I am contemplating buying a Vision Tour and so far have been very impressed by everything about the bike. Took one for a demo ride some time ago and was really impressed. I do have a question about servicing the bike though. I have a 2007 Ultra Classic right now and to lift the bike for servicing, cleaning and parking the bike in tight spots I have a Pitbull lift which works great. I see on the Vision on the bottom of the bike there are no framerails to do the same. At the Cycle World show last week I asked one of the guys in the Victory booth how could I use my lift to do that to a Vision and he said same way, just jack it up using the bottom of the motor. Is this a for real answer or was he just being a salesman. I know it may seem trivial but working on the bike is one of the things I enjoy about owning a bike. Does anyone here agree with that answer or is there another way to do it?

He's telling you the truth. The motor is a part of the frame. Just don't place the jack on the oil drain screw.

http://www.jsjacks.com/compatible.htm

I have seen pictures of Visions on these on other forums. This is the one I have been considering myself.

Thanks guys, I have seen pictures of a Vision on a lift like mine. Now the next step will be to rent a Vision for a day or two in order to get a better idea of how I like the bike. As soon as all this darn snow, salt and ice are gone!

Thanks guys, I have seen pictures of a Vision on a lift like mine. Now the next step will be to rent a Vision for a day or two in order to get a better idea of how I like the bike. As soon as all this darn snow, salt and ice are gone!

Any bike that I have jacked up before has been done with the jack pads under the tubular steel frame members. When I test rode a Vision last fall I got off and checked the bottom to see how it could be jacked up. I know a lot of guys are using the bottom of the engine but I have big concerns about lifting the entire weight of an 850 lb motorcycle on the bottom of the engine crankcase. Unless the casing is made of solid plate steel I'd be worried about the possibility of a stress fracture occuring or hairline cracks developing in time. That could be one expensive repair job.The engine may act as a frame member but this would be hanging weight as opposed to supported weight.

I have chosen to go with a centre stand on mine which can be deployed on top of a piece of wood to get the rear wheel off the pavement. The oldest Visions and their engines are only a couple of years old now. It will be interesting to see if anybody who is jacking up the bike by the engine starts having problems down the road. :confused: