Motorcycle side lift.

S

sonicboom500

Hero member
http://www.discountramps.com/mcImages/motorcycle-stand-lift-2.jpg
I wondered if anyone had any experience of using these as a more compact option than paddock stands.
The ones I have been looking at use adapters for various bike models.
They seem more versatile than fixed stands.
 
I couldn't figure out how it worked until I googled a video


I reckon it's pretty limited as to what you can do with it. Might be OK for removing wheels, but not much else. Another potential problem: What if you want to work on the side of the bike where the jack is attached?

Also looks like a bit of farting around to fit it to a bike. If you have several bikse, you'd probably need a bunch of different brackets.

I reckon the table-style lift is much more versatile for general maintenance.
 
Buck up & buy a table for all the aforementioned reasons. With only 6" of lift you will still be sitting on the floor with your tools scattered about...and limited with what work you can do.
 
Got a once used lift on fleabay..... best thing I have purchased.

New around 270ish and one at moment at ?99....front wheel clamp is
essential.
 
I got sucked into buying a standard model Handy lift, after visiting Paul LeClair and getting to use his.  Not cheap, but well-made.  I finally got tired of sitting or laying on the ground while doing maintenance.
 
The Black Widow side lift appears to need 2 large holes in the side of the frame at the precise centre of gravity of the bike.
Modern stuff may have such a mounting point (hollow swingarm shaft plus A.N. other) but no use on our old bikes without some sort of major adaptor.
 
Popped down to see a local lad selling one of this type after seeing a Bursig lift in a customers workshop.
An 1198 Duc was sitting across the back wall of his garage resting on the lift in its lowered position.
He pushed the lever and dragged it outside by the handlebar, rotated it through 180 degrees in its own length
and dropped it back to the ground, flipped out the side stand and slid out the lift.
It has a steel sleeve fixed inside the frame attached to the top engine mount for the lift pin and another fits round the
swing arm pivot. The only parts obscured by the lift post are the swing arm pivot and the gear linkage.
I liked the idea of being able to remove the entire front end, back wheel, rear suspension etc. and still be able to move it
out of the way in my small workshop. I plan to make up fixtures to fit the Monty and small vfr  neither of which have centre stands.
I've got one of these small wheeled stools as a sop to my advancing years.
The lad only used it when he had to take the wheels off to have new tyres fitted, for chain cleaning and sometimes when he washed it.
Modern bikes, boring, boring, boring.
He was going to just use his paddock stands as they worked on his off road bikes as well.
Just as I was leaving he popped a bobbin bar through the Duc rear axle and started to lift it with a paddock stand, something on the floor
stopped one of the wheels and it twisted off one bobbin fortunately we both grabbed the bike before it got far.
Only time will tell if it's a good idea but there's always E-Bay and petrol and matches.     
 
Had my doubts about how good the Harbor Freight was going to be but was pleasantly surprised. I am going to make a change to the front wheel hold but other than that for $300 it is really hard to beat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/1000-lb-capacity-motorcycle-lift-68892-8495.html

The picture is what it starts looking like when I pack up for my return to work in the Land that time forgot, and with the R100RT on it raising it was a breeze with the foot stand. The way the shop/shed is built I have eye-hooks overhead used to strap the front and back of the bike just in case (I'm too old to play rugby with a 600 pound moto falling on me). There are wheels to roll it around on but that is not an option for me, so when it comes to working on the bikes my back thanks me every time.  8) 

Not too sure how that contraption would work for me on the driveway but ya never know.
 

Attachments

  • rsz_dscf5412.jpg
    rsz_dscf5412.jpg
    191.2 KB · Views: 33
Clay, do take Harbour Freight seriously when they warn you to check the hydraulic fluid level and bleed the system. I have one exactly the same as yours, has always worked great but there was a big bubble in the hydraulic system when I unpacked it. And as usual with the Chinese stuff, the cast aluminium is like stale cheese, don't overtighten anything.

Ken
 
No argument get a proper workshop lift, I've had one for years, a 'scissor' lift one as the length is constant unlike the parallelogram type which is longer down than when up. Mine handled my then RGA Jota Sprint with ease. Do the job right.
 
I've found most of the maintenance I have to do on my bikes involves front and rear suspension, brakes tyres and wheel removal.
My shed is the easiest place to work on the bikes but is only 5m x 4m with a bench at one end with a roll cab and another bike in it.
The doors are in the side.

I looked at the lift stands but all they seemed to do is bring the ground higher (remember no centre stands) and I could not clamp
the front wheel if for example I wanted to change wheel bearings, head bearings, fork seals, discs or tyres.

Being able to dismantle the front end straight onto the bench then push the rest down to the other end up against the wall out of the way
was the convenience I was looking for.
I'll let you know if it works for my specific requirements, only time will tell.
 
Thanks for the tip Ken, I don't recall reading much about it when I put it in the shop  :-X . Not sure how long the hydraulics will last on it but I figure I can get an industrial one made to higher standards if need be, or maybe I just need to do it now and save the heart ache. All the steel stuff looks ok, sharp edges even though they are sort of rounded off, but for the amount of use it has worked so far. But time will tell. How is the paint holding up on it?

Clay
 
dont waste your money
yes it will be a help but not the total answer
get a proper table lift they are just superb and you can eailly park a bike on it when not in use, once you have got one you will never look back.At the moment you should keep your eyes out for a second hand one at any of your local professional dealers, because they are all upgrading to pneumatic ones which have a cordeless remote control, mine actually cost me nothing because Tom was working for Pissa hut at the time and they moved/refurbished their workshops, their were seven hydraulic lifts up for grabs and lots of people that wanted them, the decision was made to offer them for sealed tender bids and the seven highest bidders will then get a used lift, Tom bidded both for one of them (and all seven) on my behalf, when they were opened, only seven people had made a bid, so the manager said  " you know what none of these wankers are prepared  to put their  money were their mouth is, so you seven can each have a free lift"
RESULT!!!
Clem
 
'71 SF said:
How is the paint holding up on it?
Click to expand...

Clay, as long as you don't spray it directly with carburetor cleaner the paint's actually quite good (guess how I know  ::)). Even brake fluid doesn't seem to be all that much of a hazard, although you wouldn't want to leave a spill just sitting there. And there doesn't seem to be much rust appearing either, just amazing in a Florida garage.

Ken
 
Maybe I need to prep and paint mine with a chemical resistant paint while it is still kinda new  :LOL:, and being on the gulf coast mine has shown no issues with rust yet so I can't say that this lift isn't that bad. Time will tell...... 8)

Clay
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top