Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
If you own a Harley Davidson FLH model, it's fairly likely you'll want to add some custom parts at some point. There's a strong tradition of customizing these bikes, and their tough, modular construction lends itself well to the quick and easy swapping out of parts and components. A popular modification is to change the riding position with high, swept-back bars and foot controls pushed all the way forward. Companies like Accutronix make specially angled and adjusted control array for just this purpose.
Bike rotors are used in bicycle gears and can be found in the turning and breaking mechanisms. Both 6-bolt and Centerlock rotors are found most commonly in the turning mechanism attached to the pedals, wheels and brakes. These rotors come in a variety of sizes (e.g., 60mm or 120 mm) in order to fit different parts of the bike mechanism or to fit a different size of bike.
Most multi-geared bicycles have a front and rear derailleur. The derailleurs allow a cyclist to seamlessly switch between gears. Calibrating the derailleurs is a tricky process that requires a great deal of patience. Derailleurs are adjusted by tightening cable tension, adjusting limit screws, and positioning height and angle. A well-calibrated derailleur will shift gears smoothly with hardly any effort or sound. With the right instructions you can adjust your bicycle's derailleurs and enjoy a ride with clean shifting.
Factory-installed on many bikes over the years, the use of kick stands declined for a while following a change in focus toward faster and lighter models, especially mountain and road bikes. Now, however, kick stands are once again being used in greater numbers as bikes are ridden for recreation and fitness. As a result of normal use, a kick stand requires basic adjustments to fix minor problems.
After a long day on the water, some swimmers find it difficult to climb back into their boat without the assistance of a ladder. Creating one out of PVC and rope is a simple way to make a ladder for your boat that can be stored away in a small space when not not in use. Tie it onto the boat when needed to allow for easy access into and out of the water for any passengers who wish to swim.
Proper care for your canoe is an important part of canoe ownership, as improper storage on the ground can lead to damage to the bottom of your canoe's hull. Few canoeing mishaps are more frustrating, or more dangerous, than discovering a hole or crack in the bottom of your canoe while out on the water. A PVC canoe rack, made from 1-1/4 inch diameter pipe, stores your canoe safely off the ground, with soft foam insulation supporting the bottom of the canoe to avoid damage to the four canoes on the rack.
Creating your own bike stand at home is an effective way to stick to a cycling regime without worrying about weather conditions or missing your favorite show. A bike stand is composed of three core pieces: the base, an upright stand and axle rests. The axle rests support the wheels of the bike and elevate them to sit above the ground. A homemade version of the bike stand allows you to customize it so that it fits your bike's dimensions precisely.
If you don't have a bike stand it can be very difficult to work on bicycles. Most bike repairs require the bike to be at waist height or higher. Many cyclists have a trick that can work even better than a bike stand by using old inner tubes as supports. You can jack up a bike to any height, almost anywhere in your garage, and have the flexibility to walk under it, around it, or sway it around into any position you want.
Build a wooden bicycle stand to better organize your space and prevent damage to your bike. Unorganized bicycles can also pose hazards if left unattended and just lying around. If your driveway is scattered with bicycles or if you are simply tired of leaning your bike on the wall, it may be time for a do-it-yourself bike stand project. With just a few lumber studs, tools and materials, you can construct a simple bike stand that can hold multiple bikes.
Storing a bicycle without a kickstand by leaning it against other items can lead to damage to the bike and leaves it susceptible to being knocked over. Placing a bike into a stand that stabilizes the bike by securing a tire in places assures that the handle bars are not holding any undue weight, while keeping the bike vertical. PVC pipe, sprayed with black matte paint to help protect against the elements, is a cheap material for creating a strong and lightweight stand.
A bicycle wheel truing stand sets the wheel onto a fork with two metal tips, used much like a caliper, to help realign the rim. Truing stands are available for sale in most bicycle shops, but a simple and effective truing stand can be made at home if you want to save money. Ideally, the stand keeps the wheel on a rotating hub where it spins past two set points. Use the points to evaluate bent rims and spoke tension, which is adjusted to bring the wheel back to true.
A kickstand serves the single purpose of keeping a bicycle upright when parked. Just before the bike is pedaled, the kickstand is "kicked" into a position parallel to the ground so that it cannot get in any way. A kickstand keeps its rider from having to find an object to lean the bicycle against when not in use, which risks marring the surface of the bicycle. While many bicycles come with kickstands, others do not. Aftermarket kickstands can be purchased and installed on these bicycles.
Honda manufactured and sold its Gold Wing GL1200 model between 1983 and 1987. The motorcycle belongs to arguably the most famous series of touring motorcycles in the world. Honda began production of its Gold Wing series in 1975 and continues to produce and sell Gold Wing models.
Motorcycle manufacturers have created a customized model, defined as the dirt bike, that allows you to partake in the off-road sport of motocross. Motocross consists of different genres including racing as well as freestyle. Freestyle riders drive their dirt bikes off inclined dirt ramps to execute tricks. Despite the discipline of motocross that your bike has been built for, a dirt bike stand remains a helpful tool. The dirt bike stand allows you to suspend your motorcycle during the cleaning or repairing process. According to Motorcycle USA, certain dirt bike stands feature an easy to use foot pedal (See References…
Avid Juicy disc brakes use hydraulic fluid to give the needed braking power on the mountain bike. The brakes also use a barrel adjuster off the shifter and brake lever; this design gives the rider the ability to adjust the brakes on the fly. Brake adjustments are also done on the drum with an allen key. These disc brakes are made by Sram, a mountain bike component producer.
If you have a bike or two in your garage and are tired of propping them up against a wall when not in use, then consider constructing your own bike stand. Store-bought bike stands can be bulky or flimsy and cost at least $20. If you have access to woodworking tools and a few pieces of scrap lumber, you can make your own stand for a fraction of the cost of a stand from the bike shop. If you wish, you can also paint your stand to match your bike.
Not all bikes have kick stands on them, and not all owners want kick stands on their bikes. No matter which of these two categories you fall into, it doesn't mean that you have to prop your bike against a solid object to get it to stand up. You could make a simple bike stand out of PVC pipe. You can use the stand in your garage, or take it apart and bring it with you on camping trips.
Taking the seat of your Yamaha motorcycle is a quick and easy way to be able to perform maintenance on your dirt bike. Depending on what type of Yamaha motorcycle you have, the seat switch might be in a different place, but on all the motocross Yamaha motorcycles they're all in the same place and have the same process. Also, taking the seat off of any other type of motorcycle doesn't let you perform the types of maintenance that you could do on a motocross bike.
Any cycling enthusiast knows the importance of keeping a well-maintained bike. For tire replacements, chain alignments and other repairs, it is highly useful to elevate your bike in a stand. You can make a simple bike stand out of materials found at your local hardware store for a very small amount of money.
A bike-stand trainer (also known as an indoor bike trainer) consists of a metal stand that grips the rear wheel of your bicycle and suspends it off the ground an inch or so. By elevating your tire, it allows you to train on your bicycle. The wrong bike-stand trainer offers little resistance and will not support your bike, and it might provide an uncomfortable ride or damage your bike. The right bike-stand trainer, however, supports your bike and allows you to achieve your riding and fitness goals. Follow a few guidelines, and select the right bike-stand trainer for you or…
Maintaining a good grip on a bicycle's handlebars is important. Old or loose tape should be replaced as often as needed to ensure the tape doesn't twist beneath your grip. Skillfully wrapping a handlebar to perfection may take a bit of practice, but the results will be a snug fit and a neat look.
Bike shops always have convenient contraptions for elevating bicycles off of the ground while making repairs. This puts the bikes at eye level so repair people don't have to crouch. It allows them to be able to freely rotate the tires and pedals without having to turn the bike upside down. If you want to be able to conveniently make your own repairs at home, make your own bike repair stand.
If you purchased a Schwinn Continental, the odds are good that your shifting system relied on Sun Tour for your front and rear derailleurs. Regardless of what brand you have, adjusting both the front and rear derailleurs is a crucial step in getting your vintage bike ready for the road ahead.
A high-quality bicycle stand offers convenience when you need to work on your bike for anything from fixing a flat to replacing your brake cables. If your budget doesn't extend to a couple of hundred dollars for a stand, however, you can make a functional one yourself for $50 or less, using black pipe and pipe clamps.
As a dirt bike owner, you'll want to take care of your bike, performing regular maintenance and cleanings after each ride. Unfortunately, many manufactured dirt bike stands are very expensive, costing hundreds of dollars. With a few simple steps and some basic tools, you can build your own dirt bike stand that will be perfectly capable of getting your bike off of the ground and supporting its weight.
A DIY bike stand is an easy endeavor that will help organize that pile of bikes in your garage. The stand only requires a couple of 2x4's; or maybe more than a couple, depending on the number of bikes you have. This type of bike stand allows for easy access to your bikes.
Fox suspension shocks provide a cushion and a bit of resistance when a bike rider hits a bump. Rebuilding the Fox shock is part of regular maintenance on a bike and can easily be performed by the owner at an in-home shop or in a garage. The internal oil and bushings of a Fox shock will eventually wear out and go bad. Rebuilding the internals of the shock and changing the oil will provide many more seasons of worry-free riding. Fox shocks should be rebuilt every year to ensure long life and proper functioning.
Filling Manitou shocks with oil is part of regular maintenance on a bike and can easily be performed by the owner at an in-home shop or in a garage. The key to the entire process is to make sure that everything is kept clean and to pay attention to how the fork comes apart. Bicycle forks should be refilled every year to insure long life and proper functioning.
Truing is the process of making the bicycle wheel round, like it's supposed to be. The spokes are what keep the rim of the wheel a wheel instead of some twisted metal. Often, these spokes can become loose causing certain sections of the rim to bend slightly out of the round shape it's supposed to be in. Typically, bike mechanics will put the wheel into a truing stand to fix this error. While a truing stand works very well and is sometimes necessary, many times you can true the wheel without ever removing it from the bike. I'll note that…
Track standing, standing on a bike without moving or putting a foot down, is a useful bike skill for racing starts, trials riding and showing off. Becoming a proficient track stander takes regular practice, but having an understanding of the concept will quicken the learning process.
Learn how to pop a standing motorcycle wheelie from a professional rider in this free bike stunt video.
