Harbor Freight motorcycle lift

[Tom Lovejoy]

Just curious, any of you guys have one? have you tried them, what did you think? thanks

[DCoul]

I've had one for a few months now. So far so good. I did get the upgraded wheel chock. The one that comes with it I wouldn't trust.

[Buster]

I bought one about a month ago. Like he said needs wheel chock changed. I also found almost too narrow to ride bike up on and put your feet down on lift. Good buy for $299, when on special. Good for my personal use.

[DanM]

I've had mine for a few years now. I had the under chassis jack type, but I was still sitting on the ground, and it was tricky to get the balance when trying to take off wheels, etc. The Harbor Freight stand was a lot cheaper than anything else, and I wanted a Handy, but could not justify it. I always strap the bike down. It is great to work at any height. As noted, the front wheel clamp doesn't work by itself to hold the bike well, but it helps. I also use the scissor jack to raise the frame to put wood blocks under it. I found I don't move it around the shop, so for extra security plan to secure to the floor with concrete anchors. It comes with a bar to insert to take the pressure off the cyclinder for long periods- it should help to make that last. I had seen some other reviews about the cylinder going out so bought the warranty, but mine has worked just fine.

[Tom Lovejoy]

Right on guys, thanks. I was thinking of making one, but their on special and I thought it looked pretty good for the price.

[Tom Wilcock]

Mine always lowers itself in about 1 hour even with no weight on it. It did that from new. Probably just a leaking valve. I will tear it apart and fix it sometime. I could not build one for the price I paid for it. Tom Wilcock

[Skirted]

http://www.caimag.com/forum/showthread.php?20851-Bought-another-HF-lift-table&highlight=harbor+freight

[duffeycycles]

Anybody that thinks you should ride your bike on should have a tilt trailer to go with it

[AFJ]

Mine always lowers itself in about 1 hour even with no weight on it. It did that from new. Probably just a leaking valve. I will tear it apart and fix it sometime. I could not build one for the price I paid for it. Tom Wilcock

Bought one from Princess Auto. It was the larger model hydraulic but not the deluxe one with compressed air lift. $320 including tax. Paid for itself on the first job I didn't have to take to a dealer. Has worked well for 5+ years now and has had lots of use , and no problems. The simple wheel clamp works OK with a couple of pieces of wooden board to protect rims and tires. I always have several tie-down straps rigged to keep things steady.
I did already have a home-built wooden lift with hydraulics supplied by a $35 1.5 ton lever jack and it worked well, and still does, on the lighter (less than 400 lb) bikes or large components being worked on in the shop. Total cost to build that one was about $100.
On either lift, I push the bike up onto them, and I do that when putting any of the 4 bikes onto the trailer for long trips to a meet or rally. Riding a running bike onto a lift, trailer rail, into a van, or onto a pick-up truck bed is too often a bad idea gone wrong.
AFJ

[exeric]

Riding a running bike onto a lift, trailer rail, into a van, or onto a pick-up truck bed is too often a bad idea gone wrong.AFJ

It's also one of the funniest things you'll ever see; providing no one gets hurt.

[motorhead1]

It's also one of the funniest things you'll ever see; providing no one gets hurt.

True. But the scars do make for a better story.

[Tom Lovejoy]

Thanks again guys, I was thinking it would be hard to build one as good. For the price their selling them.

[BoschZEV]

I found I don't move it around the shop, so for extra security plan to secure to the floor with concrete anchors.

My Harbor Freight lift is "permanently" in one location in my garage but I've never felt any need to bolt it to the floor. I've had it for 3-4 years but have never seen a situation where it felt the least bit insecure. Mine has the OEM wheel chock that others have (rightly) criticized as being wobbly, but since I always use tie-downs on the bikes when on the stand it's just fine. I did, however, have to cut pieces out of both sides of the clamp because otherwise they would interfere with the discs on my modern bikes. Also, as others have said, for the price it just can't be beat, although I wouldn't recommend it for use in business where bikes would be up and down on it all day, every day.

Since my restorations take years (decades...) I do them on wood stands I built that are at the height of a fully raised HF (or other) lift. When done I can lift them off with an engine hoist. However, there have been times when it would be nice to have two lifts. For example, when a bike is on the HF lift waiting for a backordered part, and with its parts scattered around on the platform, and I'd like to work on another one. The downside of two HF lifts, though, is they take up a lot of floor space even when not used. Although a bike not needing work could be parked on a lowered lift the platform still takes up floor space and gets in the way of walking around.

This became a more pressing issue recently so I looked at Craigslist where I found a Kendon "Stand-Up" lift had been listed for a while. The owner was anxious to be rid of it so it made the move to my garage. The advantage of it as a second lift is it doesn't have the full-width platform of the HF lift so it doesn't take up as much room in a crowded garage when in use, and it folds up flat against the wall when not in use. Also, it has an air-over-hydraulic jack that makes life oh so much easier. For me, at least, the Kendon wouldn't be the best choice as my only lift, but it's an excellent choice as my second lift, so it's something others might want to consider.

[sprglde]

I bought the lift with the full size chocks and hydraulic/air about 7 years ago and never had a problem. Great deal for the price, imo.

[rbenash]

Been looking for awhile as well. And - wondering if there is something folks have used (can be air activated or manual) That's somewhere between the HG and a Handy SAM2 in price
Just saying I could a little more $$ in quality than the HF but the Handy SAM2 is at the other end.