1984 yamaha xj650- Motorcycle jack help!

Hey guys, so I wanna get my bike lifted off the ground so I can start doing some stuff. This may be a stupid question but, is there a trick to raising these bikes? I bought a motorcycle jack and don't really have a place to raise it from with the exhaust and side stand being where it is! Would really suck to have to remove the exhaust every time I wanna lift the bike! And even then the side stand might still be in the way! I feel like an idiot but am I missing something? I also searched the manual and couldn't find anything about lifting the bike or lift points!
As always any help is greatly appreciated!
Cheers

 

As with most motorcycles, you can't just put a jack under it.

On some motorcycles it's possible to make or buy a cradle that reaches around the oil pan, pipes, etc. so you can jack them. Not sure if that is even doable on an XJ.

The good news is there isn't much you can't accomplish by putting the motorcycle on the center stand.

 

If you want it truly "up in the air" throw a hunk of 2X6 under the centerstand and have somebody help you pull it onto the stand.

Then use a jackstand and appropriate chunk of wood if needed to lift the front wheel up by placing the stand under the frame cross-member between the #3 and #4 exhaust pipes.

Get it up in the air like that and there's virtually nothing you can't do.

 

I can't believe it takes so much figuring just to lift this bike! Crazy! I actually just read some old threads in regards to this that I came across! I will figure out a way to make this lift work!
Thx guys!!

 

If the center stand isn't tall enough, get a rear swing-arm lift, otherwise known as a track stand. You can also get them for the front end and be able to remove the front wheel. Or spend the dosh to get a genuine motorcycle life as opposed to a H-frame style lift.
Otherwise yeah, it's build a cradle or remove the pipes.

 

There are two ways to get at a comfortable working level. Lower yourself.

 

Well, seeing as I have a bunch of work to do it will be worth removing the exhaust! Just stinks for future for doing smaller stuff ! I really didn't wanna put the centre stand back on as I just don't like the look of it!

 

You'll like the look of that center stand if you ever have to park in a grassy field or a gravel parking lot.

 

What? I love centerstands, they make every bit of maintenance one must perform on a bike so much easier. In fact I would hazard a guess that the owners manual dictates that oil changes be performed with the bike on the centerstand. My other best argument would be chain adjustments, but, well yeah.

 

I use the cheap harbor freight lift and lift carefully

 

takes about two minutes to put on and the same to take off.
i keep mine under the bench

 

The center stand is one of my favorite things about XJ's. Very stable and a clever appication of levers that make it easy to use.

Easy for me, but I'm going to be using the center stand to reassemble the whole bike, sitting on my HD, 36" tall, steel workbench. I say easy for me because I have a 1 ton lift to get it off the bench when I'm done.

But getting it up there isn't really needed, just nice.

Attach the center stand temporarily when you work on your bike if you really don't like it. Edit; Like polock said.

 

I could throw the centre stand to perform work and if I can't fab something up to use the lift I just bought than that will be my fall back plan!

 

before i figured out how to raise my suzuki, i tied the bars off to a hook in the ceiling.
once the start falling you can't catch them

 

So I took my exhaust off as I need to do some work to it anyways! Put the scissor lift under and lifted her right up! Also put jack stands under the front motor mounts! She's high and stable at moment!

Now to check valve clearances and then on to all the fun hacking and bobbing!

As always everyone has been awesome! Thanks for the prompt help everyone!

Cheers!

 

Bolt 2 planks to the lift, like this.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121445413 ... 337959699/

 

That's awesome! My lift is different tho! I'll post a pic when I get home!

 

As it sits now!

 

While it's got the capacity, that jack isn't designed to lift a whole motorcycle. It's too narrow.

That jack is meant to lift one end or the other while the opposite end is tied down to a lift table.

 

Ya it is different but I have to say, I placed it in the right spot cuz it lifted the bike nicely! And with the jack stands in the front I can tip the bike to any angle I want and it's not even a pain to do! Although there are better lifts this will do just fine for me!