Motorcycle Adapter for a MidRise?

[ablebaker]

I'm thinking of putting together a platform of sorts that will fit on my midrise and allow me to drive a motorcycle on to it for serviceing. Anyone out there done anything like this? Steel, I think, would be to heavy, perhaps 3/4" plywood reinforced in stratgic areas...Ideas and suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks.

 

[DC Ranger]

I have never heard of someone doing a modification to a midrise to make it so it can lift a bike. It sounds like an interesting idea but I do not think it would work unless you got a steel plate to cover up the entire top section of the lift. The midrise lifts I have used all have virtually no material between the two sides of the lifting platform. This is exactly where you would need to put a bike. I would recommend getting something like this http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/motorcycle-lifts/RML-600.aspx , I have used it with my bike and it worked great and also kept me from bending over all the time.

 

[ablebaker]

I have a Norco midrise which is well supported in the middle, I just need something under the wheels on each end. I'll probably try to reenforce a plywood sheet with angle iron in the major stress areas (under the wheels).
I had a motorcycle platform lift like your suggestion, don't have room for it and the midrise so I have to come up with something that works with the midrise. Ideally I would be able to wench it up to the ceiling on pulleys when not in use...we see about that after I solve the first problem.

 

[daveroy]

I can think of several ways to accomplish this, it all depends on what sort of work you are looking to do while the bike is on the lift.

If you are just looking to get it up to comfortable working level, then a trailer rail fastened to the lift and the bike properly strapped would work.

If you are looking to do rear suspension work, then a front wheel chock and a center jack on the lift would prob. work pretty well.

You could certainly build a small platform out of 2X4s or such with 3/4" or 5/4" decking and have the surface area of one of the other motorcycle platform lifts. I would just be sure the platform is well attached to the lift itself.

There is a post on here somewhere, where someone built a platform to use with thier 2 post lift. That should give you some Ideas as well.

 

[ablebaker]

Thanks Dave, hadn't thought about a rail, that might be a more elegant solution.