Typical Newb Question

Sorry guys, but in the words of Popeye the Sailorman...."I yam, what I yam, and that's all that I yam!"

How do you get your front wheel off the ground for service? I obviously know you can buy a specialty lift or jacks, but how do you cheapskates do it (safely)?
My manual (hayes)says to put the bike on the center stand, then use wood blocks and a jack to raise the front off the ground....I guess what I'm looking for is: Has anyone come up with an easy to fabricate jack/jackstands which would allow me to safely and easily work on either the front (wheels & forks) or rear of my bike.

Feel free to flame me as a newb and just do what the manual says....but I'm hoping there are some "Mothers of Invention" out there.

 

I lift up the front wheel by hand and place a jack stand under the cross beam just in front of the oil filter. All this with the bike on the center stand. As far as working on the rear tire just use the center stand.

 

Ay ay ay that's not a noob question at all! There are probably some seasoned fools still trying to figure it out.

Don't know if this setup works on yours, it's what worked for me:

 

Bike on the centerstand and a jack under the front crossmember has always worked for me. Nothing special needed, just be carefull while the bike is up there. It can be pushed over with not much effort. Most motorcycle jacks won't work on a XJ because the exhaust is in the way.
I've had bikes sit like that for weeks with both wheels off without any problems.

 

I just put it on the center stand and be real careful not to bump it after pulling the axle but sometimes I'll go the extra mile and ratchet strap the bars to the ceiling

 

Bike on centerstand; jackstand under cross member (padded with a rag so as to not scratch pipes

 

My bike was on the centerstand with both the front and rear wheels removed when we had the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August. I figured for sure it fell over based on the shaking and the shock wave. It was fine. The rest of my garage was a mess, but the bike was still standing

 

The only time a "newb" gets flamed around here is when they absolutely refuse to take advice given, and just keep asking the same questions over and over, "fishing" for an answer they like.

Otherwise, feel free to ask even what seem like the dumbest of questions; they're not. The only dumb question is one that's gone un-asked.

 

small floor jack and 1x1 piece of ply under the
collector.

 

small floor jack and 1x1 piece of ply under the
collector.