Abba Skylift

[Sadlsor]

Likely will be worth a ride report, at least.
Everyone here knows I'm not stingy with words, and often don't know when to shut up.
More likely I DO know, but don't.
Shut up, that is.

 

[Bmacleod]

In another thread regarding the Skylift, @Mellow mentioned it was a nerve-racking task to stabilize the bike at first, mating the stand to the bike. And noted it was less tense, as he became familiar with the process.
I wonder if it's possible to move the lift into position with the bike on its centerstand, until the second side was secured also?
At the same time, I'm certain folks would have tried it already...

Both stands are in the way of the legs of the lift. You have to get the lift close (about 2 feet), then prop up the bike, raise the sidestand and push the stand in place while balancing the bike. Like Mellow said, you need to be careful, but it is not too bad.

 

[the cueball]

Since I was in the garage, I checked my notes and the 2 bits I’ve used for my 1100 are B6 and B8 (16mm and 17.3mm) L and R.

 

[STRider]

Since I was in the garage, I checked my notes and the 2 bits I’ve used for my 1100 are B6 and B8 (16mm and 17.3mm) L and R.

See? Now that's what Abba needs to do with their compatibility tool on their website. Don't simply say 'yes' or 'no', or say "Include the ST1100 kit." Instead have a table of all the bikes their stand will work with and list the two bit sizes needed.

Bike	Bit 1	Bit 2
Honda ST1100 - All years	B6	B8
Honda ST1300 - All years	Z1*	Z2*
etc...

* I have no idea which bits work with the ST1300 so I used non-existent Z1 & Z2 so no one gets misled.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

See? Now that's what Abba needs to do with their compatibility tool on their website. Don't simply say 'yes' or 'no', or say "Include the ST1100 kit." Instead have a table of all the bikes their stand will work with and list the two bit sizes needed

Write them and tell them.
Maybe they'll be so appreciative that they'll send you a free lift.

 

[STRider]

Write them and tell them.
Maybe they'll be so appreciative that they'll send you a free lift.

Wouldn't that be great? I pretty much did...

"Hi, We make a fitting kit for the ST1300 but not the 1100.​

​

You would need a different kit for the Vstrom.​

​

Please tell us which product you wish to purchase or if it is just the​

fitting kits on their own and we can give you a price."​

I don't think they see the same benefit as I do.

However, don't give up hope on such things. My coworker commutes almost 140mi round trip to work each day. Only this past week has he driven his truck when we dipped below freezing every night and had sporadic rain during the day to replenish the ice makings each night. Before the holidays he stopped at a store near his home and chanced to meet one of the owners of Hippo Hands in Bend, OR. The owner happened to notice the ones on my friend's bike and pointed out they have a new model he might like. He took his address and sent him a free set.

 

[Hound]

I contacted ABBA with pics of my ST1300's swing arm pivot points. They are sending me a kit (fitting kit #110). I'm not sure how it works with that big bolt through the LH side pivot, which apparently needs a special Honda tool to remove, so we'll see whether it's actually the right kit for my bike when it arrives - there were three versions of the pivot mounts in four years!



Funny that they still don't list the ST1300 kit(s) or the ST1100-compatible kit (same as the CBR, says the_cueball, although he doesn't mention which CBR).

 

[David Fyffe]

On my 2010 St1300 both pivot holes look like the picture on the right.
I looked at as many pictures as I could, then built my own lift.
Looks just like the ABBA lift, functions the same.
Just have to take my time and be careful.
Good luck with your lift.

 

[klaproth]

On my 2010 St1300 both pivot holes look like the picture on the right.
I looked at as many pictures as I could, then built my own lift.
Looks just like the ABBA lift, functions the same.
Just have to take my time and be careful.
Good luck with your lift.

Pictures? Would love to see how you built it!

 

[Hound]

The ST1300 Fitting Kit #110 for the ABBA Superbike Stand and Skylift have arrived. The adapters are identical and they are each stamped "174". The pin is about 19mm (probably 18.8mm; I haven't taken them out of the sealed packaging to measure as I may have to send them back).



As my photos in post #107 show, my LH pivot has a locking bolt and in order for the ABBA pin to fit, that bolt would have to come out. It seems I'll have to buy a device to hold the collar while releasing the bolt, which will be a pain - unless someone knows otherwise. (I'm looking at you, Larry.) And I don't know if removing the bolt then compromises the security of the pivot bolt.

Although my bike wasn't registered until 2004, it's a late 2002 build with the "in-between" LH pivot assembly - the only one of the three types with a locking bolt in the way. Typical! It's £90.00 (US$112.20) for the 07ZMA-MCA-0100 Honda wrench; sorry Honda, that's just silly. I wonder if a C-spanner is man enough for the job, or maybe this used CBR900 wrench on fleaBay would fit?

 

[Hound]

I measured the internals of the swing arm pivots. As expected the RH side accepts a 19mm Allen key. The LH side, once the locking bolt is removed, has a 21mm wide aperture inside the collar which is 7mm deep. The locking bolt is M12 with a 20mm wide head, taking an 8mm hex. With and without the locking bolt shown below.



I'm unsure about putting a 19mm peg into a 21mm pivot with only 7mm depth, although the depth area on the peg is only 11mm anyway. I would have preferred a 20.5mm peg with an 11.5mm spigot in the centre, for secure location.. It seems a sloppy tolerance from ABBA if this is the right kit for my ST.

 

[Mellow]

I don't see why you should have to remove anything, but a peg that fits in the 8mm locking bolt should work, I think the A2 adapter for that.

 

[Hound]

Thanks Joe. I didn't expect to have to remove anything either, but it turns out that the locking bolt can be removed without the special tool that holds the castellated collar, so not much of an inconvenience really. I'm not sure that an 8mm pin would be strong enough for the weight of an ST1300 on the Skylift, but I could be wrong... I have emailed ABBA with my misgivings.

 

[Mellow]

Thanks Joe. I didn't expect to have to remove anything either, but it turns out that the locking bolt can be removed without the special tool that holds the castellated collar, so not much of an inconvenience really. I'm not sure that an 8mm pin would be strong enough for the weight of an ST1300 on the Skylift, but I could be wrong... I have emailed ABBA with my misgivings.

I understand... the one for the RT is 12mm. No idea how strong those little pegs are, they are solid and some of the weight is transferred to the other parts of the skylift.. hopefully they have a confirmation on that.

 

[Hound]

Well, ABBA hadn't seen a pivot like mine on the ST1300 - so far all their previous customers have had symmetrical pivots. The type fitted to mine was only on late 2002 A2 models, and many police models up to 2004 (pic below of left and right).



They have kindly sent me a free replacement pin for that side, which is for an 8mm hex hole, so I won't even have to remove the locking bolt. Hats off to them.

I'm still a little dubious as to whether an 8mm stub can support the weight of the portly ST, but we shall see!

 

[Hound]

Thanks Joe! Well here it is. A little 8mm stub to hold up a 700lb bike!



If you don't see me within the next three days, get a search party sent out - I'll be trapped underneath a Pan-European...

 

[Mellow]

Thanks Joe! Well here it is. A little 8mm stub to hold up a 700lb bike!



If you don't see me within the next three days, get a search party sent out - I'll be trapped underneath a Pan-European...

It's pretty solid piece... and the weight is actually distributed along the part that slides into on the lift so even though it seems like that's small I think it will be ok. I doubt they would offer it as an option knowing the ST's weight.

Don't worry, I'll keep your account active while you're in the hospital.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

A grade 8 eight 8 mm bolt is rated at a tensile strength of something like 30,000 Kg/f. That adapter is probably made of much higher quality steel than a grade 8 bolt.
I don't think that you have anything to worry about.

 

[the cueball]

Yeah, I spoke with them today about 40 minutes ago. No bit is listed for the 11! Yet on here it's a B6 and 8. Be nice to see a pic of an 11 in the air

best I can do for now..

 

[Mellow]

best I can do for now..

Almost like your avatar...