pan with a jack and wood block. The weight is distributed almost perfectly. (the swingarm pivot is right about dead center of gravity).

You can lift under the oil pan to get the front wheel up off the ground but I do not like to support the bike in this way. Some do. Again, the Heindl would be the best rear stand to use while liufting under the oil pan with a jack and wood block.

Rook:

I'm almost with you here, but you lost me at this point. In one sentence, you state "...but I do not like to support the bike in this way.' Then, in the next breath, I read "...the Heindl would be the best rear stand to use while liufting under the oil pan with a jack and wood block."

So, I think your point is, when using the Hiendl (which I bought this morning), that I get things started by using a lift under the oil pan to help get the cycle vertical. I think that's your point, otherwise, I'm lost...

I have been screaming praises for years and nobody seems to buy the friggin thing. I use a PB forward handle for the 14 also. The heindl is easier and safer. Only one minor drawback with the heindl is that the base rests to the sides of the bike right at the middle. It does seem a bit in the way at times. The PB forward handle has the same issue but only on the side with the handle. --Anyway, very minor inconvenience and the safety of the stand is a lot more important.

Tried my new Heindl lift today. What a great peice of engineering! I tried the other lift types, and I'm really impressed at just how safe and easy the Heindl makes the one-person lift. It's a good tool, worth the money, to me.

Thanks, Rook.

I'm almost with you here, but you lost me at this point. In one sentence, you state "...but I do not like to support the bike in this way.' Then, in the next breath, I read "...the Heindl would be the best rear stand to use while liufting under the oil pan with a jack and wood block."

what i meant was that i am not comfortable lifting the front of the bike with a jack placed under the oil pan. The oile pan is soft aluminum and there is always a chance it could dent under the weight of the bike. However, if supporting the front by lifting under the oil pan is the only option, a swingarm pivot stand is the best thing to use to support the back. With the back supported at the swingarm pivot, the front could nearly be lifted by hand. There is very little weight that the oil pan will be supporting with a swing arm pivot stand in place. The Heindl Engineering site shows a ZX-14 lifted on their stand with a jack under the oil pan. I'm sure it is not a big risk but I just rather not take any risk with that if not necessary.

I have recently used a jack under the oil pan as a safety support while removing engine mounts.

It's a good tool, worth the money, to me.
Thanks, Rook.

Great choice. It will serve you well.

Here is a tutorial for checking steering play. Note the warning in the beginning about hanging the bike from roof rafters. Same idea applies to this type of front lift as under the oil pan front lift. The pivot stand supports most of the weight which makes the front a lot lighter. The roof rafters (or oil pan) are less prone to causing damage when lifted.

My Pit Bull rear lift worked fine on my ZX14. Its worthless for my Concours 14, due to the shaft drive.

Fortunately I have a center stand.

oops. Forgot to paste link here is steering play

https://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=44F2EE8E-D56B-84E2-1BA7F40F0997C0E5

I have the Abba Superbike Stand. Works like the Heindl.
Abba Superbike Stand
I am new to this bike and this is the only stand I have ever used so I can not compare to a spool stand but I think that I made a good choice.