This is how you pick up a Harley...

 

I used a 4x4 block and an 8foot 4x4,carefully place under the tranny area, had momma push down and hold the 8 footer while I did the change out, then let up on the 8footer till the bottom holes lined up, put the bolts in and she was done , took about 30 minutes of her sitting on her ***,asking me if I was done yet.

 

It's been implied, but to make it more plain: Strap Down means to tie the bike with straps that go out sideways with both sides independently secured.
When properly strapped, you should be able to sit on the bike with feet off the ground and it standing streight and it should not move sideways.
You can also use an engine hoist to raise the back, but the bike will still need to straped sideways to prevent sideways tip-over.
Also would not be a bad idea to chock the front tire.

 

BOWFLEX!

sorry...

 

Not 100% sure, but it may involve a Flux Capacitor...

 

am I the only one who though manofsteeles' suggestion looked like a good way to do it inexpensively?

That looks like the best option for me because of the cost, and the fact that I dont have a garage right now, so I dont have very much extra room to store a whole bike jack.

 

So, I ended up building the wood and steel tube stand....


Works absolutely fantastic, I put an eye hook on each side also so that I could strap the bike to it. Less then 20 bucks in parts, and does the job just fine!!

 

$27 in material, no straps, one man up and down operation. Stable enough to do heavy wrenching and to sit on.