Bike Lifts

[janusz]

I'm thinking about getting a bike lift for my Audace. The main reason behind this idea is the winter storage (to keep wheels off the ground). In addition it would be helpful when cleaning (specially rims). I'm looking at couple lifts but it is hard to decide and I hope some comments from you will help to determine the right one.

1. V Lift ($199 plus shipping) http://www.thevlift.com/
I like this lift because of simple design and operation. Only one problem, the max height of 8 1/4" a bike is lifted up. This could be not enough since Audace minimum ground clearance is 7.2".

2. J&S Lifts ($420 plus shipping) http://www.jsjacks.com/motorcycle-lift/motorcycle-lift/
This looks like very solid lift but the price is almost the same as the price of professional lift table :(

I wonder what you would pick, any other suggestion are more then welcome. Thanks!

[stevet]

How about building a wood platform with a wheel chock and tie down anchor points?  A taller version of what I built.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=82965.0

Steve.

[Dean Rose]

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands.html

[Sportsterleroy]

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands.html

This $279 is a THANKSGIVING SALE PRICE ONLINE 11/24/16 and 11/25/16 Store and Online?. Charlie in antietam bought this lift and USUALLY best low sale is $329 or MAYBE $299.

Since this is an ADV SALE and not a coupon you can TRY to use a 20% coupon off this price. Go directly to manager of store if turned down LOL


Leroy in Cleveland

[Two Checks]

The 20% coopin states not valid on sale items.

[Kent in Upstate NY]

I bought an HF lift for 299. You need a truck and a friend to help you unload it. It is a heavy beast. The front wheel chock will not hold the bike steady by itself. I had to place a 8x8 beam on the left side so I could use the side stand. Once it was tied down the lift did well.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This $279 is a THANKSGIVING SALE PRICE ONLINE 11/24/16 and 11/25/16 Store and Online?. Charlie in antietam bought this lift and USUALLY best low sale is $329 or MAYBE $299.

Since this is an ADV SALE and not a coupon you can TRY to use a 20% coupon off this price. Go directly to manager of store if turned down LOL


Leroy in Cleveland

The one I bought 2 years ago cost $236.60 after the coupon was applied. The lift was on sale and the coupon didn't say it couldn't be applied to one. A friend tried the same thing at a different location and was refused. <shrug>

[Kev m]

I don't see any need for storing it with the weight off the tires. By the time sitting would do any damage to them they are going to dry rot/harden anyway.

As for cleaning wheels I think you are underestimating the additional amount of work it takes to raise and secure a bike on a jack (I'd really call those jacks, not lifts despite what those links are saying). Lifts are more secure than jacks and I still don't throw a bike up on it for some things because of the extra time to clamp and secure it.

[leafman60]

Handy

[Tom]

A cherry picker engine hoist works well. 

[fotoguzzi]

I don't see any need for storing it with the weight off the tires. By the time sitting would do any damage to them they are going to dry rot/harden anyway.  +++

As for cleaning wheels I think you are underestimating the additional amount of work it takes to raise and secure a bike on a jack (I'd really call those jacks, not lifts despite what those links are saying). Lifts are more secure than jacks and I still don't throw a bike up on it for some things because of the extra time to clamp and YOU MUST SECURE IT!

[janusz]

I should probably clarify couple things. The most important one is I don't want to buy or build table lift. I have only half of the double car garage available to me and there are three bikes there already. Placing table lift there will create problem as far as moving bikes around or getting them out or in. The second reason, I don't plan to do any serious work on bikes so table lift will be waste of money and space. What I want is to lift my Audace up so both wheels are in the air, this will allow me to clean as well as store the bike in the winter time.

@Kev_m: I hate to admit but looks like you are 100% right. I really like the video of J & S Lift as shown here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fim0yZYgdds. It is not the fact that one can seat on the front fender or back seat while bike is up on the lift but bike is very firmly place on lift when is moved around. The only question is how much of that video is real and how much 'staging' help is applied to film it.

[smdl]

Hi, Janusz.

Yes, interesting video, but it looks to me like he is carefully watching his weight distribution... ☺

One thing to consider is that Harleys are very flat on the bottom across the frame rails.  You would want to look carefully at the bottom of the Audace to see if it is the same.  I haven't looked at one, so can't say.

Best of luck with the search!

Shaun

[janusz]

Hello Shaun,

Thank you very much for the inside. I'm not very interested in seating on the bike once up in the air on the lift. What I'm interested in is the process of lifting bike up and lowering it down.

On the video when bike is lifted up I can understand physics behind. The angle bike is park is not too acute then simple physics will level bike vertically and it will be lifted up. But when bike is lowered down and then leans to the left where side stand is, looks like a bit of magic. It is possible that the platform which bike seats on is not at 90 degrees and this will force bike to lean to left and rest on the side stand.

I hope to chat with J&S Lift people tomorrow and get some info.

Thank you!

[Kev m]

I used a bike jack like that for most of the 90's and 00's and you always had to be very careful to either strap the bike to it or support/brace the bike. I usually used jack stands and even then managed to drop a bike off it once.

Granted some Harleys have frame rails underneath that help them sit on a jack like that well enough, but it depends on the model and distance between the lifting bars etc. It gets complicated when other bits get in the way (exhaust, kickstand, other frame tabs or cross-braces etc.

I actually had better luck using the thing as a transmission jack a couple of times lol.

I MUCH prefer the use of a table lift.

[tris]

How about an EasyRizer jack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTbtVXyG2bs

I've got one because I have the same issue with space.

It used to take me about 15 minutes to get my old Cali attached and up in the air - the Breva 1100 is a more tricky as I haven't got my eye in yet

For the Audace look at the "Big Blue" version https://www.on-bike.com/product/eazyrizer-big-blue-professional/

[Rough Edge racing]

 I prefer operation bikes on the ground using center or side stand...You never know when they may have to be moved in a hurry...
 As Kev mentions, late model bikes can be a challenge to lift, like my Ducati...I raised the rear with the shop crane then supported it using a pipe through the frame ...It's also shoved into a corner so it doesn't take up space for other junk..

             

[Rusnak_322]

There is no reason to use those jacks when a set of race stand would work.

For the OP - I bet this would fit your bike.

http://www.pit-bull.com/product/F0094-000.html

For rough edge racing, a $40 harbor freight rear stand would be so much better, you won't scrape the bike frame with a big steel pipe and there is no stand that quicker to use.

I use them to clean my white wheels on my Monster at every wash. Also great for storing bikes as they take up less room on a stand than leaning on the kick stand.

[Kiwi Dave]

There is no reason to use those jacks when a set of race stand would work.

Might work on your Duck, but the bevel box or CARC prevents their use on most Guzzis.

[Rusnak_322]

I want to see if this would work on my T3 - when I used to race, I saw a lot of vintage bikes using these kinds of stands. They have to be out there cheaper then Pit bull

http://www.pit-bull.com/product/F0096-000.html

[Wayne Orwig]

I really like the video of J & S Lift as shown here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fim0yZYgdds. It is not the fact that one can seat on the front fender or back seat while bike is up on the lift but bike is very firmly place on lift when is moved around. The only question is how much of that video is real and how much 'staging' help is applied to film it.

Would this lift the bike by the exhaust pipes or the frame.

[Groover]

Are these any good to easily lift a Tonti frame model?

http://m.sears.com/craftsman-motorcycle-atv-jack/p-00950190000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CPuG5YrqxNACFZWCaQodSuADdg&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Rough Edge racing]

There is no reason to use those jacks when a set of race stand would work.

For the OP - I bet this would fit your bike.

http://www.pit-bull.com/product/F0094-000.html

For rough edge racing, a $40 harbor freight rear stand would be so much better, you won't scrape the bike frame with a big steel pipe and there is no stand that quicker to use.

I use them to clean my white wheels on my Monster at every wash. Also great for storing bikes as they take up less room on a stand than leaning on the kick stand.

  Not if I'm working on the swingarm/spring.... Do you mean this HF stand?  I have one for my 340 pound vintage race Triumph and it started to bend after a few uses

   

[Rusnak_322]

  Not if I'm working on the swingarm/spring.... Do you mean this HF stand?  I have one for my 340 pound vintage race Triumph and it started to bend after a few uses

   

I didn't realize you were doing swingarm maintenance, I thought your setup was for tire changing or wheel cleaning, like the OP said in the start of the thread.

No first hand idea about the HF stand, but I would guess that for most people it would be fine.

I have a bunch of stands form years of racing, multiple pit bull and other name brand stands. I couldn't imagine not having them. For my tonti framed bike, I have just been lifting it on to a wood block.

It is a pain, but very stable.

[Tom]

Are these any good to easily lift a Tonti frame model?

http://m.sears.com/craftsman-motorcycle-atv-jack/p-00950190000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&gclid=CPuG5YrqxNACFZWCaQodSuADdg&gclsrc=aw.ds

You need blocks of wood to help with where you're lifting.  Trans mount etc.

[Rough Edge racing]

I didn't realize you were doing swingarm maintenance, I thought your setup was for tire changing or wheel cleaning, like the OP said in the start of the thread.

No first hand idea about the HF stand, but I would guess that for most people it would be fine.

I have a bunch of stands form years of racing, multiple pit bull and other name brand stands. I couldn't imagine not having them. For my tonti framed bike, I have just been lifting it on to a wood block.

It is a pain, but very stable.

  If it was someone else's bike I would do it differently.If my bike had decent frame paint I would do it differently.. I had it hung on the crane with a fabric strap but the hydraulics do leak down over a few days time...So I grabbed what was handy, hillbilly tech...A few shop rags wrapped around the steel tube would be nicer...I also tried to position smaller jack stands under the foot peg mounts but it wasn't secure enough. Or just hang it from a beam.. Other bikes I used wood cribbing like you mention

[janusz]

Thank you all for your comments and advice. I decided to skip the V Lift mainly because it will not work on the Calvin and on Audace it will require some additional piece of plywood to get both wheels off the ground. I called J & S Lifts and was informed that their lifts will not work with Moto Guzzi bike because there is too much plastic underneath the bike. Mind you they didn't even ask for the model of the bike. This told me they are clueless and any further conversation is just waste of time.

Good news is bought a lift tonight and it looks like the perfect tool for my needs. It should be here next week. I will write more once I test it but this is what I decided on: Big blue http://www.bike-lift.com/

Thank you!

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I always preferred hanging from the rafters.  No chance of tip over or leak down.
  If you don't have block and tackle or come along but do have a bike lift then just lift it as high
 as you want it to be and fasten the ropes to the rafters.  Let the lift down and roll it out of the way.
 The bike stays hanging up where the wheels can rotate or you can play with the swing arm or what ever
 kinky thing you want to do under it and it will not fall over.  You can even use this method to remove or replace an engine.   Once the bike is hanging, put the lift under the engine properly shimmed to hold it stable.  Then un bolt and roll the engine away to your engine work area.  With full cradle frames, lift the bike, hang the engine and unbolt so that you cal roll the bike away from the engine.  You are limited only by your imagination if you know how to use ropes.

[Porterhouse]

https://www.skywavelift.com/collections/motorcycle-lift-tables

Or order it off eBay:

http://stores.ebay.com/songasports?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

[tris]

You need blocks of wood to help with where you're lifting.  Trans mount etc.

 :1: or make one of these



to do this