I've been using jack stands for years, just drop a block of wood under the kickstand and use the jack on the other side, then use another one under the exhaust or pan up front. Its actually quite stable.
The other thing I have done is to use an engine hoist with a pair of ratchet straps, then tie the front wheel to the hoist. It works, but the bike does swing, and short of lashing going every which way its not easy to stop the swinging