The email add I just recieved from Revzilla includes a new product that I consider very dangerous:

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/tirox-snapjack-v2

This portable "jack" is clever, but what it does is put the entire weight that is normally on the rear wheel of a motorcycle onto the SIDESTAND of the motorcycle.

Kawasaki warns you specifically not to even site on the motorcycle using the sidestand to hold it up, and that puts a lot less weight onto the sidestand, even with the rider "aboard", than this product will put on the sidestand by elevating the rear wheel right off the ground.

There are 2 predictable outcomes to using this jack. Either:

- The sidestand will bend, either right away or over time with multiple usage

or worse

- The top of the sdiestand, which is under incredible leverage with such usage, will experience a sudden break in the mounting lug on the bike, the top of the sidestand, or the sidestand bolt, and the bike will crash down to the floor. And, if the rider is lubing the chain at the time, or washing the rear wheel, this will be particularly bad in terms of injury.

I can't believe this product is actually being sold. The manufacturer, and Revzilla, must both have really crappy product liability lawyers.

Jim G

hmmmm ... kick stand is gonna take almost the same load and load path with or w/o the snap jack. I dont have one but for a road trip chain clean/lube I could see one

I am with rudy on this .. almost identical load on side stand with or without jackstand .. they are neat lil items had them on two different bikes now , ZRX1200 and my 14 and never a problem .

The load is only almost the same AFTER the bike has been stablized on the jack, front wheel, and sidestand. During the lift process, the load fluctuates a LOT, and same during the process of putting it back down. You could not insert the jack to lift the rear wheel without first transferring a BIG load to the sidestand during that process.

Jim G

Jim I dont know which one you are looking at but once positioned , the one I use simply lifts the bike and locks into position takes less than a full second to go from ready to done.. Shoot I put more pressure on teh side stand, sitting on the bike in the staging lanes...:) Don't tell Kawasaki, ok ;) In fact, I am pretty short and usually "mount" the 14 by stepping on the peg with my left foot while the bike is on the side stand and then throwing my right foot over the tail.Of course yrmv..

chrly: I have a 29" inseam and never put my body weight on the footpeg, or footpegs, with the sidestand down. I mount from the left directly from the pavement over the seat.

Jim G

Jim. I am 81 yrs old and don’t throw my legs around quite like I use to lol More power to you younger guys. ??

THe load would transfer from the rear tire to the snap jack. Assuming the angle of the bike does change a bit due to the snap jack the load would only increase by the ~ the % delta of the bike lean angle on the kickstand. Simple force vector hand calcs would show maybe a 10% load increase probably less and because the kick stand maybe supports ~50 lbs a 5 lb load increase would not over stress the steel kickstand enough to worry about. You are right about the hinge joint probably the relative higher risk but still dont think its a risk

as long as the 'attachment point' of the tip and axle are fine,this is a good product.The sidestand isn't gonna break or anything.They're quite stout.Try filing one sometime.The only 'extra' weight will be the rear wheel...which is nothing compared to any attachment bolt or anything under there.This I should have.There's several out there like this.

"Kawasaki warns you specifically not to even site on the motorcycle using the sidestand to hold it up"..this is for rider safety.So a guy doesn't sit on it and somehow shift his weight or the ground sinks a bit and the bike rolls forward unexpectedly and drops.It's almost happened to me.Yep.It actually did roll past the center angle and the bike almost fell...I caught it in time.Barely.

I saw that a few years back. It looks very iffy to me. The only reason I might use one would be for an emergency tire change --maybe. NAH--I'd just use a rope plug instead.

WOULD NOT leave my bike propped on that by the roadside while I got the tire changed.

As far as garage use, looks safe enough if you're careful and IF the thing is made of heavy enough steel to support the bike. Looks like you lift the rear by tilting up on the front tire and side stand. I know that is something that people do with an OEM side stand if they need to. I would never do it with an aluminum side stand I would not sit on the bike supported by an aluminum side stand either.

Rook I only use mine for chain maint. while traveling.. Not a big deal, really..

charly: A center stand works MUCH better! :)

Jim G

but it weighs a hell of a lot more and hard to fit in your pocket

"but it weighs a hell of a lot more and hard to fit in your pocket"

Yes, a net increase of 3.5 lb after you remove the lower rear cowl and its metal mounting framework (since it occupies the space that the center stand takes over).

Jim G

The lower rear cowl is there to direct high speed air flow.
My first snap jack was for a bike without center stand and in fact, I am not sure when or if , I ever had a bike with one .

"The lower rear cowl is there to direct high speed air flow."

Yes, but that has effects only at speeds I never plan to ride at! :)

And by the way, when I first got into motorcycling in the 1960s, ALL bikes except Harley-Davidsons had center stands. I miss them.

Jim G

LOL Ok Jim.. I will give you that center stands were a common thing in the 60s but were sometimes removes :) As for higher speeds, well, it can be entertaining ..

Higher speeds ...

Colorado Mile LSR Event 2018 Data analyzer put elevation at 10,000 plus ft so we were down about 15& on power..Still.. Fun yome, I made over 20 runs that weekend :)

* Last updated by: chrly on 5/2/2019 @ 1:02 PM *

AWESOME Chrly.That's a shifter on the left bar there?Wow.VEERY cool.I need one of those!Excellent vids and riding;)Thanks.

"WOULD NOT leave my bike propped on that by the roadside while I got the tire changed'...I wouldn't LEAVE my bike(s) PERIOD!No way.That deal is a great idea though.I'm with Chrly.Chain oiling and cleaning on a trip.Yep.Any tread holes...plug em.You guys DO have a plugging and inflating kit,right?They're quite cheap and fit right in under the seat.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/2/2019 @ 11:50 AM *

Got mine Grn...:) As near as we could figure, the front tire must have kicked up a 1 inch triagular piece of metal as I pulled it out of teh tire..leaving a one inch slash.. Tire only had 600 miles on it so I rode it home about 85 miles and since it held air fine.. I tode it a bit more and did two drag strip days anda couple of trips.. Would niot have done so had the cut been on the sidewall..

* Last updated by: chrly on 5/2/2019 @ 1:05 PM *

Grn.. yes shift button on left bar.. Hole shot Electric shifter..set it up correctly and forget it ..Nothing to fill ;)

BTW.. Going back to original post..RevZilla has a description of the product that clearly states that it only for oiling chain or tire inspection...From their website.....
The SnapJack V2 is an easy way to prop up your back wheel for chain maintenance or tire inspection.

* Last updated by: chrly on 5/2/2019 @ 1:10 PM *

thanks Chrly.Gonna check out their site.Any issues installing yours?Mine would be going probably on the H2...maybe.The quickshifter does work excellent.BUT...this looks very nice for access rather than the shift lever.Thanks again....do I need to do anything with my linkage?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/2/2019 @ 2:47 PM *