I need to check steering play and I need to lift the front without using a stand that lifts on the steering mechanism in any way. I would rather not lift under the oil pan at all. The SM recommends the use of a scissor jack that has special L shaped adapter brackets. There is no mention of where the jack should contact the underside of the bike to lift the front wheel. Anyone know?

Hold the front brake. Either jump on the bike or stand on the side of it. Push down on the forks/pull up on the forks. This back and forth is another quick way of feeling for that click. If she does not click or or make some sort of noise at the front steering bearings, he is tight enough if no sound is made.

You just have to have a spotter on the bike if you use a jack to lift with the side stand down. All you need is an 1/8th inch off the ground so you can grab the forks and do that push/pull, which is basically the same effect as the brake locked and back and then back and forth to hear some knocking from a loose bearing set.

Thanks, Hub. I have no doubt that all they would do at the stealer to check for play would be the fork bounce. I still may resort to tipping the front off the ground by hyper-leaning it over the side stand like you recommended.

It looks like the front could hang by a strap that was run under the frame/aibox right behind the steering pivot. A guy could lift the front on a front stand, connect the strap to a strong ceiling beam in the garage and then lower the front stand leaving the front hanging by the strap.

Do you think this location right behind the steering pivot in the frame would be a good place to hang the weight of the front on?

connect the strap to a strong ceiling beam in the garage and then lower the front stand leaving the front hanging by the strap.

Yep, perfect location for hanging the strap.

Thanks. I think I will give that a try if I can hang the strap over a beam close to a wall corner where it will be good and sturdy. The rear stand I use fits into the swing arm pivot. This lifting point seems to take a lot of weight off the front tire all by itself. << Still, I want to be well within the safety zone of breaking something.