Homemade Cheap Motorcycle Workshop Bench

[sconav]

Hi all,

Thought I would share a recent project I have built for working on my bike.

I was getting fed up kneeling on the garage floor. Finances wouldn't stretch to a proper lift bench so this was the next best thing.

It's made from two sheets of 18mm Spruce Plywood (8' x 4'). I used spruce as it was cheaper than birch or marine ply and as I will only be using it in the garage marine ply wasn't needed.

I got the ply from B&Q as they provide a cutting service, so got them to rip the two sheets exactly down the middle. Three of these halves are used for the top and the two sides. The remaining half is ripped down the middle again giving you two 4' x 2' pieces. One of the 4' x 2' pieces is halved again giving two slats 2" x 2" these are the slats for supporting the sides and the top. All that is left to do is cut slots in the sides and the slats which will slot into each other forming a strong box structure. I used a router with a 18mm straight cutter although a jig saw could be used.

The beauty of this is it has no screws holding it together and can be dismantled for easy storage. It will store as four lengths of 8' x 2' ply.

As in the photo I have added two pieces of 3" x 2" at either end on the underside of the top to stop it sliding around when loading the bike.

The ply only cost around £60 and I have also added a wheel chock holder for the front wheel £40.

The tricky bit is loading the bike up there, although with practice I can manage on my own now. I use an aluminium ramp which is about 7' long.

The finished bench gives a working height of 2' which is ideal.

I take no credit for the original idea i found it on the Internet some time ago. Just thought I would share for others to copy if its something you may need.

Happy tinkering

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[davsato]

ive got the plans for that too, never built it though. it really works huh? cool, i might have to think about it now.......

not worth putting up for short jobs but if the bike was going to be laid up for days its ideal, like if you were restoring a bike etc

[sconav]

It works a treat Dave. Couldn't believe how sturdy it is no movement whatsoever! Goes without saying the tighter the slots the sturdier it will be.
I leave mine up all the time only takes a couple of minutes to get the bike up there when needed. Although for winter projects it's ideal.
Cheers

[Morph]

Great idea, here are the plans for anyone interested;

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http://www.bbcracing.com/old/box/

[Morph]

Great idea, here are the plans for anyone interested;

cuts_2013-06-30-2.jpg (36.43 KiB) Viewed 3315 times

boxb_2013-06-30-2.jpg (76.44 KiB) Viewed 3315 times

http://www.bbcracing.com/old/box/

[sconav]

Cheers Morph, tried to find them again but couldn't locate them.

[Jelly]

Good idea, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

There is another cheaper way though, buy your coffin early, use it as a bike stand until you croak, da na! :woohoo:

[Brenhden]

That is a great tip, I will use that. Just need a garage...

[sconav]

Good idea, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

There is another cheaper way though, buy your coffin early, use it as a bike stand until you croak, da na! :woohoo:

It did strike me it resembled a coffin sitting in the garage!

[peterekins]

I made a bike bench out of old decking planks, seems realy strong, only problem is getting the bike on it. You need a long ramp to get a bike 800mm off the ground.