Wood Bike table

78kz

78kz

Over 1,000 Posts
I just built this table to put the bike on while working on her.
I saw similar tables others have built, and had most of the materials already in my garage.
Here's how mine turned out:

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I like it!! ;D ;D I wish I had the room for one! :eek:
 
that is nice! ...it's amazing how much just an 8" raise can help with the back aches. I can park the pick-up over it. and it's easy for 1 person to roll up a dead bike.
awesome rickman fairing dude!
 
Old post but would love some thoughts on this...

I am building a table very similar to this...Plans were to make it 2ft tall (when completed) but now having seconds thoughts...problem is I will be loading the bike on and off the table alone and would rather not struggle (or risk dropping the bike)...

Anyone have a recommendations on a decent table height while not making loading/unloading too difficult? Perhaps a 18" completed height? Any thoughts would be awesome?

I would be using this table for my CL360 project and for my '09 Bonneville -
 
Jfman124 said:
Old post but would love some thoughts on this...

I am building a table very similar to this...Plans were to make it 2ft tall (when completed) but now having seconds thoughts...problem is I will be loading the bike on and off the table alone and would rather not struggle (or risk dropping the bike)...

Anyone have a recommendations on a decent table height while not making loading/unloading too difficult? Perhaps a 18" completed height? Any thoughts would be awesome?

I would be using this table for my CL360 project and for my '09 Bonneville -
Click to expand...
Before I got my motorcycle lift, I used a table that was 10" of the ground and on locking caster wheels. It worked well, but didn't get most of the build to chest height.
 
irk miller said:
Before I got my motorcycle lift, I used a table that was 10" of the ground and on locking caster wheels. It worked well, but didn't get most of the build to chest height.
Click to expand...

thanks so much for the input...thats kind of what I was thinking...I feel like a 15" table height would be a huge improvement while still making the loading process simple enough...think 15" would suffice?

I have no experience in pushing my bikes up a ramp, so if you have input on that I would love to hear it...
 
If you're moving the bike on and off a table for general maintenance, I'd build one of the wood ones that actually changes height, or just save a bit more money and buy a used lift.

I built a static table for my XS650 project and it will come off when it's done, and probably never go back up on the table after that. I don't have room for a lift in my garage. If I did, I'd own one for sure.

My table is on castors, so I can pull it out to work on the bike.

IMG_0773.jpg
 
I don't remember where these plans are, but they're out there. You can imagine how this works - roll the bike up the ramp, as the weight moves forward if it's engineered right, it should rise on its own or be easy to lift once the bike is secured in the wheel chock.

GlobalDimension_Workbench0057.jpg
 
The most important things with a ramp are:
  • The platform you're going up to is stationary and cannot move (i.e. not on castors)
  • The ramp is secured and can't come loose or move
  • The height is reasonable - going up is harder than coming down
  • Bring a friend :)
 
This is what I do to 'cheat' when using a ramp with my truck. Common trick - back up to a curb. I unloaded the bike myself and could likely load it myself as well, but I'd usually ask for a hand.

No way I could do it without a tall curb that a) greatly reduces the slope and b) adds 8" or so to my height relative to the bed..

59228038780__553738A1-B8F1-4332-865E-D5C91F4D51C9.JPG
 
Your work table looks good. I can't remember how high mine is, around 18" maybe. I have found it very helpful for many things but in my case after getting the bike to rolling status I found it easier to leave the bike on the floor for wiring and final assembly. If I were going to do more builds I'd get one of the HF lifts for sure. Getting a bike that weighs a few hundred pounds down onto the floor can be tough on the nerves unless there are a few buddies available. Mine is fairly heavy w/ frame made from 2x6 lumber and legs from 4x4s. I've got to try and make a way to hang it from the rafters when I'm not using it so I've got a few more square feet of floor space available. If you haven't seen it try and find the thread about the work table that @trek97 made... it's drool-worthy!
 
Tim said:
If you're moving the bike on and off a table for general maintenance, I'd build one of the wood ones that actually changes height, or just save a bit more money and buy a used lift.

I built a static table for my XS650 project and it will come off when it's done, and probably never go back up on the table after that. I don't have room for a lift in my garage. If I did, I'd own one for sure.

My table is on castors, so I can pull it out to work on the bike.

View attachment 222509
Click to expand...
Tim said:
The most important things with a ramp are:
  • The platform you're going up to is stationary and cannot move (i.e. not on castors)
  • The ramp is secured and can't come loose or move
  • The height is reasonable - going up is harder than coming down
  • Bring a friend :)
Click to expand...
Hey Tim, thank you so much for all the info - definitely a huge help for me :) As for the design you mentioned above, while this would be amazing, I have already completed the structure of the table; I simply have to add the vertical supports (this is why I am trying to figure out the appropriate height now) - I had originally sketched it to be 2 feet tall but I think that will be too much of an incline - Think a total height of 15'-18' would suffice?

As for your bullet points above, I comfortable with all you mentioned except the castors; I was planning on installing locking castors on the base; is this something you would steer away from?

Thanks again man -
 
Jfman124 said:
Hey Tim, thank you so much for all the info - definitely a huge help for me :) As for the design you mentioned above, while this would be amazing, I have already completed the structure of the table; I simply have to add the vertical supports (this is why I am trying to figure out the appropriate height now) - I had originally sketched it to be 2 feet tall but I think that will be too much of an incline - Think a total height of 15'-18' would suffice?

As for your bullet points above, I comfortable with all you mentioned except the castors; I was planning on installing locking castors on the base; is this something you would steer away from?

Thanks again man -
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One more thing, I am not looking to use this for general maintenance; really for big projects only - I think most basic maintenance will be doable at ground level -
 
ridesolo said:
Your work table looks good. I can't remember how high mine is, around 18" maybe. I have found it very helpful for many things but in my case after getting the bike to rolling status I found it easier to leave the bike on the floor for wiring and final assembly. If I were going to do more builds I'd get one of the HF lifts for sure. Getting a bike that weighs a few hundred pounds down onto the floor can be tough on the nerves unless there are a few buddies available. Mine is fairly heavy w/ frame made from 2x6 lumber and legs from 4x4s. I've got to try and make a way to hang it from the rafters when I'm not using it so I've got a few more square feet of floor space available. If you haven't seen it try and find the thread about the work table that @trek97 made... it's drool-worthy!
Click to expand...

Thanks @ridesolo I appreciate the input! - I will check out @trek97 for sure - The design of my project is more or less the same as @Tim - I am just trying to hammer out the final height - I was considering 18'; I'd love to know what you think of yours? Relatively easy to roll up and down? Do you think taking a few inches off would make life much easier?
 
Jfman124 said:
Thanks @ridesolo I appreciate the input! - I will check out @trek97 for sure - The design of my project is more or less the same as @Tim - I am just trying to hammer out the final height - I was considering 18'; I'd love to know what you think of yours? Relatively easy to roll up and down? Do you think taking a few inches off would make life much easier?
Click to expand...

Definitely handy for assembly and maintenance. There are crappy pix of mine near the beginning of my CL378 build (thank you Photo Bucket, you greedy jerks!). Frankly the up and down is a pain and, like I said, if I were doing more projects I'd invest in the lift table for sure. W/ a fixed height table and a ramp I suspect a common error would be to try and use a ramp that's too short. That would make for more work, too steep an angle, and bottom-scraping. On the other hand a ramp that's too long would flex easily unless it's pretty heavy. That's why, in my opinion a lift or a table like @trek97 made or the one in the pix @Tim provided would be the way to go if you've got plans to use it on multiple projects and long term.
 
ridesolo said:
Definitely handy for assembly and maintenance. There are crappy pix of mine near the beginning of my CL378 build (thank you Photo Bucket, you greedy jerks!). Frankly the up and down is a pain and, like I said, if I were doing more projects I'd invest in the lift table for sure. W/ a fixed height table and a ramp I suspect a common error would be to try and use a ramp that's too short. That would make for more work, too steep an angle, and bottom-scraping. On the other hand a ramp that's too long would flex easily unless it's pretty heavy. That's why, in my opinion a lift or a table like @trek97 made or the one in the pix @Tim provided would be the way to go if you've got plans to use it on multiple projects and long term.
Click to expand...
ridesolo said:
Definitely handy for assembly and maintenance. There are crappy pix of mine near the beginning of my CL378 build (thank you Photo Bucket, you greedy jerks!). Frankly the up and down is a pain and, like I said, if I were doing more projects I'd invest in the lift table for sure. W/ a fixed height table and a ramp I suspect a common error would be to try and use a ramp that's too short. That would make for more work, too steep an angle, and bottom-scraping. On the other hand a ramp that's too long would flex easily unless it's pretty heavy. That's why, in my opinion a lift or a table like @trek97 made or the one in the pix @Tim provided would be the way to go if you've got plans to use it on multiple projects and long term.
Click to expand...

Awesome bit of info man, thanks so much again; I was able to see the pics (despite Photo Buckets efforts :) - Based on what I can see, I would guess yours is about 18" or so like you said - that will be my target height when all is said and done - As for getting it up and down, I think i will just count on calling a friend to spot the other side and I think it'll be okay -

That all said, this thread really saved me - Had i gone with the original 2 feet, I think I would have gotten burned trying to get my bike on and off -
 
mine is about 2' on casters but I have a slope in my yard I can wheel the table to and put a ramp at very slight inclined on a downhill that allows me to load the bike easily if the front brakes work, then I can wheel it back into the garage. If like now the snow is covering that spot I have to use a very long ramp to achieve the same thing. U lock the casters, block the casters so it cannot roll away and usually screw the ramp to the table. It's for larger projects etc. it looks identical to Tim's. for regular maintenance or short mods I have a motorcycle Jack I can lift the wheels off and move the bike around and it gets it about 12-16" off the floor and it is great for tire changes, brake jobs, etc.

Shop is a mess but table is behind the toolbox.

index.php


THis is the jack I have. I used a rachet strap to hold the bike to it so I can roll it around and not have it fall off.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-motorcycle-atv-jack-1500-lbs-0091015p.html
 
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