Video, "How to lift a Spyder."

Several members have asked about a video showing how to lift a Spyder, so I finally got around to it. It's about 12 minutes long and show several ways that I have done it with ramps and a MC jack.

In the video I state several times when using ramps, they must be secured to the floor so they don't slide. There are a couple of scenes showing the ramps sliding because I did not secure them well enough. I left those scenes in the video just to show how important it is to secure them.

Hope this answers some questions. The title is "Lifting a Can Am Spyder RTS". Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81BSu0vjq9g

Very good video, Keith!

Mr Grandpot,
As always when viewing your stuff I learned something today. It's gonna be a good day! I've subscribed this thread as it is so useful.

Oh yeah, good, I'm subscribed.

Excellent video. Just not sure yet how to secure ramps to a concrete floor. So far I've been fortunate in that mine have not slipped.

Thank you for the video, Keith!
Good job explaining too.

Thanks for the video. I learned something new------ I'll NEVER use ramps. Especially backwards. My HF jack and stands are my go to.

Good job Keith! Ive got to get one of those MC jacks, I have been using just a reg floor jack! Now I want to tell you, you got to start in the right place to get it balanced in the right place before you get it up to high!!:thumbup:

Great job! I liked that you did a voice over, instead of talking while filming. I also like that you did not hand-hold the camera and used a tripod for steady shooting. Oh....and good info there too!

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Originally Posted by Lew L

Thanks for the video. I learned something new------ I'll NEVER use ramps. Especially backwards. My HF jack and stands are my go to.

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Lew, I'm glad you got the message about the ramps. I usually have a beer right after I fly up them, never before. My preferred way to lift is with the MC jack and jack stands.

Thank you to everyone for the comments.

Ramps work for me and I have been using them without incident for 5 years. I have a floor jack and a motorcycle lift and also use them occasionally, but I like the ramps.

Thanks Keith for the time and effort you put into producing such a great Video...It's really appreciated!

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Originally Posted by pegasus1300

Ramps work for me and I have been using them without incident for 5 years. I have a floor jack and a motorcycle lift and also use them occasionally, but I like the ramps.

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Do you get a good oil drain with the ramps. Someone mentioned half ramps not sure I understand that one.

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Originally Posted by bikerbillone

Do you get a good oil drain with the ramps. Someone mentioned half ramps not sure I understand that one.

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If you only use the ramps on the front wheels, the Spyder will be on an angle. This will prevent some of the old oil from draining, but I don't think it will be much. The suggestion for half ramps I believe refers to the height. They will just reduce the angle. It's always best to have the bike level. Use the 3 ramps, or the MC lift with jack stands for stability. The 3 green blocks of wood in my video raise the bike up just enough where I can get a shallow drain pan underneath and get to the drain plugs. It's a little cramped that way, but it works.

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Originally Posted by pegasus1300

Ramps work for me and I have been using them without incident for 5 years. I have a floor jack and a motorcycle lift and also use them occasionally, but I like the ramps.

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How do you keep the ramps from being pushed by the front wheels? Anchor them to the floor?

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Originally Posted by IdahoMtnSpyder

How do you keep the ramps from being pushed by the front wheels? Anchor them to the floor?

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My shop has a wooden floor, so I put some deck screws through the stands and into the floor. I use them on a gravel driveway without needing to anchor them. I've never tried to anchor them on a concrete floor. Sounds like drilling into the floor may be a way to go. I wonder if putting the stands on rubber mats will work?

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Originally Posted by Grandpot

I wonder if putting the stands on rubber mats will work?

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That might work, but I know the rubber from old inner tubes does not. Not sticky enough. Especially when I tried it with metal car ramps. I made ramps using stacked 2 x 6's. I can get the RT to climb up onto the ramps for the front wheels by rocking back and forth. Once on the first plank the weight will hold the ramp in place. Trying to climb onto three ramps didn't work though! The rear wheel tended to grip the ramp and then slid it on the concrete floor and shot it out from under the front of the RT! I'm trying to figure out how to keep all three ramps locked together. Then I can ride up with all three wheels.

I have run the front wheels up on the ramps and then jacked up the back end using a hi-lift under the hitch and then setting the rear tire onto a concrete block. But that process is a lot more precarious than I care for!

I got to try out a couple of new items this past weekend. I had purchased a set of the Black Widow ramps (6 1/2" lift) as well as a Pitbull motorcycle lift. Since I'm a new RTL owner and had never lifted a Spyder before, I decided to place the ramps behind the front tires and then back up on them. That allowed me some room to be able to get down on the concrete floor and get a very good look at exactly where I wanted to put the PB lift, without damaging anything under the bike. Once I figured that out, I used the lift to raise the bike and go ahead and proceed with doing the BajaRon sway bar install. I'm very happy with both the ramps and the lift.....and even happier with the improvement of handling of the bike with the new sway bar.

Oh, and BTW....the Pitbull lift will extend enough to get right at 25" of height.