using motorcycle Jack

[unicorncomputer]

I need to jack up my xs1100 special, I brought the jack up to it and it looks like the exhaust is actually lower than the frame.

Am I able to jack up there or do I really need to take the exhaust off?

I always have a horrible time trying to get the bike on the center stand.

I am going to be removing and changing the rear tire and doing some cleaning and greasing on the shaft at the same time.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

[crazy steve]

Those 'ATV' jacks aren't really all that useful on a XS. As you found out, there's too much 'stuff' hanging down to get a good 'set' under a XS. I've got one, I never use it for my XSs, just my Harleys (which don't have a center stand). It is possible to build an adaptor to 'fit' the jack to the bike (which is what I had to do for the Harleys), but it's more trouble than it's worth.

If you have the OEM center stand, just use that. That's what it's designed for...

[motoman]

I need to jack up my xs1100 special, I brought the jack up to it and it looks like the exhaust is actually lower than the frame.

Am I able to jack up there or do I really need to take the exhaust off?

I always have a horrible time trying to get the bike on the center stand.

I am going to be removing and changing the rear tire and doing some cleaning and greasing on the shaft at the same time.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

Needs to be put on centerstand......for safety as first priority. You'll have a more horrible time if that scoots gets you under it.
Not sure your stature or size, but my FULLY dressed Venturer has got a 150lbs. on your Special in weight. At only 5'10"/175lbs....and old, no issue putting it on centerstand, even if loaded down on a trip.
After dealing with that beast for decades, put a visitors Special on centerstand was like putting a cheap Chinese scooter on centerstand.
It's a leverage thing, not a strength thing.

[crazy steve]

There is a technique for pulling the bike up onto the centerstand....

1. Stand facing the left side of the bike.
2. Put your left hand on the left handlebar grip, right hand gripping the grab bar (or frame if it's missing; take the seat off) right behind the top shock mount.
3. Left foot on the ground, right foot on the centerstand pedal.
4. Rolling the bike backwards with your left hand, at the same time press FIRMLY on the pedal with your right foot while lifting UP with your right hand.

The bike will 'roll' right up onto the stand. It will tend to 'swing' clockwise a bit while doing this, make sure you have room. Sometimes letting it roll backwards a few inches before pressing on the pedal/lifting will impart enough momentum to help.

[madmax-im]

There is a technique for pulling the bike up onto the centerstand....

1. Stand facing the left side of the bike.
2. Put your left hand on the left handlebar grip, right hand gripping the grab bar (or frame if it's missing; take the seat off) right behind the top shock mount.
3. Left foot on the ground, right foot on the centerstand pedal.
4. Rolling the bike backwards with your left hand, at the same time press FIRMLY on the pedal with your right foot while lifting UP with your right hand.

The bike will 'roll' right up onto the stand. It will tend to 'swing' clockwise a bit while doing this, make sure you have room. Sometimes letting it roll backwards a few inches before pressing on the pedal/lifting will impart enough momentum to help.

in addition...put ALL of your weight on the right foot to help leveraging...

[unicorncomputer]

Thank you all, I did end up getting it on the center stand and did get the wheel off without much trouble.

I had assumed from the readings on here and the tire saying it was tubeless that there wasn't any tube in it so while taking the tire off I wasn't worrying about and ended up destroying th tube that was in it. I bought a tubeless tire, but now I need to purchase a valve stem for the wheel.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you,

Steve

[TopCatGr58]

Mikesxs dot net or your local bike shop

Check out the info below

Tubeless Tire Valve for Yamaha Mag Wheels.
Correct size for XS models with factory Mag Wheels. Includes valve core.

OEM Reference # 93900-00001-00



Part #01-0167

$4.95 USD Ea.

T.C.

[bikerphil]

Another option is to drill the hole in the wheel larger to accept a car bolt in valve stem. Probably can't go back to using a tube if you wanted with this approach.

[crazy steve]

If you drill the wheel, the size difference isn't that much; you might need a slightly large washer is all....

[Prisoner6]

... It will tend to 'swing' clockwise a bit while doing this, make sure you have room. Sometimes letting it roll backwards a few inches before pressing on the pedal/lifting will impart enough momentum to help.

Excellent tip ...

It really is all about proper technique ... very little strength involved. One more quick word about the centerstand:

Don't be in a hurry to "yank" your bike up onto the centerstand ...

When you are pushing down with your right foot, pulling back with your left hand (on handlebar), and pulling up and back with your right hand (on grab bar),

you will reach a point where you are "over center" on the stand, and you know you are going to "make it" onto the centerstand. When this happens, ease up a little

on the pulling up and back with your hands, but keep pushing down with your foot. You can then ease the bike gently to a soft stop.

This is so important because "hard stops" with the centerstand can crack/fracture the frame where the centerstand mount is welded onto the frame.

[Prothec]

It takes putting the bike on the stand quite a few times to get comfortable with it. I dropped my XJ once while trying to put it on the stand. The reason I dropped it was I didn't fully commit to the lift and couldn't make it over the hump before it decided to roll forward again. Granted, I was only about 120 lbs back then and the bike felt significantly heavier before I put on another 50 lbs over the years Once you start to lift, unless you have a second person, you need to fully commit and see it through. There is no stopping half way and letting it back off the stand without seriously risking dropping the bike.

The technique I use is the hand on the handlebar, the other on the grab rail, like has already been described. The other thing I do is put some downward force on the stand and make sure both of the feet of the stand are touching the ground so I know the bike it completely vertical. If you keep pressure on the lever, the bike with be held solidly upright. From there I give it a good downward push with all my weight while pulling up on the grab rail and steadying the handlebars.

Now that you have it on the stand, now what? I always put up the side stand after I put the bike on the center stand. I can only imagine it would be dangerous to take the bike off the center stand with it down. Sit on the bike, cover the front brake, put a foot on the ground and push forward hard. It helps to shift your weight forward as well to use your momentum. Push it over the hump and when the center stand flips up, use the front brake to stop the bike from rolling away.
Often, I can't push the bike off the center stand on the first try. It helps to use the front brake to save forward progress and keep the bike from rocking completely back on the center stand. You can then coordinate pushing forward with gently releasing the brake and usually reach success after a couple of pushes.

Obviously all of this gets easier the more you practice. I highly recommend that if you aren't completely comfortable doing this, have someone help stabilize the bike and make sure you have plenty of room on either side of the bike just in case it gets away from you at least until your skill and confidence improves.

Maybe I've thought about this more because I didn't physically have the mass to be able manhandle the bike when I started, or maybe it was completely due to inexperience. Either way, time and practice yields to routine.

[MarkD]

This may be pretty obvious to all, but it wasn't for me when I first tried the centerstand trick. Use work type boots with thick soles when attempting to ''stand'' on the centerstand. I was wearing tennis shoes, and could feel the lever quite well through the thin bottoms. Now, it's a piece of cake.

[mikubuilder]

Great idea came up on Facebook page...when you make your wheel into tubeless, instead of plugging up your wheel locks, put valve stems into those holes..., this way you won't have to rotate your wheel to get to one of them

[unicorncomputer]

What wheel locks. That might be for dirt bikes.

[DiverRay]

The '78 had wheel locks on the rear wheel. Yamaha was afraid the tire would spin on the rim because of the HP and torque.