Homemade MotoJack for Lifting Dropped Bike

[holligl]

I made this from some 1" aluminum tubing and 90° angles and some slightly larger square punched steel. Bolts together. The crank is from a medium weight strap clamp. Total wt is 4lbs, max length 15". The original guy quit making them. There maybe another commercial version >$200 and twice as heavy. Guessing my parts were about $50 or less.
Here are the pictures:

Packed up in a couple cases I made. Obviously needs to be accessible from either side in case of a drop.

Showing the parts. The short Au tube is the middle, so the packed length can be minimized. The Au angles sandwich the 3 tubes and provide rigidity. The crank is permanently bolted to the steel square tube. The foot is also steel with some old tire treads attached. You might get by with something smaller, but I wanted it to work in sand if necessary.

Assembled, ~38" lift

Detail of the crank head. I wanted to push down to lift and maximize the lift height, so the crank needed to be on the opposite side with the strap running up and over. A couple pins and bends of the square steel pipe to keep it smooth. The crank is bolted to the steel with elevater bolts, top one to not interfere with the strap, and the bottom to allow the Au tube to slide in. If you have a welder that would have been easier. I ground the one bolt to maximize the strap capacity.

To maximize the lift, you can't let the strap double too much in the crank, just enough to get a good anchor. I have a loop and cam lock for attaching to the bike and eliminate slack in the lift strap before jacking.

In action, Hopefully it will display and play:

 

[elricfate]

Would you be able to make this work from the other side? Say you dropped it in the garage, next to a bunch of shelves, and you had no leverage to get to the side that is on the ground, but rather you're starting from the other side of the bike, the "far side"

 

[Mak10]

Nice, now let’s go test it. Are you ready to get some pie?

 

[holligl]

Would you be able to make this work from the other side? Say you dropped it in the garage, next to a bunch of shelves, and you had no leverage to get to the side that is on the ground, but rather you're starting from the other side of the bike, the "far side"

Since it jacks up, the jack needs to be on the down side. In the garage situation I suspect you could still fit it on the downside. Could probably operate it from the other side, but it is best to keep a foot on the foot of the jack, or have it wedged against the wall.

It is surprisingly stable, as long as you lock the front brake, or have it in gear, and have it perpendicular to the bike. The jack will lean into the bike, so if you attach to crash bars, you would need to be careful not to damage the tank.

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[holligl]

Nice, now let’s go test it. Are you ready to get some pie?

Pie anytime! I will be coming by Pie Town the week of Christmas, heading to AZ with the bike on the trailer. Wouldn't take much for us to make the stop!

The jack is insurance for solo rides. Most guys I ride with will help me lift it quicker than the jack! I haven't tested you yet...

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[Boondocker]

Good job! I like your smaller, lighter, cheaper solution. I have an original Bike Lift - big, heavy, expensive, really hate to pack it, but it works.
Can you elaborate on the bike attachment points. You mentioned a "loop and cam lock".

 

[holligl]

Good job! I like your smaller, lighter, cheaper solution. I have an original Bike Lift - big, heavy, expensive, really hate to pack it, but it works.
Can you elaborate on the bike attachment points. You mentioned a "loop and cam lock".

One of these tie down cams:

I cut the strap off, made a loop from the strap using a water knot. I use a cow hitch to attach the loop to the cam, and another to the anchor point.

I did not cut off the residual, so the picture is not the cleanest. The strap from the jack threads through the cam, and lets you take up the slack before starting to crank.

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[Tenman]

Wish you would make me one. Last time I dropped mine. I used my 4x4 truck to get it up. I already had a killer back ache.

 

[holligl]

Wish you would make me one. Last time I dropped mine. I used my 4x4 truck to get it up. I already had a killer back ache.

At least your bike had a soft landing! I tried to keep it relatively simple, with off the shelf parts so anyone with basic fab skills and tools could DIY. I had plenty of time on my hands when I made it. If one had both steel and aluminum welding capability, it could be a bit more simple. Assembling with 6 bolts/wingnuts takes a few minutes.

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[holligl]

Figured out the mounting.
1) Stays with the bike.
2) Is accessible if the bike is dropped on either side.
3) Does not interfere with any operation or pannier mounting.

The only issue is the bags are water resistant, not waterproof. The long bag is all aluminum parts, so no issue. The smaller bag has the steel parts, so I will need to check and lubricate from time to time.

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[thughes317]

QQ: Would you be able to get at these parts, assemble them, and use the lift to rescue yourself if the bike pounced on you during a get-off and your leg was stuck underneath it?

I have a commercial version I carry with me if there is any chance better judgement will escape me and I actually need to use it.....it stays strapped top center rear so I can reach it even if I'm pinned down by TBDBITW. Just some food for thought.

 

[holligl]

QQ: Would you be able to get at these parts, assemble them, and use the lift to rescue yourself if the bike pounced on you during a get-off and your leg was stuck underneath it?

I have a commercial version I carry with me if there is any chance better judgement will escape me and I actually need to use it.....it stays strapped top center rear so I can reach it even if I'm pinned down by TBDBITW. Just some food for thought.

Best to avoid that, but...
Depends on your flexibility, and how pinned you are. Better chance than not having it. That was my thought process in placement on the bike and having the crank pulling down. You could attach to points you can reach, but might not be high enough to totally raise the bike, but enough to get yourself out. Could also use just one section of the post for a short lift. In an emergency, the lift bar might also simply be used as a lever.

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[Bokerfork]

Everybody worries that the bike will land on their leg and render them "dead".

Okay, a show of hands. How many of us have EVER had a bike land on our legs on the world's loneliest road during the dead of winter/summer, while riding alone in the most inhospitable part of the planet?

Nobody? Really?

Ride more, worry less!

After all, there are fates worse than death.

Yes, a bike lift is handy, and I wouldn't turn one down,but the chances of the bike landing on you and your adrenaline being completely absent are far too infinitesimal to describe.

 

[gunslinger_006]

Everybody worries that the bike will land on their leg and render them "dead".

Okay, a show of hands. How many of us have EVER had a bike land on our legs on the world's loneliest road during the dead of winter/summer, while riding alone in the most inhospitable part of the planet?

Nobody? Really?

Ride more, worry less!

After all, there are fates worse than death.

Yes, a bike lift is handy, and I wouldn't turn one down,but the chances of the bike landing on you and your adrenaline being completely absent are far too infinitesimal to describe.

Its a more realistic danger that your foot will get sucked off the peg and then your leg injured by your pannier. This is an injury that does actually occur.

The best hard panniers have a 45deg cut out on the front lower edge specifically to reduce this danger.

If i did serious off road I would only run soft panniers for this reason.


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[gv550]

Everybody worries that the bike will land on their leg and render them "dead".

Okay, a show of hands. How many of us have EVER had a bike land on our legs on the world's loneliest road during the dead of winter/summer, while riding alone in the most inhospitable part of the planet?

Nobody? Really?

Ride more, worry less!

After all, there are fates worse than death.

Yes, a bike lift is handy, and I wouldn't turn one down,but the chances of the bike landing on you and your adrenaline being completely absent are far too infinitesimal to describe.

That would be me!
June 2018, headed north on Dempster near the Arctic Circle, caught a rut and cross wind in a snow squall and ran off the road, down an embankment onto the tundra. Front tire dug in and the bike went down, my right foot twisted backwards and pinned under the pannier. I was able to remove my tank bag and the left pannier, swung my left leg over the bike but couldn’t lift the bike enough to free my foot. For every inch I lifted the bike, my left boot sunk 2 inches into the tundra.

 

[StephanSF]

I've made a jack that is very similar to yours. I like how you have the strap running up and over, I may adapt mine to do that as well.

I'm curious about the cases you have your jack in. How did you make those, my jack is loose in my top case and makes a ton of noise and I haven't found a case I can just buy to stash all the parts in.

I ended up bolting the ratchet AND also using JB Weld to make sure it doesn't come loose.. Maybe overkill but my bike is 600 lbs and I figured the more secure it is the better.

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[holligl]

I've made a jack that is very similar to yours. I like how you have the strap running up and over, I may adapt mine to do that as well.

I'm curious about the cases you have your jack in. How did you make those, my jack is loose in my top case and makes a ton of noise and I haven't found a case I can just buy to stash all the parts in.

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Got some Cordura like fabric at Hobby Lobby. Some double sided velcro from Harbor Freight. I'm fairly handy with a sewing machine.


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[StephanSF]

Got some Cordura like fabric at Hobby Lobby. Some double sided velcro from Harbor Freight. I'm fairly handy with a sewing machine.


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I have sewn, but lack a sewing machine, but Ill check out what they have at Hobby Lobby.. thanks for the info. The MotoJack keeps showing up and disappearing on amazon, but I didnt want to pay what he was asking and, like you, found the parts to be pretty cheap to get once I figured out how I was going to make it without welding.

 

[holligl]

I have sewn, but lack a sewing machine, but Ill check out what they have at Hobby Lobby.. thanks for the info. The MotoJack keeps showing up and disappearing on amazon, but I didnt want to pay what he was asking and, like you, found the parts to be pretty cheap to get once I figured out how I was going to make it without welding.

Basic sewing machines can be found pretty cheap. My daughter got one on sale for about $100 and has been cranking out face masks.

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[ballisticexchris]

That's a pretty slick system you fabricated up. I purchased mine from a small shop in the Netherlands. I ended up getting some modular tire tools as well. Well worth the money for those that want a plug and play unit. Works like a charm, is super compact, and super quick setup.

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