DIY Bike Dolly

[Andrew Vanis]

I LOVE my dolly. great for maneuvering the bikes around.

For me it is about the same with or without the dolly. My dolly is the manufactured one that is pretty close to the ground.

re: hard to get the bike on center stand on the regular ground. Interestingly the 81750L is relatively hard to get on the center stand compared to the 83750E/ES that is a breeze.

[Grimly]

I'm now on the Mk1a dolly - I took off two of the large castors and replaced them with a pair of 2" ones, as the mounting arms were fouling the sump on the XJ. On my concrete floor it's slightly harder to move around, but still quite ok. Those 4" castors were a breeze, though.
I've developed a quick technique of pushing the bike onto a pair of 3/4" short boards, leave it on the sidestand, go around the other side and kick the dolly under, come back around and put the centre stand down. Up it pops and rolls around the workshop.
I'll shortly be making the Mk2 version, having learned from my mistakes on the Mk1.

[Burque73]

I've developed a quick technique of pushing the bike onto a pair of 3/4" short boards, leave it on the sidestand, go around the other side and kick the dolly under, come back around and put the centre stand down. Up it pops and rolls around the workshop..

Sweet! I laid awake last night thinking a technique like that might work. Thank you. I'm shopping for casters!

[Grimly]

I think I'll make Mk2 with all 2" castors, so I can put in under from the left side, more easily. Essentially, I'll get closer to copying the commercial units, but stronger.

[chuck hahn]

So you're pushing along and the caster gets hung in a crack or rock and the bike comes off the dolly. How would someone "lock" the center stand so this wouldnt happen??

[Grimly]

So you're pushing along and the caster gets hung in a crack or rock and the bike comes off the dolly. How would someone "lock" the center stand so this wouldnt happen??

That's easy on the 850, as it's got a locking hole in the stand. It's not been a problem so far.

[Grimly]

The Mk1a revealed...

[Burque73]

Cool, have you tested it out? Looks like the bottom of the gussets on the end with the smaller casters are a bit too far from the main support channel, maybe a weak point. But, thats a whole lot thicker/ stronger gauge iron than the store bought ones.

I love making rather than buying if time allows. I made a shim tool (or bucket pusher downer) and it actually works.....sort of. Had a hard time grinding an edge sharp enough to just barely catch the lip without blocking acces to the shim. I will just order an OEM one for next time but it was fun making it.

[Grimly]

Yes, unseen by the camera, are two 1/4" packing pieces welded in, to take the strain.
It still works well, but not quite as nicely as the 4 x 4" castors. For the next one, I'll see about finding some 3" wheels.

Kwik'nDurty Engineering Co Ltd.
Props; Bodgitt and Leggitt.

[Burque73]

This is near by. Thinking of getting one. How do the wheels lock to roll the bike up onto it?

https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/mcy/5993423966.html

I have 2 of these motorcycle dollies in great shape. They are rated at #1250 capacity. They work great to maneuver your bike in small spaces. I am asking $60 each. Thanks for looking.

[Grimly]

This is near by. Thinking of getting one. How do the wheels lock to roll the bike up onto it?

https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/mcy/5993423966.html

I have 2 of these motorcycle dollies in great shape. They are rated at #1250 capacity. They work great to maneuver your bike in small spaces. I am asking $60 each. Thanks for looking.

There's a foot flip-lever above each wheel, that just jams against the rubber. Quick-on, quick-off.

[Andrew Vanis]

FWIW -

The bike dolly I've been using (pic above) has been very handy during an engine rebuild. It allows me to move the bike around for access in my one-car garage, lets me put it to the side when waiting on parts, and (unexpectedly) allows for easy moving to for best lighting which was valuable when getting the old PITA base gasket material removed.