For swing arm removal, the XB service manual specifies jacking the bike using a lift at the two points marked on the standard exhaust.

I'm not sure what else is required to stabilise the bike because, surely, it'll just topple over if it's lifted like this ? Quite apart from the fact that the jacking point is under the centre of gravity, the underside of the exhaust is curved not flat.

Presumably someone here has done this ? I'm guessing that I need to attach a strap to the top of the frame and secure it to the roof beam to keep the bike vertical ?

I´ve used the back wheel lift and then stabilised the frontbars(2straps), mid sectionframe and back section frame with straps to the roof beams (make sure they´ll take the weight, I strengthened mine first seeing that my garage sways with the wind). If i were you I´d remove the exhaust and then put a jack under the motor for support (jackpoints under the muffler aren´t good) I left the muffler brackets on and ran a short thick piece of wood under them and then the jack. Tie the swing arm to the frame and then follow the manual. (when removing back wheel I loosen but dont remove the back axel until the end incase something happens and the weights shifted to the swing.

...i figure you can never be too careful so the more stability the better

I got a nail in my rear tyre as soon as I bought the Firebolt.

The guy who fitted a new tyre had dealt with Buells before and did indeed jack the bike up with a trolly jack, putting a block of wood between the jack and underside of the exhaust (I've got a Remus pipe fitted which is flatter than the original). He stabilised the bike with straps to the bars/forks from an engine hoist.

You can jack the STD can you DO NOT jack a Remus. It can damage it.

Axle stands are the way to go IMO.

Maybe I was just lucky TFD!
5500 miles later and nothing has failed yet....yeah, maybe I'm VERY lucky!!

This was advice from . Always worth using

As I have said in the past I have trolley jacked my Remus revolution on my Uly for the last 2.5 years - there is not a mark on it. All I did was shape a piece of wood (3" x 2") to the shape of the Remus - Job done

It works for me anyhow


Mark

I would say this would work as it will spread the load over the surface of the can. A good idea.

For future reference...

I used a motorcycle scissor jack under the front jacking point on the exhaust to lift the front wheel to remove the wheel and replace the bearings. If you raise the jack carefully until the wheel is just clear of the ground then no other support is required - the weight is on the jack, the side stand, and the rear wheel. Obviously, the more you raise the jack then the more the bike will lean over and will eventually just fall over. But, when jacked so that the front wheel is just clear of the ground, it does seem reasonably stable. As noted in my original post, this is what the service manual says you should do to remove the front wheel.

Then I needed to raise the rear wheel to fit a Free Spirits tensioner. In the past I've always used a paddock stand but, again, the manual says use a jack under the exhaust. As this had worked successfully on the front wheel I thought I'd try it. You need to place the jack under the rear jacking point to do this. It does work but I'm really not sure how as you wouldn't think that the bike resting on the jack, the sidestand and the front wheel would be stable. In fact, by the time the back wheel is clear of the ground the front wheel is beginning to lift as well which freaked me out a bit - how could the bike stay up on just the jack and the side stand ? I was very, very cautious not to lean on or knock the bike because I'm sure it wouldn't take much for it to go over.

Personally, I think in future I'll still use some strapping to a roof beam to improve stability but the service manual is correct - you can lift each end of the bike and remove either wheel using a jack under the exhaust with no other support.