Bike Lifts - how useful?

[sign216]

How useful are bike lifts?  Are they worthy of some precious garage space?

I don't mind laying on the floor to get at things, but am I being overly hard on myself?  Should I  open my mind to the idea of a lift?

[Cam3512]

You'll wonder what you ever did without one.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

You'll wonder what you ever did without one.

 :1: You don't have to lose "precious garage space" - park a bike on it.

[ken farr]

                                                                    Bike Lifts - how useful?

                                       


                                                                            Very.




kjf
 

[ChuckH]

I've had a Handy Lift (compressed air operated) for 18 years or so.  I use it for work on both bikes, park one bike on it when not in use and work on other household projects as needed (yesterday it was remove/clean the carb on the lawn mower).  I'm certain it will be in the garage for those household projects even after the motorcycles are all sold and gone.  Just a very handy thing to have around.

[cookiemech]

Once you're old enough that your knees and back hurt on a daily basis, you'll not ask that question . . .

I'd never want to live without a lift again. Makes all maintenance much more pleasant. Like oil changes at waist level.

[Testarossa]

Very useful. When not in use I pull the T-handle off my Harbor Freight lift and stand it up against a wall -- takes almost no space.

[BMWDavid]

I've had my Handy Cycle Lift (uses compressed air) for 19 years now. Wondered how I ever got along without it. It makes everything so easy from oil changes to cleaning. I usually park a bike on it so it really does not take up any space.

[Kent in Upstate NY]

I have a HF lift with an adapter for Guzzis. Lifts it high and holds it firmly. Makes tire changes a snap.

[Bill Hagan]

Once you're old enough that your knees and back hurt on a daily basis, you'll not ask that question . . .

I'd never want to live without a lift again. Makes all maintenance much more pleasant. Like oil changes at waist level.

EXACTLY!

Bill

[Dukedesmo]

I used to manage without and now I really don't know how, especially with my Ducatis (ever tried checking/setting the front cylinder exhaust valve clearances on an 'L' twin on the floor).

As for space taken, I park a bike on it - my Lemans has been parked on it since I got it, it's on there now - at least most of it is; the cylinders, heads, pistons, tank, exhausts, sump, timing chest cover & carbs are in/on a variety of boxes and shelves... 

[jackson]

I have a Harbor Freight lift and after using it the first time, I wondered why I never bought one years ago.  It makes a world of difference when you don't have to constantly crawl around on the floor or bend over to perform maintenance & repairs.  My excuses for not buying one were, (1) I really didn't need it (2) I didn't want to give up the garage space.  When I bought my V7 Classic, the seller had the HF lift table sitting in the corner of his work shed and said that he bought it but never used it because his work shed was too small..........and that if I purchased the bike, he would give me the lift table.  Well, I bought the bike and discovered pretty quickly that I did need a lift table and now, I park the bike on the ramp so it doesn't take up much more space than the bike would have used.  I already owned a Baxley chock so I mounted it on the front of the ramp and ride the bike into the chock and get off the bike.  The Baxley chock is an extremely good chock and the weak point of the HF lift is the front wheel clamp so the chock keeps the bike perfectly stable (but I still use tie downs when I lift the bike).  I also bought some wood from Home Depot and built two, long, rectangular boxes so when I'm riding the bike up the ramp to the lift table, I have a place to put both feet for stability.  Works like a charm.  After owning it for the last six months, I can't imagine not having a lift table.

[Lannis]

How useful are bike lifts?  Are they worthy of some precious garage space?

I don't mind laying on the floor to get at things, but am I being overly hard on myself?  Should I  open my mind to the idea of a lift?

I have a hydraulic lift, but it has a bike on it at the moment.   I needed to service my BSA A10 last night for a ride to the Ohio rally next week, and rather than take the BSA A65 off the lift and roll the A10 on, I decided to change the oil and replace the primary chain just with the A10 on the centerstand on the floor.   (Haven't done that in years, since I got the lift).

It's a nightmare COMPARED TO working on a lift.   Rolling around on the floor, getting UP and down UP and down UP and down for tools and parts, can't see anything.

Even with a clean floor, you lose things.   You're having to do things by feel.

I just hate it.   I'll never work on a bike without it being on a lift again, unless it's a roadside emergency.

So yes, they are very useful!

Lannis

[toaster404]

I have a HF lift with an adapter for Guzzis. Lifts it high and holds it firmly. Makes tire changes a snap.

Very useful.  What is a guzzi adaptor?  I have to tie down the front wheel to lift the rear wheel clear.

[BMWDavid]

Very useful.  What is a guzzi adaptor?  I have to tie down the front wheel to lift the rear wheel clear.

+2...what is a Guzzi adapter?

[mjptexas]

I bought a Sears lift last summer.  Works great for when you need to get both wheels off the ground.





I can fold it up flat and put against the wall.

[twhitaker]

+2...what is a Guzzi adapter?

If I'm not mistaken, when using the lift (like the Sears lift above) the adapter cradles the oil pan in front while the other end of it supports the lower transmission mount. Made out of wood and simply sits on the lift. 

[twhitaker]

I have a hydraulic lift, but it has a bike on it at the moment.

It's not too early to suggest to Santa you need another lift. 

[nunzio]

You can still get an HF lift for around 300.00 tax not included.. if you check the bike mags for coupons.
Call and find out when they get their shipment and be there when the door opens.
Each store only gets 2-3 and they sell out quick...at least in Dallas,Tx.
I got to the store 30 mins after it opened on the day after shipment day and they had already sold two that morning....,I got the last one... YMMV

Best tool I have ever bought to work on Motorcycles...Alan

[canuck750]

I really like the Kendon Stand Up I bought years ago, middle of the pack cost, stands up, the rear wheel plate, loading ramp and the front wheel hoop are quick detachable. One person can load this into the back of a truck or van so it is truly portable if that is of any use to you. It is air over hydraulic and I have found it to be very stable. American Made as well (but I think the hydraulic  ram is Chinese - according to the seal shop where I needed to get a new special size O ring for it). To remove a rear wheel you need to use a screw plate jack and raise the frame up off the hoist, Not as easy as setting the bike on a center stand and removing the plate on the table to drop the wheel down, that is the down side to the weight and portability.



Link to their web page, full size lift is $750.00

http://www.kendonusa.com/cruiserlift.html


If you have the space and it is a long term investment then I would go for a Handy Lift, American Made and lots of sizes to choose from, lowest price option is $835.00

https://handy-lift.com/p/Stard-1000-Air-Lift


Harbour Freight or Princess Auto in Canada, $429.00 - Made in China

Basic lift, my buddy has a couple, they work fine, don't think its very portable nor do I think it stands up. Again if you have the floor space then not an issue.

[v7john]

I bought this el cheapo Chinee lift 7 or 8 years ago and it's brilliant.

My long term rebuild has been sat on it but, I have the best of both worlds as a Harley owning friend has semi-permanently lent me his lift. I thought this would be a liability but it's really steady.

No crawling about on the deck for me.

[canuck750]

I bought this el cheapo Chinee lift 7 or 8 years ago and it's brilliant.

My long term rebuild has been sat on it but, I have the best of both worlds as a Harley owning friend has semi-permanently lent me his lift. I thought this would be a liability but it's really steady.

No crawling about on the deck for me.

Nice taste in bikes

[Cam3512]

If you're building a new garage, consider leaving a hole in the slab floor so your lift will be flush with the floor when fully retracted.  That's what I would do.

[lrutt]

the hydraulic lifts work great.....as long as the bottom of your bike is flat. Can't lift my ducati with mine but I can lift my Triumphs, HD's, Yamahas, Suzuki, Norton, Hondas, etc.

Get an aluminum one with the regular jack handle on it. I have an old steel one with a bottle jack. Works great but heavy and awkward.

I need to get rid of it.

[Kent in Upstate NY]

The orange thing is the adapter. I can't remember where I bought it and it was designed to fit a Sears ATV lift. I had to drill new mounting holes. I think it will only work with Tonti frames.

[Perazzimx14]

If you're building a new garage, consider leaving a hole in the slab floor so your lift will be flush with the floor when fully retracted.  That's what I would do.

Good idea in theory but not good in real life. If you recess the lift in the floor it will always be 6 or 7 inches to low + it will be a trap for dirt and debris so you may have to periodically need to remove the lift to clean out.

Sign216,

As the other have said you will kick yourself for not buying a lift/table sooner once you have on. Don't fool with floor jack type. Get a table that is wide so you have a place to lay tools while working on the bike and also one that has drop out plate for rear wheel removal. I have a HF table and it is the best money I have spent on a tool. Looking to add another once I get some cash freed up.

[pyoungbl]

If you are really concerned about the space issue you can just roll the table lift under your workbench...Handi sells a nice dolly to assist moving the table.  My lift lives in an otherwise unused corner of the garage and I roll it out whenever needed.  My Handi is probably 20 years old now and has paid for itself many times over if only from getting me off the floor, not to mention having a nice clean place to put parts when I am working on the bike.

Peter Y.

[Cam3512]

Good idea in theory but not good in real life. If you recess the lift in the floor it will always be 6 or 7 inches to low + it will be a trap for dirt and debris so you may have to periodically need to remove the lift to clean out.

Here's a real life example.  Looks good to me.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/mobiquo/mobiquo.php?welcome=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garagejournal.com%2Fforum%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D210350&board_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.garagejournal.com%2Fforum&code=15a1561e4d5a0d150d54f0be1f121883&name=The%20Garage%20Journal%20Board&deeplink=www.garagejournal.com%2Fforum%3Flocation%3Dtopic%26fid%3D7%26tid%3D210350

[Yukonica]

:1: You don't have to lose "precious garage space" - park a bike on it.

 :1:

[guzzista]

Got both a cheapo  chinese lift as V7John, 'cept older and uglier, and it has worked fine for the last 15 years or so, no pump rams so it is compressed air only. The other is a Kendon Cruiser model ( longer , possibly a bit wider table)and it works a charm. Abit tricky to deploy the center stand on it, but with tie downs a scissor jack and a steel plate across to support the center stand almost any task short of crabbing the frame( just have not tried yet) . Frame crabbing works  fine on the Chinese table type