Garage manuevering

[StevieWonder]

My garage is pretty tight for two cars and two bikes. To make it fit I have to place the bikes sideways but it's a REAL ordeal to manuever them into that position and nearly impossible without emptying the garage first.

Anybody know of a device that somebody makes/sells that will allow you to get the bike off the ground and spin it around like it was on a dolly?

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Yes, I believe A&S Cycles sells a dolly for bikes. You put the bike on the center stand on that dolly and move it any way you want.
I saw one at Spokane and the thing looked very nice, I forgot who made it though, Wunderlich??????
Hope you find it.

[StevieWonder]

Thanks ... I'll contact them and see what they have. A&S has a pretty extensive website. Maybe I can find it there.

[StevieWonder]

I didn't find one on their website.

Anybody got another lead? I envision something like the Go-Jacks for cars.

Anybody know if the roll around bike/ATV jacks might work? Don't know what the hell I'd do with with it once the bike is positioned .... they look pretty LARGE.

[dbrick]

Search Google for "motorcycle turntable."

[AntonLargiader]

I've seen a certerstand dolly on the floor at Morton's. Nothing on their website, though. Just call them.

540-891-9844

[1flyer]

Try http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store, Miscellaneous Tools, Page 1. Down towards the bottom, small turntable that might work. If not, there is some sort of four wheeled dolly here someplace. We've all seen it just can't remember where!

[StevieWonder]

I've seen the turntables, but they really won't work since the lip on the garage floor keeps the bike from being turned around.

The 4-wheel dolly sounds like the ticket, but I haven't been able to find one on the web.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Well I found it for you on the BMW of Santa Cruz site. I though I had seen that critter somewhere. Try www.bmwscruz.com (http://www.bmwscruz.com)
They have two types and it can be found under accesories for all bikes.:D

[StevieWonder]

Awesome ...

You ARE the man !!!

Thanks.:bliss

[flash412]

Put the bike on it's center stand on a cafeteria tray on top of some wax paper. Then turn it and slide it to where ever you like.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Your welcome! :bliss

[PhilScrivano]

I use a bike lift purchased from Costco to manuever my bike in the garage. It also makes cleaning the bike a lot easier.

[BradfordBenn]

Originally posted by StevieWonder
My garage is pretty tight for two cars and two bikes. To make it fit I have to place the bikes sideways but it's a REAL ordeal to manuever them into that position and nearly impossible without emptying the garage first.

Anybody know of a device that somebody makes/sells that will allow you to get the bike off the ground and spin it around like it was on a dolly?

You see the first mistake is trying to put the car in the garage, motorcycles first.... ;)

I get two cars, one lawn tractor, and two bikes into my garage using the Mat from Aerostich and some elbow grease. So it is possible.At the office one of the maintenance guys uses a desk dolly (http://www.furnishequipment.com/catalog/raymond_desk_dollies_352998_products.htm) to shoe horn in his HD. No recommendation just another idea of a lifting dolly.

[StevieWonder]

All of these look like a two person job to keep the bike from tipping over while you manuever it around.

[dancogan]

http://www.cycleslider.com/index.htm

Maybe that's closer to what you're looking for. I like it, except for the price.

[StevieWonder]

There's the same item at BMW of Santa Cruz for about $100 less moola.

You guys have been AWESOME ... I found the answer I was looking for.

[username]

i made one in about an hour for $10 in materials...

see this link. (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2450&highlight=batman)

[dzimbric]

Do yuou still have the bus?

[msnden]

Steve, I have an R1150R and to turn it around I just park it on a piece of plywood and it spins-around with ease, I will try and enclose a pic.
Den

[username]

Originally posted by dzimbric
Do yuou still have the bus?

yes.

[StevieWonder]

Looks like you have a pretty polished garage floor. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see how that thing would turn at all on my good ol' standard builder grade cement garage floor. :dunno

[lorazepam]

Looks like your wife doesn't like bambi looking at her in the house.:bliss

[RT_guy]

If my garage was that clean, my wife would think aliens had taken over my body...

[msnden]

Loraz,

I hope the deer mount dosn't offend anyone, I have fished and hunted for close to 50 years and I have some real nice mounts in the house.
Den

[BradfordBenn]

Takes lots to offend us around here.Way I look at it, I am not a hunter cause it is not for me, but if it makes you happy and doesn't hurt anyone... Well there is one less deer for me to worry about hitting in the middle of the road.

[jgr451]

I knew I had seen that Batcave before...
dunna dunna dunna

BATMAN!!!!

[lorazepam]

Oh no offense taken with the deer mount. I used to hunt until my favorite haunts were built over, and my work schedule limits my scouting and hunting time. I just figured that SWMBO told you it had to go in the garage.

[StevieWonder]

BTW ... my deer head mount makes an awesome drying rack for my car/bike cleaning towels !!!

[msnden]

Steve, Not a bad Idea, however, it is a long reach.

I would try the plywood, I think it would turn alright even on an uneven surface. Good luck

Den

[ben50171]

StevieWonder,

J.C. Whitney, yes, that purvayer of everything you might have ever needed, does advetise a "motorcycle dolly" that sounds like what you may be looking for.

Cost isn't too bad, but of course there are always cheeper ways of doing things! I had considered one of these things myself, but made more room and roll the darn bikes around now.

If you go to their website the part number is AGL496739P.

Good luck!

Warmest regards,
Ben

[roadcrave]

Just sell all that your other stuff, and you will have the whole garage for your bmw.. matthew:clap

[danobeemer]

Hello,
I wish I had your problem - I'm in the process looking for a garage to buy...

However, MERRICK MACHINE CO. makes a bike "dolly" for $279.99 thru J.C. Whitney - Part #AGK496739P
It has 10 ball bearing wheels, secures your side stand and both wheels, and is low to the ground. It is a good device - Saw one at a Polaris dealership.

:idea I'll make you a trade - I'll Buy that and deliver it to ya in exchange for even a used Garage:bliss

dano

[demotors]

I bought the MAT a few weeks ago and love it.

[StevieWonder]

mnnden ....

What the hell are those contraptions in the upper left corner of your garage picture?

It may be hot in Texas, but you don't have to shovel heat out of your driveway !!!

[dzimbric]

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find one of those balls that were used as an exihibition at the motorcycle show could be found. You could put it in the garage, ride around until you were facing the opposite of the way you came in, then ride back out.

Hey, you could even log rounder miles when the driveway is covered with snow and ice.:dunno :clap :dunno

[msnden]

StevieWonder
Pretty good, In a couple of weeks I'll wish I had some heat to shovel, For the most part I don't need them around where I live , but a couple of times a year we head north and triking through the woods is about impossible without them. Winter really isn't so bad if you can get out and enjoy it, but Texas sure looks good on those -20 days
Den

[StevieWonder]

Texas ALWAYS looks good.

Never ask a man where's he from. If he's from Texas, he'll tell you. If he's not, you don't want to embarrass him. ;)

[boofer]

I bought a pair of "roll masters" from Northern Equiptment. They are used to do just that with a car with two pair. I found it difficult because the bottom where the centerstand goes was a little high and you had to lift the whole bike up that extra distance.So I used one car ramp and would run the front wheel up, hold the brake and position the roll master under the centerstand and roll back onto it. Works great for long time storage.

Then I built my own improved model. Get four decent swivel casters with a threaded stem....determine what size angle iron you need to swivel the caster all around, and how high it should be to just clear the ground. Four, say 4" long pieces of angle iron then welded to a properly sized plate 3/16 to 1/4 thick at the four corners ( actually on left & right sides ) so the plate just clears the ground. Just size the plate so it will roll under the bike, and of course the centerstand must fit. (use caution to make sure there's clearance on left side for the foot part )

Hope you get the idea, it basicly depends on what you get for castors to determine what size angle iron to use. Think I had $40 in castors and $15 in steel and welded it myself.

[StevieWonder]

welded it myself

Now that would VERY dangerous with me at the helm of a welder. I figure I'd end up welding the bike to the sheetmetal and the sheetmetal to my car and the car to my toolbox. Kind of a Homer Simpson welding experience ending with a huge pile of connected items that would have to be cut apart to remove them from my garage. :D

[boofer]

OK, find a friend who can weld and get him some beer. Anyone who welds seems to love beer. BTW if you would stick all those things together....sounds like welding to me!

[dano]

If your garage floor is smooth like mine, I just use a carpet square (sample) that I got from a local carpet store.

Just put the carpet sample under your center-stand, and viola....you are able to turn the bike 360 degrees w/o problem.

If your floor is rough.....well then, never mind what I just said. :stick

[donkey doctor]

Hello; Here's what I do; Put the bike on the centre stand and lever it over to one side, towards you and pivot it on the one leg of the centre stand. Just walk it around until it is facing the direction you want, easy.

I'm surprised that no one thought of this. Don't try it with the side stand.

[SheRidesABeemer]

Hello; Here's what I do; Put the bike on the centre stand and lever it over to one side, towards you and pivot it on the one leg of the centre stand. Just walk it around until it is facing the direction you want, easy.

I'm surprised that no one thought of this. Don't try it with the side stand.

I watch my mechanic do this in his garage, I did not know the secret of it, based on what you're saying the key is to pivot on one leg of the stand and then pull it toward me. I'll have to give this a try...when I have someone to spot me!

Someone mentioned a carpet square. My mechanic advised me to get the front wheel onto a carpet square, off of the cement, to avoid the dry rot I encountered. Apparently the cement floor is like a sponge sucking the moisture out of the tire.

[lorazepam]

. Apparently the cement floor is like a sponge sucking the moisture out of the tire.


Ride a lot, and a different piece of rubber is on the floor all the time ;)

[SheRidesABeemer]

Ride a lot, and a different piece of rubber is on the floor all the time ;)

I knew I was setting myself up for that one...with the two bikes one does tend to sit for a few weeks.