TOPIC:

My back is not what it used to be and stooping over bikes is killing me. I’m torn in between a adjustable height lift for ease of use, and a fixed height bench for the additional storage. What are you using? Pros/cons? ive been looking at the Abba Sky lift and Big Blue lift for their space saving capabilities.

I have been using motorcycle lifts since I started working in a shop back in 1973. The older I got, the more and more I liked using a lift. Even at home I had to have one. Get the adjustable height lift for sure. I have been around both, and trust me you will eventually see the advantage of the adjustable height lift. I don't like any of those big bulky front wheel clamps to hold a bike on the lift. Don't like them because they put pressure on the front disc's. I have too much money in my front disc's to put a big clamp on them!!!! Never lost a bike with the simple wheel chock and two tie downs to the handlebars in like 40 years!!!

Right now I have the budget minded Harbor Freight lift. Been using this for the past 6 years or so. I in the past had Western Manufacturing air lifts. Not even sure if that company is still around. Their lifts were like the Cadillac of the industry. Built like a brick shithouse. You could stand on them and kickstart a bike in the raised position.
Last time I priced one they were like 1,200 dollars!!!!! The Harbor Freight lift will get the job done, but they are not as well built as the Western lifts. I would not climb up on one and kickstart a bike in the raised position. The table will flex when you stand on it in the raised position!!! For the money it is hard to beat the Harbor Freight lift. If you have the big bucks to spend buy a lift like the Western Manufacturing style lift.

The Harbor Freight lift in the lowest raised position.


I use a Pingle removable wheel chock and two tie downs to hold bikes to the lift if I can't use a rear work stand on the bike.

I also have the HF lift. I haven't used it much, but for the price its definitely worth it. I haven't had any other lift to compare it to though. One feature of the adjustable lift is that I can roll it underneath my workbench in the garage when I don't need it. I did build the bench with the lift in mind though as its still like 8+" tall when fully collapsed. It is not as confidence inspiring as I would like when you are picking the bike up, but once you lower it down so it is in the resting position (on the bar) it is very stable.

I like my ABBA lift, both wheels off the ground at the same time and you can roll it out off the way if needed.
For me the best tool Investment ever done.

I recently acquired a used HF lift. The PO said it was about. 5yrs old.
Rated. at 1000lbs. He serviced/ lifted a Honda Gold Wing.
It works great. $150 for this one.

Im considering removable foot rails to widen my HF lift for loading and unloading

The HF lift is a little narrow. I can't put the kickstand down on the KZ when its up there. My versys can put the kickstand down. Not much of an issue if you walk along side the bike when putting it up. Just throw some straps on the handlebars like Dr. Gamma.

I was looking at the ABBA lift. I would have gotten it, but the cost was too high for me at the time. It also didn't readily have adapters for my KZ. I'm pretty sure you can make the adapters pretty easily though.

Scirocco wrote: I like my ABBA lift, both wheels off the ground at the same time and you can roll it out off the way if needed.
For me the best tool Investment ever done.

do you have any more photos of how it attaches to your KZ? Im really leaning towards the Abba at the moment because of how awesome to use it looks. how long does it take to setup a bike on it?

It took me about 3 minutes to attaches the ABBA lift to my KZ ready to lift up.
If my swing arm piviot would hollow bored it took only 1 Minute to setup, like i did on my Hayabusa.
Pics of the Kz on the ABBA stand will follow as soon as possible....

This is not my lift, but I thought it noteworthy. Thats a Harley but it may fit others.....

It´s my favorite lift and it´s useful on most bikes, maybe on Harleys scrab metal...

This is my lift for now,. I had to improvise a bit. But don't we all..