What lift do you like best for your KZ1000?

I've officially reached the point where I am ready to spend a little cash on a REAL motorcycle lift. I've been pretty satisfied with my PItbull stands over the years, but lately I've been doing some stuff where I would like to have the whole bike in the air, with the wheels free. In my opinion, the KZ1000 is kind of a special case when it comes to under-frame lifts. Obviously, the exhaust gets in the way, which you pretty much just have to be willing to remove. Okay, fine. The real issue is that the oil pan hangs down so much past the majority of the bike's frame rails. This makes about 95% of the lifts out there, well... not so ideal. It's like they were all designed with HD's in mind. (and they probably were) I am not looking to fabricate something up (frankly, I have no welding skills anyhow) I just want to see if anyone has a good recommendation for a commercially available lift, that is fairly simple to use, stable, and doesn't take up a huge amount of space. Of course, pictures would be most appreciated!

This is what I use but I got it from my neighbor used for $150

Man, $150.00 was a good deal!
But what I'm after is a lift that just lifts the bike from the frame, leaving the wheels in the air.
Something like this:


Now, obviously a KZ does not have a hollow swing arm bolt, or provisions for spools.... so that shoots this one down!

:whistle: that is slick! I have seen some guys use the frame lift and make spacers the keep it from lifting the on the oil pan. I like the table lift.

The lift show by kaw-a-holic looks just like my harbor freight unit. I bought mine last year and paid $150 with a coupon I got on-line at their web site.

I added a few more tie downs. I have had my kz1000, dl650, and my gl1500 up on it. My only complaint is that when you ride the bike up onto the lift, if you center the bike on the lift, the bike side stand hangs over the edge of the lift. For my kz1000 and dl650 thats not such a big deal. I just leave a little more room on the left side so I can put the side stand down. Then I can get off the bike and put the bike on the center stand. For my gl1500 you need to have the bike centered because the bike weighs 900 lbs which is right a the limit of the lift (1000lbs). If the gl1500 is not centered, when you lift the bike the stand leans which is not safe. I plan on adding a small metal plate extension on the left side so I can put the side stand down.

Handy. The lift that is.


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You might be able to make something like this work. When not in use it wouldn't take up any space. Ed

www.harborfreight.com/1300-lb-electric-h...trol-60344-9376.html

I made this one out of wood I had laying around.
Used a ramp to get bikes up, 2x8x?
Not easy to store though.
Up in the rafters or on end maybe.

The small red lift below works well, with exhaust installed.

rstnick- who makes the lift? the arms look to be adjustable, yes?

Ive used an engine hoist with a strap around back bone tubes of frame to pick a bike up in the air more than once.
Ive also been known to do the same thing with a backhoe or excavator if im working outside,garage ceilings tend to be too low. :woohoo:

Besidez having the above pictured bike lift,I also have a couple of swingarm stands, a stand that lifts my tracker from the frame and a front end standthat lifts from the steering stem. I can add pictures later if needed. Paul

madmatt1 wrote: rstnick- who makes the lift? the arms look to be adjustable, yes?

Some Chinese lift I bought at Princess Auto, a supply place.
The arms are adjustable, sliding to where you want when you loosen a nut.
I use 2X3 blocks to reach the frame with 4>1 exhaust on.