Harbor Freight motorcycle lift

[riggpigg]

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

If riding a motorcycle onto a lift is a challenge for you, you should sell your bikes.............................and buy a golf cart....

[exeric]

If riding a motorcycle onto a lift is a challenge for you, you should sell your bikes.............................and buy a golf cart....

What the hell is that suppose to mean?

[fillibuster]

What the hell is that suppose to mean?

Probably means he's young and cocky, or old and cocky. I was there once, when I didn't have to reckon with aging.
And maybe he has long legs. Even then, if a 900# ultra gets away just a little, well, be sure the grandkids are far enough away. That chock isn't gonna do it.

[exeric]

Fillibuster, I took it a dumbass comment because I wasn't even talking about motorcycle lifts.

[len dowe]

Imo, I'm not putting a 60k bike or more on a lift that cost 300.00.
Good work ain't cheap and cheap work ain't good.

[BoschZEV]

Imo, I'm not putting a 60k bike or more on a lift that cost 300.00.

The price of a bike has nothing to do with the price of a lift. If a particular lift has the strength to hold a bike securely it gets that box checked on the minimum acceptable checklist irrespective of the price of that lift. Beyond that there certainly are construction and convenience features (and brand names, and the cost of national advertising, and dealer markups, etc.) that result in a factor of 4x retail price range of lifts. But, an informed consumer wouldn't pay 4x more for a lift based only on the price of the bike, rather than on anything technical (like one lift having a more expensive air-over-hydraulic ram vs. the other having to be pumped up by foot).

[scott379usa]

I have both the Air powered lift (with side extensions)and the cheaper hydraulic lift, Both have worked very well! Hard to beat for the money.

[pisten-bully]

The price of a bike has nothing to do with the price of a lift.

I only think Len was indicating a higher level of comfort he (probably me, too) would have lifting a big investment in money and time off the ground with a more expensive lift. You do get what you pay for sometimes, and if you wish to spend more on a higher quality lift because it makes you feel more secure, there's no questioning that!

[BoschZEV]

... if you wish to spend more on a higher quality lift because it makes you feel more secure, there's no questioning that!

Hey, if spending $1200 makes someone feel more secure, who am I to point out that for $300 the bike would have been just as secure?

By all means, people should spend whatever it takes to make themselves feel good. But, for everyone on limited budgets, you can feel good about using the $300 lift irrespective of the current worth of your bike.

[rbenash]

Ok so no one answered my question. You can see my question upthread?

Let me restate and see if someone can give me some options.

Is there a lift that shop folks like that would place me somewhere between a Harbor Freight and more upscale.

I've seen lifts in shops that I liked. I'd be looking for something that has minimal elevation above the floor when collapsed so I can drive a car over it when not in use.

I'm not looking for something to stand up in a corner, etc.

I have several air compressors so can accommodate something pneumatically operated.

I'd like to find something that can just be on the floor under the car until I work on a bike. I back the car out, connect an air hose. Run the
bike up on the lift do the tie down thing or whatever. Don't care if I ride it on or push it on. But if it's low enough I should be able to do either.

Get my drift? I'd like to talk about lift selection/opportunities and what budget/price spread it requires.

[motorhead1]

I'll chime in Ray. Northern tool sells Direct Lifts. The price range is in between the Harbor Freight unit and the Handy unit. They also sell Handy. I own both brands and I can tell you that the Direct lift is just as sturdy as the Handy and replacement parts are available if needed. It sells for $799 and includes a strong wheel vise. And yes, it's an import. I think this will answer your question.

[BoschZEV]

There may be more than one model of Direct Lift, but the ones I looked at on the web do not have a cutout for the rear wheel. The reason this may, or may not, be important to you is with some bikes it is impossible to remove the rear wheel when on the lift if there isn't a cutout. Not only that, the cutout has to be the right size. A friend has a Velocette in his shop right now that needs a new rear tire and the design of the rear fender stays makes it impossible to remove even with the bike on its center stand (yes, it's a really stupid design). Unfortunately, when on the no-name-visible lift that does have a cutout, the cutout isn't long enough to allow removal of the tire, either. Anyway, this just points out that you can't take anything for granted with a lift. You have to carefully examine its features and compare with the bikes you're likely to use it with to make sure there aren't any "hidden" issues like this one.

[rbenash]

BoschZEV and motorhead1 - thanks for that input!!

I do have 3 very different vintage bikes. '59 BMW R26, 65 FLH HD resto, '81 Honda GL1100i with Type 1 Radio.

I want one lift where I can park the car over it unless I am working on the bike - then the car is back out on the driveway till I'm done on the bike.

I want to be able to do any/all maintenance with the bike near waste level so I can work on it standing up and not have to do that freaking roll around seated cart thing
or lay on my driveway. I'm just getting too old for that :-) I'll spend the bucks to get there but nothing wrong with making a choice that makes the best sense.

I want be able to back the car out, roll a bike on, elevate it and work till I'm done. I really am not excited about jacking so the pneumatic lift has a good attraction to me.

[pisten-bully]

I want be able to back the car out, roll a bike on, elevate it and work till I'm done.

Time to get the tape measure out and see how much clearance is underneath the Rolls you bought for your wife! I see some lifts are advertising 7" height when lowered.

[Rollo]

May or may not be an option but one of my chapter members has a "well" in the floor he poured in his shop. The lift sits in it and is flush with the rest of the floor when the lift is down. Worst case is you could cut out the "well" and re-pour that portion. I have two Handy lifts and doubt that many cars would be able to straddle them successfully. Short of a truck or older vehicle which would have the clearance height to make it. Could be wrong but might be an expensive experiment.

Tom (Rollo) Hardy
AMCA #12766