Nomad Lift Adapter

[nomadbehappy]

As you all know the Nomad, at least my 2008 has 2 tabs that hang down from the rear portion of the frame and the kickstand switch wiring and hooks to hold it run under the frame of the bike. Whenever I would try and lift my bike I found the bike wasn't stable and the weight was either on the bottom of the engine or pinching the wires. I found some great solutions searching this forum as well as the internet, but I am cheap and didn't want to paying shipping, brokerage and duty fees getting something across the border to Canada. I'm not a welder, and I didn't like the idea of trying to adapt some of the designs I have seen for a lift adapter where I would be replacing a weld with a nut and bolt. Last week while wandering around Princess Auto (farm supply/liquidation store) looking for a new lift that might work I saw some lengths of rectangular steel that got me thinking ... I bought a 5 ft section for $19. All I did was cut the steel into 2 pieces, held one piece up to each side of the bike, marked where the notches should be and then cut the notches out. The first notch I tried using a small home shop drill press, but found I had to clean the edges up with a dremel anyway, so for the final 2 notches I just used the dremel tool. I then took some leftover shelf liner ( the foam/rubbery type) and covered the 2 pieces of steel with it just to make sure I don’t scratch the frame using it. I sprayed on some spray adhesive and then wrapped the steel (top and 2 sides) with the liner. I grabbed some strips of Velcro that I had lying around to wrap around the frame of the bike and the steel adapters to hold them in place while I roll the lift underneath the bike. My bike is now off the cold concrete of my garage for the winter. Here is a link to where I have the pictures of the process posted http://picasaweb.google.ca/bamuscat/...eat=directlink
It certainly isn't as nice as the Idaho Jack adapter that I have seen, but, it only cost me $19 and can easily be made with basic tools that you probably have any way. I have found this forum to be very helpful so I thought I would share my idea in case it helps someone else.

[Jared]

Very cool, and simple idea! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[taranis]

That's pretty darn cool! Nice innovation on the cheap!

[nomadrider]

What is the dimension of the the steel bar?That was a great idea and I am looking to make 2 of those.

[nomadbehappy]

The steel is 1.25 inches thick and 3" wide. I could have gone wider as it can stick off the end of the motorcycle lift bars. 3" is the min width or you can't support the frame along the full length because it angles in towards the front of the bike

[garyo4]

Nice job!

[nomadman]

Why so much work?

Made from wood some brackets and bolted on my lift.

Fits fabulous! see the pic

Greetz from Europe

Nomadman

[ringadingh]

Some of you guys are quite innovative, keep up the good work! ;)

[ridemslow]

I believe Gadget had drawings on his site how to make those same brackets out of metal. Good job too you did there.

Originally Posted by nomadman

Why so much work?

Made from wood some brackets and bolted on my lift.

Fits fabulous! see the pic

Greetz from Europe

Nomadman

[ridemslow]

Question for ya. Do you need to lift the bike any to get your jack under it? I've made me one patterned off Idaho's adapter, but that design/idea looks interesting.

[speedbyu]

Hey Nomadbehappy,

I like it. :) I am very cheap and tight with a dollar as well. If I can make it and save money, that is money I can spend elsewhere.

Can I ask since you already have done the measuring, at what measurements did you make your cuts? Can you make a crude diagram to show us where and how long and wide?

By the way, nice looking bike!
Bill

[Idaho]

Innovation is a wonderful thing. There is more than one way to lift a Nomad and this one will work. I recommend welding a bar across the front between the two pieces for a couple of reasons.

1. it will add strength and stability to keep the bars from rolling out from between the MC frame and then jack.
2. I gives a solid point to rest the curved front of the MC on and a way to hold the adapters in place without having to strap them to the bike frame.

Nice job.
Idaho

[Bdog]

IMO..can't beat the Idaho jack adaptor. Although I don't have one, I did copy his and make some changes. I can easily adjust the bike to lift both or either tires off the ground and no problem with oil changes. For the price of the steel, a welder and design time..the Idaho is the most secure and resonably priced unit on the market..Bdog

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by Bdog

IMO..can't beat the Idaho jack adaptor. Although I don't have one, I did copy his and make some changes. I can easily adjust the bike to lift both or either tires off the ground and no problem with oil changes. For the price of the steel, a welder and design time..the Idaho is the most secure and resonably priced unit on the market..Bdog

Thanks for the endorsement Bdog. I'll take it.

[nomadbehappy]

I can slide the jack under the bike with the adapters attached to the frame of the bike. It will probably depend on which type of jack you have, mine is from Canadian Tire.

When I made the adapters I did a sketch of it with measurements which I will look for. I moved them as I had to move my workshop around to make room for the bike, my wife's car wouldn't fit in the garage without the front touching the lift ... too close for my comfort! As soon as I find them I will post the drawing