This tutorial details the method to testing steering play. Steering play is the tightness of the movement of the steering. Basically, there should be no movement forward or backward but the steering should pivot freely from lock to lock. It is not possible to test steering play while the steering stem is supporting any weight at all. The usual method for keeping the steering stem unloaded is to jack under the engine wit a special bracket. The bracket (from Kawasaki) is not readily available so I devised the method of hanging the bike by a strap that is placed under the air box.

This tutorial does not address the procedures for adjusting the steering play.

Remove Foremans, ram air covers, lowers, side fairngs and fuel tank cover.

Tools
front and rear stands (I prefer a swing arm pivot stand over a spool stand for doing this job)
1000 lb or stronger nylon tie down strap with ratchet tensioner (Harbor Freight ~$6)
Two 24” high strength chains (1000 lb or more) (a few dollars at Home Depot)
2 chain link connectors (under $2 /each, Home Depot or Ace)

1. Place the bike on the front and rear stands centered under ceiling joists or another structure that is able to support 500 lbs. Because of the floor space required for the front stand, it will be necessary to position the front tire at least 2 or 3 feet from the wall. Stay as close to the wall as possible when using standard sized ceiling joists. The joists may not be strong enough closer to the center of the room.

UPDATE: Be very careful about supporting the bike's weight from rafters. Just heard a report that rafters was broken exactly in that manner.

Spool stands are much more common but they transfer more weight to the front of the motorcycle than swing arm pivot stands. Spool stands also cause much more counterproductive leverage against the overhead structures that support the front of the bike.

I feel much safer hanging the front when using a pivot stand like the one shown in the pic below. A pivot stand will support the motorcycle at its center. The front half will be light enough that it can safely be hung from one ceiling joist. If only one joist is used, it will be possible to hang the motorcycle much closer to the wall which supports the ceiling joist.

Strap support setup with swing arm pivot stand and front stand.

Strap support with swing arm pivot stand and front stand removed

2. Put a chain on either overhead support so that it hangs directly above the front of the air box. Connect each end of the chain with a chain link connector so that it forms a loop. Hang the hook on the end of the strap over the chain loop. Hang the hook of the ratchet over the other chain loop.

3. Put the strap under the air box. Position the strap so that it does not interfere with the the clean air hose or the clean air hose passage into the bottom of the airbox. Connect the free end of the strap to the ratchet tensioner.

4. Tighten the ratchet tensioner until the strap becomes tight. Be sure that the straps
are quite straight up and down. If they are slanted forward, they will drag the bike ahead when the front stand is removed. If the straps are slanted backward, they may pull the bike backward.

5. Slowly Remove the front stand so that the front is supported by the straps alone.

6. With the front suspended, test that the steering floats freely from lock to lock.

From the Zx-14 Service Manual: “With the front wheel pointing straight ahead, alternately tap each end of the handlebar. The front wheel should swing fully left and right from the force of gravity until the fork hits the stop. If the wheel binds or catches before the stop, the steering is too tight.”

7. Grasp the forks near the ends. Push and pull forward and back. If there is any play, the steering is too loose.

* Last updated by: Rook on 2/19/2014 @ 7:45 PM *

Do head the caution to hang the bike CLOSE to a wall.....especially if you don't use a pivot stand as shown in the first couple pics. A spool stand causes a lot more leverage against the structure the bike hangs from. Heard a story about a busted joist a while back.

Another excellent how-to!Thanks Rookster.Question...how do you get your pivot stand attached to the bike,and lift?I mean...I know the pivots go into the frame holes...but if she's on her sidestand....??????One's not gonna line up.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/1/2012 @ 9:28 AM *

The Heindl lift shown in the first two pics is a two piece stand. The left side has a long square steel tube along the floor which slides into a shorter square tube on the right half. Works like a telescope (ARGH< Maties! ) so it adjusts to any width of bike. The halves are fastened by two thumb screws that lock the telescoping tubes. You can see this in the second pic.

The stand attaches to the bike with a tapered steel spike on each half. The spike insert in the swing arm pivot hole and because the spikes are tapered, they will accomodate any diameter hole from ~.25" up to approx ~1.25".

i have seen a couple similar stands that are one piece. A rod went all the way through the swingarm pivot and a wing nut was tightened on one side to fasten the rod. Seemed like a very nice setup but I have not been able to find that since 2008.

I really have to go into business and start building some of this stuff, Grn. Have developed a little collection of ideas over the last 5 years

* Last updated by: Rook on 11/1/2012 @ 9:43 AM *

I watched a vid showing the lift...the sidestand side is still gonna be shorter than the other...they didn't show that side...how the pivot stand 'piece' was 'holding' the bike vertical??????It wouldn't be the same length once the bike WAS vertical,right?That piece would now have to be longer,yes?How the hell are they lifting....is it the square shape of the two pieces connected that give it the correct amount of lift?

" The halves are fastened by two thumb screws that lock the telescoping tubes. You can see this in the second pic"...ya...I see that...but how can the left support be high enough to get a vertical lift when fastened together?I'm a dumb ass I guess.....

So you need to get the bike 'vertical' physically by hand first,right?,then you rock it onto the stand as you do the lift?Guy was doing it with a 600 or something...made it look REALLY simple.The 14 is much heavier.I saw the little move they did...putting the right side into the shaft hole and then sliding the two pieces together....very subtle how he did that.That's pretty much what I missed...attaching it to the right hand side.

I always used the forward handle pit bull...holding the bike vertical from the kickstand side was easy...if you missed the spool,you could always yank the bike back quick enough to reset the right hand fork.Plus...I could look over the side and line the fork into the spool before fully lifting.If anything...the kickstand was down...so if anything 'went wrong'...it would fall into the kickstand as long as you were holding the left handlebar.

That pivot stand....seems a tad iffy to me...but I know they work well....I would like to get one...for raising the front off the ground....seems the best way to do it.Maybe you could make a lift tutorial on using that pivot stand?...that would be awesome.

I see how it's attached...but not seeing how pivoting is lifting the bike????Where's the fulcrum at?Maybe I DID get a brain injury outta that spill?LOL!!!!!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/1/2012 @ 10:30 AM *

both sides of the stand are the same height...the kickstand side has a lever bar that sticks up a couple feet but other than that, the left and right are tha same height.

It works the same as your Pitbull rear stand. You engage the lift with the bike on its kick stand. You raise the bike off kick stand to vertical, put the kick stand up and then lever the rear end off the floor with the rear stand. You lever the stand to 12 o'clock and then let it fall forward a few degrees so the feet that stick out in front stop it from rolling riught back down to the floor. There, now the rear wheel is locked up off the floor. same sort of action as a spool stand except it has pins that stick into the swing arm pivot rather than forks that cradle spools.

You know how those OEM rear lift stands work? This thing works EXACTLY the same way except you have to attach and remove it.

Guy was doing it with a 600 or something...made it look REALLY simple.The 14 is much heavier.

The pivot stand has the lever up high so you do not need to bend down and off balance to grab the handle...nor do you need to let go of the bike. You pull up which is much more controllable than pushing down (as you would do with other types of rear stands). Also, if you want you can step non that left foot while you pull up on the handle and then you have down pressure and up pressure at the same time.

Most importantly, the stand lifts right at the center of balance between the front and rear wheel. You could almost rock the bike on the swing arm pivot stand from front to rear tire like a teeter totter. There is pretty much just weight you are working against in a lift, no leverage. All the leverage is in the lift bar and it is leverage in your favor. This really is a lot easier than the forward handle PitBull and I am willing to bet easier than any spool stand that lift way back by the rear wheel wher the whole freakin bike is one long lever from front tire to spools.

.If anything...the kickstand (on the PitBull Forward handle rear stand) was down...so if anything 'went wrong'...it would fall into the kickstand as long as you were holding the left handlebar.

...Unless it falls to the right. TRhen you better be ready to heave-ho back to the left or the bike falls. As mentioned, the Heindl will hold the bike vertical with a couple fingers until you want to lower the side stand. The Heindle is ALWAYS attached to the bike until you take it off. It can't accidentally slip or miss the lift point cuz it is installed into the lift point on both sides.

That pivot stand....seems a tad iffy to me...but I know they work well....I would like to get one...for raising the front off the ground....seems the best way to do it.Maybe you could make a lift tutorial on using that pivot stand?...that would be awesome.

No it's not iffy at all. But just for our Greenieboy, I will do a Heindl Swing Arm Pivot Stand How-To.

The only things I can say I don't care for are:

The cross bar that joins the two halves comes very close to the exhaust. I always tap the headers when I lift the stand off the floor to put the sidestand down. No biggy. Could just wrap a rag around the stand to cushion.

Would prefer a one piece stand for solidness and less hassle.

"Would prefer a one piece stand for solidness and less hassle"...ya..that's kinda what I was sayin....seems like that slider could slip if those thumb screws loosened?.But I trust ya....you say it's easier,better...I believe ya Bro!I may have to get me one....that lifting of the front wheel is very appealing to me.But I do like the simplicity of my Pit Bull.It IS a tad harder though with the 14R....the weight...you can definitely feel the weight when ya try to do the lift.I've got a long handle that slides into the forward handle...(I cut the end off)...it allows some very nice leverage....no way was I gonna keep that short azz handle on there to lift with.

But yeah...once she's sitting in those spools...the lift is on baby!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/3/2012 @ 7:55 PM *

I have never had the joint slip where the two pieces fit together. If you tighten on e screw and then the next until they will not turn any more, they stay put well. If the screws did come loose, they would have to slide apart at least two inches before the bike would fall. That aint gonna happen. But the ultra beefy PitBulls sure are nice because you the idea of them falling apart never enters your mind.

The swing arm pivot IS right at the center of the bike in terms of weight. If you really wanted to, you could grab ahold of the front wheel and hoist it aloft with the rest of the bike balanced on the swing arm pivot stand. It would be like lifting a 200 lb beer barrel. Quite a bit of muscle involved but doable. I wouldn't recommend it but just sayin.

I just put mine up on the centerstand and have one of my kids sit on the rear rack to unweight the front.

Like I said, a center stand works exactly the same as a swing arm pivot stand. Same principal.

HOW TO USE THE HEINDL SWING ARM PIVOT STAND ON A BUSA!!

SHWEEEEET!Thanks Rook!