Ramp for rear wheel to make adding air easier

[vito1943]

I was thinking about getting a portable ramp that I could keep in my garage, to use as means of making it easier to add air to the rear tire. I'm not if riding the wheel up on to the ramp might end up scraping the front end. Wondering if anyone here has tried it, and if so, what specific ramp did they use.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

I was thinking about getting a portable ramp that I could keep in my garage, to use as means of making it easier to add air to the rear tire. I'm not if riding the wheel up on to the ramp might end up scraping the front end. Wondering if anyone here has tried it, and if so, what specific ramp did they use.

Never tried that.
Do you have a motorcycle lift handy? If not there a good investment to assist in maintenance, and cleaning the Spyder.

 

[Cobranut]

I was thinking about getting a portable ramp that I could keep in my garage, to use as means of making it easier to add air to the rear tire. I'm not if riding the wheel up on to the ramp might end up scraping the front end. Wondering if anyone here has tried it, and if so, what specific ramp did they use.

I don't see where a ramp would be particularly helpful. You'd have to predict where the tire valve would end up.
A low profile floor jack under the frame is easy and cheap.

 

[Bfromla]

Yes can back up on a ramp & front end will be ok. ( standard car ramp that is). Might ease on your back, still a pain with valve stem & drive sprocket. I like to carry stem extensions. Harley also has one, been mentioned here before. Just lil easier for clamp on air chuck, lot easier for screw on. Pic has all 4 extensions together- maximum reach. & only for fill up , remove when done. Each extension has own valve. Found at O’Reillys.

 

[TheMariner]

will work, but I use a 24" extension air hose like this. The threaded end has a normal valve in it so air won't escape when you clamp the other end onto the valve stem.

 

[Bfromla]

will work, but I use a 24" extension air hose like this. The threaded end has a normal valve in it so air won't escape when you clamp the other end onto the valve stem.

View attachment 211270

especially good for spoke rims like on two wheels -also good idea spare cap on end protect threads when not in use. **Same on other extensions, also less parts to dig Through**

 

[Peteoz]

As Cobranut said, I find I can only access the rear valve when it is between 2 and 4 o’clock. It’s easy to get it in that position on the ground, but once it is on the ramp, not so easy.

Pete

 

[JayBros]

I’ve been checking and adding air to the rear tire for 10 years and it’s as simple as telling time. I stand on the left side of the roadster and move it forward or backward until the valve stem is between 4 and 5 o’clock. I then move to the rear of the machine and kneel on one knee facing the rear wheel. I remove the valve cap with my left hand and reach my right hand through the rear wheel and place the tire gauge right angle chuck on the valve stem and read the pressure. If the tire needs air, I screw on a flexible valve extension (mine is a Harley accessory) and add air with a plain old bicycle pump adding enough air so it will be over my preferred pressure by a pound or two. I check the pressure with the tire gauge at the flexible extension to verify it is over what I want, remove the flexible extension and, using the procedure above to do the original check, I use the gauge’s bleed valve to reduce it to the pressure I want and screw on the valve cap. The whole process takes less time to complete than it has taken me to type on my phone. I’m 6’3” and am not going to see 83 again.

 

[skunk237]

I was thinking about getting a portable ramp that I could keep in my garage, to use as means of making it easier to add air to the rear tire. I'm not if riding the wheel up on to the ramp might end up scraping the front end. Wondering if anyone here has tried it, and if so, what specific ramp did they u

I was thinking about getting a portable ramp that I could keep in my garage, to use as means of making it easier to add air to the rear tire. I'm not if riding the wheel up on to the ramp might end up scraping the front end. Wondering if anyone here has tried it, and if so, what specific ramp did they use.

The Harley dealership sells an extension for about $12.00 or so that works good. I have been using one for years. You still need to get it screwed onto the stem on the wheel though. It does make adjusting the pressure easier once screwed on.

 

[racoon]

Autozone sells a pack of four metal tire valve extenders that are each 1.25" (about 3 cm) for US $3.99.

https://www.autozone.com/tire-repair-and-tire-wheel/tire-valve-stem/p/slime-metal-tire-valve-extenders-4-pack/

 

[Peteoz]

I’ve been checking and adding air to the rear tire for 10 years and it’s as simple as telling time. I stand on the left side of the roadster and move it forward or backward until the valve stem is between 4 and 5 o’clock. I then move to the rear of the machine and kneel on one knee facing the rear wheel. I remove the valve cap with my left hand and reach my right hand through the rear wheel and place the tire gauge right angle chuck on the valve stem and read the pressure. If the tire needs air, I screw on a flexible valve extension (mine is a Harley accessory) and add air with a plain old bicycle pump adding enough air so it will be over my preferred pressure by a pound or two. I check the pressure with the tire gauge at the flexible extension to verify it is over what I want, remove the flexible extension and, using the procedure above to do the original check, I use the gauge’s bleed valve to reduce it to the pressure I want and screw on the valve cap. The whole process takes less time to complete than it has taken me to type on my phone. I’m 6’3” and am not going to see 83 again.

I follow pretty much the same procedure, but I have simplified it for my tall, aging body, Jaybros. FOBO means I don’t have to manually check it, and when it’s low, I put the tyre valve in the position you mention, set my pump to the pressure required, remove the Fobo cap, screw on the pump nozzle and start, remove the pump nozzle and reinstall the Fobo cap. Takes all of 2 minutes…… For me, FOBO is worth every penny for the rear tyre alone.

Pete

 

[RayBJ]

You can install a 2nd valve stem on the opposite side of the rim 180 degrees offset from OEM stem. Then when you go to put in air, you'll be able to access one of the stems without having to rotate the wheel.

 

[JayBros]

I put the tyre valve in the position you mention, set my pump to the pressure required, remove the Fobo cap, screw on the pump nozzle and start, remove the pump nozzle and reinstall the Fobo cap. Takes all of 2 minutes…… For me, FOBO is worth every penny for the rear tyre alone.

I don't dispute the advantage of FOBO, just never got around to considering purchasing. If I was your size I might have considered it years ago.

 

[Peteoz]

I don't dispute the advantage of FOBO, just never got around to considering purchasing. If I was your size I might have considered it years ago.

Yeah, I wasn’t trying to sell you FOBO, JayBros. Everyone has to find the solution that best suits THEM. I was just explaining why it works so well for my particular circumstances.

Pete

 

[LongIsland]

I agree, backing onto a ramp and leaving the valve in an accessible position has odds like winning mega millions! It also seems to be more work then is necessary. Anyway I purchased the extensions from amazon. I only use the hose extension not the 90 degree valve. I just turn the ignition to the on position, release the parking brake and roll her until the valve is in an accessible position, attach the extension and air up.

 

[iSilentP]

I follow pretty much the same procedure, but I have simplified it for my tall, aging body, Jaybros. FOBO means I don’t have to manually check it, and when it’s low, I put the tyre valve in the position you mention, set my pump to the pressure required, remove the Fobo cap, screw on the pump nozzle and start, remove the pump nozzle and reinstall the Fobo cap. Takes all of 2 minutes…… For me, FOBO is worth every penny for the rear tyre alone.

Pete

Totally agree. I'm 100% aligned with your solution. Works for me.

 

[2dogs]

If these things were free I still don't think people would use them.

 

[Mikey]

If these things were free I still don't think people would use them. View attachment 211436

It works fine on my bike!!!!

 

[2dogs]

It works fine on my bike!!!!

Yes, good choice. If you didn't know better you'd think it was produced specifically for airing up a spyder's rear tire. Coupled with the little 45-degree digital tire pressure gauge your home free. I balance my FOBO's with the digital gauge to keep my tires at my choice of PSI. And then there's Mother Nature's influence we gotta deal with. So round and round it goes and we keep track of it with our FOBO's.

 

[PistonBlown]

I use a ramp intended for levelling out caravan wheels as I happened to have some in the garage. No issues scraping the front. I reverse onto it. I have three of these so have used then under the front wheels as well to lift the whole Spyder up when servicing it:



Ignore the circles in the photo