Ready to upgrade? My 2011 KTM 990 is for sale
Harbor Freight Motorcycle Lift
- Thread starter Wamsutta
- Start date
Ready to upgrade? My 2011 KTM 990 is for sale
MayerMR
Well-known member
I've got one, modded it with a Harbor Freight front wheel chock and drilled some holes along the sides to add some U-bolts to allow for front/rear tie-downs for added safety. It's a wonderful lift and I've lifted several large bikes with no problems at all. Always use the safety bar when lifted, but that's just common sense with any lift - use the safety features they have and if you can add more easily (ie, my wheel chock and u-bolt modifications), you should.
bubinga
Well-known member
Yeah, always use the safety catch on my motorcycle jack.
usually drop it on the safety, and jack it up just a "Half a Pump. "
Don't know if that's bad for the jack, but what I usually do.
Snakebyt
Well-known member
picked one up today and took to the shop, setup was easy. Decided to keep it at the shop for now since most all my tools are there. Also i have 2 bikes to work on, Co worker has 2 busas, and another friend there has an R6. So it will see some use im sure
I've got a HF lift table and 2 Handy lift tables. The HF isn't as stable as the Handy's but it is much easier to move around and it is stable enough to not be a problem or risky to use. When I want to really clean the underside of a bike, I use the HF lift out in the driveway. The wheel clamp is junk and while the HF roll in cradle chock works, a better but much more expensive solution is a Condor chock. The Condor chocks have nothing to get in the way of a fork leg lift stand and are easy to pull apart to make front wheel service super easy when you have a bike on a rear stand. Even for bikes with center stands or bikes which can be lifted under the engine, the ability to pull the front of the chock off in seconds makes the Condor chocks really nice on these tables. Lastly, the ability to quickly remove or fold the front stop down on the Condor chocks, makes the HF table low enough to store under a parked a car.
While the Pit Bull stands are really nice (I probably have a half dozen pairs) for service work the best stand I've found is the Abba Superbike Stand. This stand allows, removal of the entire front end including triple trees as well as the rear wheel and it costs less than a pair of Pit Bull stands. Since the wheel vise on Handy lift tables preclude the use of a traditional fork lift, the Abba stand enables the removal of the front end and rear wheel when I have a bike on these tables that I can't use an under the engine jack to lift the front end.
While the Pit Bull stands are really nice (I probably have a half dozen pairs) for service work the best stand I've found is the Abba Superbike Stand. This stand allows, removal of the entire front end including triple trees as well as the rear wheel and it costs less than a pair of Pit Bull stands. Since the wheel vise on Handy lift tables preclude the use of a traditional fork lift, the Abba stand enables the removal of the front end and rear wheel when I have a bike on these tables that I can't use an under the engine jack to lift the front end.
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gda659
Well-known member
They are too heavy and awkward to stand up on its side against a wall.
Awesomely useful tool, though.
Like it's been said, change the front wheel clamp, install some u-bolts, and put a short post or caster wheel under the front to keep it from tipping when at it's lowest and you stand on the front. After that, use it.
bubinga
Well-known member
Dirtydan69
Well-known member
Bagherra
Well-known member
As long as the stands are quality made i.e. Pitbull, there is nothing wrong with stands.
They are used by pro's and those bikes are waaaayyyyyy more expensive than anything on the streets....
driftpin
Well-known member
I just wouldn't want to see it tip-over on me, the cost of all that plastic, sheetmetal, and castings would be tough to take.
When I used my rear bike stand, I used tie-downs attached to an eye-bolt to the other end so that if something unstable happened, the bike wouldn't flop onto its side.
My Handy-Lift works well for me now.
I spoke with the Illinois mechanical engineer who is "Condor" bike transportation and storage devices at Daytona Bike Week. His stuff is top-notch, design & execution.
When I used my rear bike stand, I used tie-downs attached to an eye-bolt to the other end so that if something unstable happened, the bike wouldn't flop onto its side.
My Handy-Lift works well for me now.
I spoke with the Illinois mechanical engineer who is "Condor" bike transportation and storage devices at Daytona Bike Week. His stuff is top-notch, design & execution.
RStewart
Well-known member
this has got me thinking of buying a handy stand for the bike and equipment, and just keeping it up as a work table, instead of making a glued up 2x4 work table. i cant have both bc of room. interesting...anybody do this? thoughts?
bochnak
Well-known member
I bought a used Handy for 425 over 6yrs ago.
Just got a black widow lift with rear drop out panel:
Just got a black widow lift with rear drop out panel:
Snakebyt
Well-known member
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
I don't need one for my Ninja, but I do love tools and would love to have an excuse to have one. Now using it as a portable hydraulic lifted table / work surface- HMM. I've been envious of the hydraulic lift carts. I could see this working just as well with a bit of a wheel change.
Darn it, I don't have room in my garage for all these things!
Darn it, I don't have room in my garage for all these things!
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
My chopper sits on one of these when I'm not riding it. Never been an issue.
I have one of those and never used it for a bike. I was going to get rid of it, but then realized with a simple bracket added to the top, it could be used to position rear axles during repair, or even for transmission installation. I have since picked up a proper transmission jack, but I'm holding on to this thing just in case. Been handy to lift the riding mower too.
wannabridin
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 17, 2011
- Messages
- 140
My HF bike stand has been great. They are certainly worth the money, just don't expect professional features and quality. I had a lemon on the 1st one I got (jack wouldn't pump up), but they exchanged it for a working one and gave me 20% off for my troubles.
I upgraded the wheel chock to a larger one off e-bay. I also put in higher quality jack oil and bled it properly before 1st use. It's worked VERY well for the last 5+ years. I've had 4 or 5 different bikes on there, upwards of 600 lbs and it's never scared me. Just don't be stupid with it and it'll be good. Once I even left it sitting on the jack alone for over a month when I was traveling a lot and it didn't move at all.
I upgraded the wheel chock to a larger one off e-bay. I also put in higher quality jack oil and bled it properly before 1st use. It's worked VERY well for the last 5+ years. I've had 4 or 5 different bikes on there, upwards of 600 lbs and it's never scared me. Just don't be stupid with it and it'll be good. Once I even left it sitting on the jack alone for over a month when I was traveling a lot and it didn't move at all.
225
Well-known member
They're cheap-o stands. Look at Pitbull stands. Well worth the $$ and about what I paid for mine.
https://www.pit-bull.com/
Beautiful! You live in the perfect area for that too. Can't beat those NC Mountain twisties!
That's why I moved here!
Don't get me wrong, the Dragon is fun. But wayyyyyy better stuff around than the Dragon. It's full of cops Harley riders and dumb asses. I still go tho and get my pic taken haha!
If you ride, and wanna ride some gangster stuff, shoot me a PM.
A few pics from last year. I work on a boat, so nothing new yet this year. That's coming next week.
Somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
All Deals Gap pics:
Fontana Dam:
Bridal Veil Falls. Near Highlands, NC :
Honey Shack on NC Hwy 28 (Near the Gap, kinda):
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Snakebyt
Well-known member
They're cheap-o stands. Look at Pitbull stands. Well worth the $$ and about what I paid for mine.
https://www.pit-bull.com/
That's why I moved here!
Don't get me wrong, the Dragon is fun. But wayyyyyy better stuff around than the Dragon. It's full of cops Harley riders and dumb asses. I still go tho and get my pic taken haha!
If you ride, and wanna ride some gangster stuff, shoot me a PM.
A few pics from last year. I work on a boat, so nothing new yet this year. That's coming next week.
Somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
All Deals Gap pics:
Fontana Dam:
Bridal Veil Falls. Near Highlands, NC :
Honey Shack on NC Hwy 28 (Near the Gap, kinda):
extremely jealous, I live in west texas where the people that make the roads called in sick the day they taught curves. Here is a pic of most the roads around here.. haha
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Snakebyt
Well-known member
Snakebyt
Well-known member
kctyphoon
Banned
I think I want a hypermotard to compliment my gsxr..
225
Well-known member
Come on up. I'll show you some **** that will make the Dragon look like the interstate.
Don't do it. Either go standard like my Tuono or a KTM Super Duke 1290, or a Husky 701 Supermoto.
Make sure you ride that hyper before you buy it. And not just around the block either.
kctyphoon
Banned
I just wanna be cool like the chips movie.. lol.. I'm getting to the age that crouching over on a sport bike doesn't outweigh the additional pain killers I need to do it.. I like that all black Suzuki Gsx-s, and the Yamaha MT-1000 though.. although I do enjoy putting my friends in their place when they try to pass me..
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225
Well-known member
I just wanna be cool like the chips movie.. lol.. I'm getting to the age that crouching over on a sport bike doesn't outweigh the additional pain killers I need to do it.. I like that all black Suzuki Gsx-s, and the Yamaha MT-1000 though.. although I do enjoy putting my friends in their place when they try to pass me..
Both solid choices. The Super Duke and Tuono are both monsters.
My old $25k KTM dirt bike.....
kctyphoon
Banned
With street tires heh?
JRC3
Well-known member
I can help you there............ but, you'd probably lose your license....
225
Well-known member
17" supermoto carbon fiber supermoto wheels.
bpjr
Well-known member
Garage space is a problem for me so I'm wondering if I can park the HF lift in the down position under one of my cars? Surely it wont fit under a 350z but I'm thinking it might squeeze under a Camry.
Snakebyt
Well-known member
seeing as i work at a toyota dealer, next time i have a camry on my lift, ill see if it will fit under it.
Sorry for the late reply. What can I say, I'm a cheap ******* and it's down the street from work. I went four separate times to save 20-25% off of all my ratchets haha.
bpjr
Well-known member
Cool, it's a 2013. Thanks. Bill
Snakebyt
Well-known member
Will not fit under a 17 camry, so im gonna assume it will not fit under a 13, its close, but i wouldnt wanna risk it
Snakebyt
Well-known member
while on a HF motorcycle lift,stand/ jack thread. i have 2 of these stands, one has had a bike on it for 4 years. After that much time i am sure the wheels have flat spots
https://www.harborfreight.com/low-profile-rear-motorcycle-spool-stand-99701.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/low-profile-rear-motorcycle-spool-stand-99701.html
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Snakebyt
Well-known member
so i decided to upgrade the wheels, i bought a pair of rollerblades off CL for $10, that gives me 8 wheels with bearings, alot better than what it came with.
i can replace with one wheel in stock location, or i can go dual wheel. Right now im leaning toward dual wheel.
