I am putting together a rig with a Africa Twin and Ural sidecar. I am trying to anticipate how to raise the rear tire on the bike since the center stand will not be an option. Suggestions/models for light weight lifts that can be packed on a long trip would be appreciated. 
Welcome, Ellen! One of the simplest, most space efficient and reliable methods will be a scissor type jack. If you’re of the KLR mindset, go walk around a junkyard and one will fall on the ground in front of you along with a milk crate. If you’re into high tech, low weight and smallest package available, go to the Porsche dealer and get one of theirs. Everything else is in between those two options.
Yes, I’m joking to some extent and I am certain someone else (who has experience with chain drives) will tell me I’m nuts. But hey! That’s how we roll here.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
I have a car jack from a smaller car.
We have rubbish collection days here and that's how I got my last 2 jacks.
When doing a sidecar build it handy to be able to set the heights on the sidecar.
So I have collection and the lightest lives in the sidecar.
Still looking for the chain on the Moto Guzzi though.
Maybe check ebay for a Porsche scissor jack. Usually $75 to $100:
Africa Twin rigs rock! DAMHIK...
I am putting together a rig with a Africa Twin and Ural sidecar. I am trying to anticipate how to raise the rear tire on the bike since the center stand will not be an option. Suggestions/models for light weight lifts that can be packed on a long trip would be appreciated.
Ellen, WELCOME to the Sidecar Forums.
As others have already stated, the best way to lift your bike for any maintenance that is needed with the wheels off the ground, is a scissor jack, and other than the expensive all aluminum Porsche jacks, you can easily buy a scissor jack on Amazon for $ 15 to $ 25 bucks. All of my sidecar rigs have a scissor jack in the trunk of the sidecar, still in the original box or bag they came in, and we hope we never have to sue them.
As for "chain maintenance" on your Africa Twin/Ural sidecar rig you are putting together, I am a huge fan of the ScottOiler, and have installed more than 2 dozen of them, one on every chain drive bike I have owned in the past 20 years. In fact, I have a brand new ScottOiler X model 3.0 sitting in my shop, awaiting my installation on my recently purchased Africa Twin DCT, that I too am building into a sidecar rig, but mine will be a cargo rig, hauling no sidecar monkeys, just snacks and wearables for the sidecar pilot.
Mine will be called: AK GRIZ......because it will claw its' way through all of Alaska
With a chain drive motorcycle properly set up prior to taking a ride, meaning sprockets and chain all in good condition, and properly adjusted, and with use of a ScottOiler, there is no need for roadside chain maintenance. I have done this many times, thousands and thousands of miles on individual trips, and all I have to do is add fresh oil to the ScottOiler, and do the ride. Up to Alaska, Yukon, NWT, and back, 7,000+ miles, and never touched the chain, and it stayed properly adjusted the entire ride.
Because the Africa Twin has a vacuum line that is difficult to get your hands on, you should NOT buy the ScottOiler V model....but need to buy the ScottOiler X model, or the newer E model. I chose the X model, and have used it on previous bikes, and it works great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVZY4LKL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
@miles-ladue yep.
I run a Scott Oiler X model on my AT rig, as well, and rarely touch the chain, except when changing out rear tires (a little frequently for some reason or another.)
Another option is the Cobrra Nemo. It doesn't rely on the bike to work. The rider controls when and where the chain gets oiled, rather than a continuous application. It has worked well for me. Not saying it's better, just another option. I have no affiliation.
Home - Cobrra Nemo 2 chain oiler
Another option is the Cobrra Nemo. It doesn't rely on the bike to work. The rider controls when and where the chain gets oiled, rather than a continuous application. It has worked well for me. Not saying it's better, just another option. I have no affiliation.
A friend of mine, he's 82 years old, has this Cobrra Nemo on his street bike, a Honda CB500F, and he likes it. The real trick to it is to back off the cap, a 1/2 turn, once you stop riding for the day, so it creates a small vacuum on the oil feed line, so no oil still drops onto the chain, per gravity, after you are done riding for the day.
I just completed installing the ScottOiler X model onto my Africa Twin DCT, and test rode it today, to prime it through the system, and prove it is working correctly. Unlike @ben-franklin, I have mine hooked up to a switched power source, so it comes ON automatically when the bike is turned on, and shuts OFF automatically when the bike is turned off.
Oh, and @ben-franklin...I ran my oil hose THROUGH the left arm of the cast aluminum swingarm. There are two large oval grommets on the inner side of that left arm of the swingarm, and perfect for running the oil line THROUGH that swingarm, rather than on the outside of the swingarm.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
@miles-ladue Though the left arm of the swing arm, rubber grommets, is the way to go... I found mounting the reservoir unit on the upper rear strut of the sidecar mount to be convenient. Just needs to be up high enough for gravity to assist when it opens the valve.
Had the one on the solo AT mounted on the RH side luggage rack; worked well.
Current location on the rig... Just above the brakeline quick release.
Thanks for all of the information...most helpful
Ellen aka Purplerhody
Another option is the Cobrra Nemo. It doesn't rely on the bike to work. The rider controls when and where the chain gets oiled, rather than a continuous application. It has worked well for me. Not saying it's better, just another option. I have no affiliation.
A friend of mine, he's 82 years old, has this Cobrra Nemo on his street bike, a Honda CB500F, and he likes it. The real trick to it is to back off the cap, a 1/2 turn, once you stop riding for the day, so it creates a small vacuum on the oil feed line, so no oil still drops onto the chain, per gravity, after you are done riding for the day.
I just completed installing the ScottOiler X model onto my Africa Twin DCT, and test rode it today, to prime it through the system, and prove it is working correctly. Unlike @ben-franklin, I have mine hooked up to a switched power source, so it comes ON automatically when the bike is turned on, and shuts OFF automatically when the bike is turned off.
Oh, and @ben-franklin...I ran my oil hose THROUGH the left arm of the cast aluminum swingarm. There are two large oval grommets on the inner side of that left arm of the swingarm, and perfect for running the oil line THROUGH that swingarm, rather than on the outside of the swingarm.
Africa twin?
It's only Saturday???
