Can't believe I'm actually asking this really, but my new to me 1260 Enduro is so much newer, complicated etc than anything I've had before that I'm trying to do everything right. Bearing in mind the Oil consumption issues with the 1260 engine I've read about I've been keeping an eye on the Oil level and it doesn't appear to be dropping, which is good, but I'm trying really hard to measure it properly. The manual says: I've never really bothered with having both wheels on the ground on my older bikes as I don't think it makes a great deal of difference and have checked the level with the bikes on a (low) rear paddock stand. But for this bike I want to do it right until I get a feel for what difference it makes. Having both wheels on the ground and the bike upright is easy to say/type, but in reality isn't easy. Using the centre stand you'd need to put a block of wood under the front wheel so the rear wheel is off the deck by the same amount. On a rear paddock stand you need to put the front wheel on a block of wood equal in thickness to the gap between the rear wheel and the deck. Or am I missing something obvious?
I usually do this by putting the bike on the side stand, holding the front brake on with my right hand and pulling the bike towards me with my left hand until it's vertical. Quite easy to do and the side stand gives security if it falls away from you. That said I have no idea if the 1260 Enduro has a side stand.
Thanks Derek, the bike does have a sidestand, but it's a big tall lump to be balancing whilst bending over looking at the sight glass. I'd rather have it set up somehow so It's supported in the same position whilst I add Oil if needed.
I don't stand and bend over. I crouch on one knee beside the bike and pull it towards me using the frame. I never found any difficulty with the 1200 Multi but admittedly the Enduro is both taller and heavier.
You can always pack the side stand up a touch on a piece of wood to make it stand more vertically. But don’t over do it!
Alternatively, lean the bike straight handle bar end against a wall using a bit of soft padding to prevent marking the bar ends.
I don't have a 1260 Enduro so I haven't actually tried what I suggest on that model, but have struggled to check the oil level accurately on other models. Also, I don't have a Motorcycle lift table, which should help. Fwiw, would holding the bike in a front wheel chock provide a sufficiently upright and common wheel level for what you need, starting on level ground? My wheel chock has quite a low front wheel lift, that may not unduly affect the oil level, but I haven't investigated that systematically; but perhaps you could check that. Also a front wheel chock may make it easier to raise the rear wheel if necessary, using a wooden block and a level? The other option is enlist a willing helper, if available. Hope it helps. Good luck, Tom.
A wheel chock is a great idea, I have a quite beefy free standing one that I might be able to get to work. Many thanks for that idea RTD. I've not been brave enough to try pushing the Enduro up onto my lift table yet, and am really not looking forward to trying. It's really heavy compared to my other bikes, and obviously far taller too, so pushing it up that short ramp and into the wheel chock is a little scary.
1200 Enduro here, I know it's not entirely correct but I do it on the centre stand on my very slightly sloping drive (back wheel downhill) I'm sure it makes very little difference as long as your oil level isn't right down to the bottom marker.
It seems a bit extreme, but in the absence of a helper... Could you prop your phone on something and take a video of the sight glass whilst holding the bike upright?
Thanks Keith. However I think as usual I'm overcomplicating this, been worrying about it too much, and have seen sense whilst my mind has been distracted by working today. This bike is so far removed from anything I've owned before it's rattled my confidence - a lot. I need to get over it and show it who's boss. On a rear paddock stand in my garage the back wheel is @2" off the deck, which is going to make naff all difference to the oil level in the sight glass. Crucially however it's almost perfectly upright side to side which I've proved with a spirit level on the tank filler. I'm just going to keep it in the middle of the sight glass marks whilst on it's paddock stand as above and it will be close enough. Still not looking forward to getting it on and off my lift bench though. I might need to look at cutting a huge hole in the garage floor to sink the bench flush to the floor. .
Haha, yes, definitely overthinking it - as you say, just need to show it who's boss Setting your lift into the floor would be hard work but worth it. My small garage has a shallow pit that crying out for a lift!
