What kind of motorcycle lift do all of you have?

I am going to finall break down and buy a motorcycle stand/lift for the garage this winter. I seen the craftsman one which is pretty nice looking. I was just wondering what all of you had? I dont want something like a full on table lift, just a small portable one i can roll around the shop.....thanks, Jim

I don't have much faith in these small lifts.

I prefer them a bit more stable like this:

This is more to my liking.



KZCSI

KZCSI wrote:

I don't have much faith in these small lifts.

I prefer them a bit more stable like this:

Ya thats the one like i want, im going to be using it for my z1 900 rebuild, would be nice for easy instalation of the front and rear wheel.

oldkaws4ever wrote:

KZCSI wrote:

I don't have much faith in these small lifts.

I prefer them a bit more stable like this:

Ya thats the one like i want, im going to be using it for my z1 900 rebuild, would be nice for easy instalation of the front and rear wheel.

I have one of those but I would rather have a big one. Maybe someday.

KZCSI wrote:

I don't have much faith in these small lifts.

I prefer them a bit more stable like this:

The one pictured above appears to be a Craftsman-clone and they are occasionally on sale for around US$50.00, or so. If you use the enclosed tie-downs correctly and learn the balance points on your bike, it will meet your needs. However, I have a Craftsman lift (like that pictured) and similar to Don and KZCSI, still desire a much larger one:)

Hey that looks neat. How do you raise that wooden thing? I've been using something like in the other pic for 4 years now, it does the job. The problem with my setup is that I've only got a single car garage, and also dont really trust the ATV/Motorcycle jack raised beside my car

I have a home built lift like the wooden one pictured above. It just uses a cantilever system. All you need is a jack in the front or back and if lifts the whole table. I have plans I can email you but it will have to wait until I get back to the states on the 26th. It is very stable and cost around $120 in material (less if you already have wood and steel pipe laying around. I put 4 caster wheels on one side and handle on the other side which allow me to lay it on its side and wheel it around or even put it against the wall to save space. I covered the top of mine with white/black stick on tiles to make a checkered flag design. Makes it easy to clean fluids up too. I have a picture on my computer that I will post when I get off work in about 30 minutes.

I have one of those little ones, and really hate using it. They pretty much define the word "unstable"

My 750E project bike is sitting on top of a industrial hydraulic lift table, it has a 4,000 lb capacity, weighs around 500 lbs, has 4 wheels under it so I can roll it around the shop with a bike on it, and lifts at least 60" (had to stop before bike hit ceiling). I think new price is something like $3k-$4k, but I paid $30 for it used.

It has been sitting at 40" above the floor with my bike on it for the last 3 months, the seals must be good

steell wrote:

weighs around 500 lbs, has 4 wheels under it so I can roll it around the shop with a bike on it

Damn Hoss. Pushing around over 1000lbs. Remind me not to pick a fight with Steell

I've got one of these small stands at Princess Auto:




Not very stable, and you have to use extra stands to ballance your bike.

I'd like to get a full size lift table.

Post up those plans Don !!!

Here is mine. Took about 8 hours to build, 1/3 of which was trying to make sure I was reading instruction correctly. It is shown at it lowest level. It also raises to another level which is about crotch high (stop trying to picture the height of my crotch). Will hold the bike plus me no problem. Since this pic was taken I have added a home made wheel vise for the front. It holds the bike up fine but I still like to have the lift on the swingarm just to be sure. That way I don't have to worry about ratchet straps getting in my way.