Topic: Motorcycle Lifts...

[GroovieGhoulie]

With Christmas coming, I think my dad and I are gonna go in on a Motorcycle Lift as a "Family Gift" since we have a stable of bikes and love doing work, it only makes sense to stop hurting our backs hunching over.

Question though:

All the ones I see are set up to secure the front wheel in a vise for stability, with optional tie-downs.  Now what if you want or need to work on the front end or remove the wheel for tire changes or rim truing?  Do you back the bike on, set it on the centerstand, weight the rear, then secure the rear wheel with the vise?  What if you have a bike with no center stand?  How do you get the front up?

Any advice appreciated on this issue.

Thanks!

[ieism]

I think the best thing to do is also get one of those "race stands"that lift the rearwheel. They can be found pretty cheap, it doesn't have to be a great one.



I have a lift and one of those. It's really easy to get the rear of the ground while the bike is on the lift plateau. Putting the bike on a centrestand while on the lift is a bit annoying.

If you have one of those rearwheel lift things, it's pretty easy to make a small plywood box that fit's under the oilpan. Make the box so high that it slides under when the rearwheel is lifted. Then lower the rearwheel from the stand, and tie the back of the bike to the lift for safety.
Now your frontwheel is off the ground and easy to take out.

Make the plywood box not pefect square, so you can flip it over and have a slightly higher and lower option.

[Old Scrambler]

Most of the front 'vice' holders are removable.  Most shops use a wide-base & plate scissors jack to raise the bike.  A few wooden blocks and safety straps are good to have ready.  I use a light-weight 'fence-stretcher' to lift motors and secure my bikes from the top so the tie-downs are not in the way. When doing front-end work, I can remove the front wheel, then lift the bike just enough to slide the bench or lift to get the forks ahead of the bench.  The lifts with the removable plate at the rear also help a great deal for rear wheel removal on large bikes.  Now I just have to perfect the art of lifting these big lumps with the 'C'-shaped bar and move the lump or the frame into place. In the past (when I was younger) I would roll the bike to the lawn, remove the wheels and motor mounts, then tip the frame to the right and 'dump' the motor on the soft sod.  To install, I would block the motor on end and cradle the frame over the lump with motor mounts at the ready.  That job always takes two!

[kghost]

With a center stand and a couple ratchet straps life is good.

My lift has the removable panel for wheel removal....but honestly I don't us it on the CB's....

They have enough clearance on the center stand.

[GroovieGhoulie]

With a center stand and a couple ratchet straps life is good.

My lift has the removable panel for wheel removal....but honestly I don't us it on the CB's....

They have enough clearance on the center stand.

So get the bike on the lift, then get it on the center stand.  Then use come-alongs to pull the rear end down, then you can unbolt the front end for front wheel and fork work and it's stable?

[kghost]

Oh yeah....I mean I wouldn't take a running start and body slam it.....but you'll probably knock the lift over before the bike.

I added four eye bolts to the Harbor Freight one for the straps.



Could snap some more pictures if you need them....bikes sitting on the lift with the rear wheel off right now....

[GroovieGhoulie]

So I'm guessing the Cessna on the right is a basket case?  Looks like it's been sitting for a while and has lots of hangar rash.

No offense intended, but seeing an airplane used as a workbench hurts my heart. 

Nice lift setup though.  I am convinced more than ever that we need one.

What's the taildragger on the left?

I love airplanes maybe more than bikes.

[kghost]

Yeah the Cessna is an early 210 with struts,

Blue one is a Stinson L-5E Built by the Vultee division.

It flys...waiting on a prop from Sensenich at the moment....

8 week lead time getting them to make one.....

[GroovieGhoulie]

Stinsons are way cool.  Well, damn near all taildraggers are cool.  Sensenich makes a good prop.  My dad had 'em on a couple of his planes.

That's one thing I'm gonna do when I get back, finally get my ticket.  I've built up quite a few "outlaw hours", but I need to make it official.

[ieism]

For people that don't have a centrestand, here's my bike on the lift.


These lifts are great, it really makes working on your bike a lot more enjoyable.

[GroovieGhoulie]

I am gonna get one of those paddock stands, mostly for my non-center-stand bikes.  I'm looking at the "Steel Horse" brand.  Good?

[kghost]

With a welder and some Square tubing (or Round for that matter) you could whip one up in an afternoon...

[Rocking-M]

So where is the best deal on lifts these days? Harbor freights gone up to $399. Could have gotten it last year for $300.
But then I didn't mind rolling on the concrete, now it would be much easier to roll around on my office chair whilst
repairing the duck on a lift. Amazing how much one leg can slow a fellow down.   

[kghost]

So where is the best deal on lifts these days? Harbor freights gone up to $399. Could have gotten it last year for $300.
But then I didn't mind rolling on the concrete, now it would be much easier to roll around on my office chair whilst
repairing the duck on a lift. Amazing how much one leg can slow a fellow down.   

I paid $225 at Harbor Freight.

Was on sale at $269 and I had a discount coupon....Wait for the sale.

[ieism]

I am gonna get one of those paddock stands, mostly for my non-center-stand bikes.  I'm looking at the "Steel Horse" brand.  Good?

I don't think the brand matters much, it's a pretty simple thing. I would get one that allows you to lift the bike under the swingarm. Some stands only have a support for the rearaxel, that makes it a bit harder to remove the rearwheel. Mine has a U shaped support that goes under the swingarm at both sides.