Motorcycle lift jack or Table?

[wesalexleft]

I'm torn between a full motorcyle lift table, or a high lift jack. Looking at Harbor Freight equipment. They have the High Lift Jack that will raise a motorcycle over 1K pounds up 30". this is the 2 arm jack that goes underneath the frame and raises the balanced bike up with both tires free. I like this because of it's small size for my two car garage. It's about $179.00. I worry about balancing a 1100 Vtwin on it that weighs over 600 pounds though.
My next option is their lift table, which with a coupon is $299.00. This is the full size table that you ride the motorcycle on, secure, and then raise. This also has a 30" lift, and would be far more secure. The problem with this is the 300 pound lift would take a large chunk of space in the garage. The wife's car is low to the ground and parking above the table version is out. I considered keeping a bike parked on it full time to utilize the space. (More than one bike).

Any opinions on either or both? If anyone uses both the jack and the stand, which one would work best for all around service, maintenence, but please keep space in mind.

 

[rquackenbush]

I have a little motorcycle jack. It's handy, but for serious work I would really like to have a table.

As far as parking is concerned, my dad uses his jack to position his bike out of the way in his shed to maximize floor space.

 

[1982fxr]

Table blows away those little lifts. imo no comparison. I've used the harbor freight table lift, I thought it was pretty good. Probly the next best thing to a Handy. I've heard of guys just parking a bike on them all the time to save space, but I think it's made to be able to stand it up and out of the way against a wall, but you'd have to check on that.

Is that $299 and then you can still use a 20% off coupon?

 

[rslaback]

Nope, $299 coupon OR 20% off coupon.

 

[LSU]

I gave my brother who rides a HD FatBoy a Black Widow motorcycle lift table for Christmas last year. It runs on air and puts that FatBoy up at a good working height. Forgot where I bought it but I got it off the internet and had it truck shipped to his house.

He loves it.

Runs on air.

I also gave him a MC stand (this fits under the bike so it can be on a table and one can take the wheel off).

I also gave him the tie down straps to hold the bike to the table.

I'm not a motorcycle guy so I asked around and this is what was recommended. My brother loves his and uses it almost weekly.

When we first tested it a bunch of us stood on it (I'd guess about 1000+ pounds) and it ran up and down with no problem.

 

[daveroy]

I gave my brother who rides a HD FatBoy a Black Widow motorcycle lift table for Christmas last year. It runs on air and puts that FatBoy up at a good working height. Forgot where I bought it but I got it off the internet and had it truck shipped to his house.

He loves it.

Runs on air.

I also gave him a MC stand (this fits under the bike so it can be on a table and one can take the wheel off).

I also gave him the tie down straps to hold the bike to the table.

I'm not a motorcycle guy so I asked around and this is what was recommended. My brother loves his and uses it almost weekly.

When we first tested it a bunch of us stood on it (I'd guess about 1000+ pounds) and it ran up and down with no problem.

Wow! you want to adopt me!?

I have a handy lift and love it! (craigslist find for $500 long time back)
Tire changes (actually anything that req. wheel removal) is still a little less than ideal, but I have a 'Black Jack' that I put on the table to lift one wheel or the other at a time... works well.

 

[2oolhound]

A table stand that has a mid section that can still raise the frame up off the table so the wheels come up. Both types are handy.

Why not get one of those awning type car ports you could put up in the driveway for the wife's car?

 

[jusridin]

I would have to ask how often you would use the lift? If ya seldomly work on your bike, get the jack. If your always working on the bike, get the lift.
I prefer the lift any day of the week, but I am always playing with my bike.I have a few buddies that bought lifts and sold them 6 months later.

 

[shoturtle]

tables are nice to work on the bike, but there are times you still need a jack. Especially when doing suspension work and need to get the bike off the wheels and unload the suspension.

 

[wood02]

I have this...http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-motorcycle-tcmlw.html
and the Craftsman red lift. I park the Heritage on the table lift. When washing the bike I use the Craftsman to get the wheels. I bought the Craftsman when I bought the bike. For detailing and maintenance...the table lift is nice!!!

 

[wesalexleft]

I do all the service on the bikes as well as repairs as needed. Three bikes total. Still, I'm not working on them all that often. Seems like 2-3 times per year each bike. That's oil changes, valve adjust, carb work, wheels/brakes, and the like. I worry about such a large size committment for the work I'm doing on the bikes, but I just completed a valve adjust/carb clean/oil change and tune up on the v-twin, and I've got to admit that I'm getting too old to crouch in the floor for long periods. Leaning towards the lift table, but I really enjoy my uncluttered garage too. Sounds like the lift table is winning in opinion though. The Harbor Freight table for $300.00 is almost too good to pass up. Even if I decided it was too much to keep in the garage, I woudn't take a beating selling it later. It would make an okay workbench in the off time I suppose.

 

[rslaback]

Any body want a super large, super heavy duty lift with a super high height?

http://madison.craigslist.org/grd/3071281801.html

 

[racer1735]

I have both styles of lift. Bought the Crafstmen version of the smaller lift about 10 years ago. It works well with my smaller bikes, but they have to have cradle frames to use properly, or else you have to devise a jig to put under the engine to make it work.

Then, I bought the HF table lift for $299 two years ago and it has absolutely been the best purchase I have made in a long, long time. To do it right, you need to also purchase a decent wheel chock for it. I also replaced all the fasteners with ones I purchased at the local hardware store (HF fasteners are notoriously cheesy). It works with all my bikes...the CR85, XL600 and my ST1300.

Another 'plus' for the table is the myriad of non-moto uses you will get out of it. I backed my truck up to it and used it to unload a tool cabiniet when I made that purchase. Also use it as a second workbench on certain items that need to be in the middle of the garage to work on.

As you mentioned, I my ST1300 spends the winter months parked on it, as well (in the 'down' position'.

$299 is a good price (common, but very good for what you get). You can spend a LOT more for a table with additional features. But if you are simply looking for a table that will lift and hold your machine for repairs and maintenance, you can't go wrong with this one.

 

[gerryw]

I have both styles of lift. Bought the Crafstmen version of the smaller lift about 10 years ago. It works well with my smaller bikes, but they have to have cradle frames to use properly, or else you have to devise a jig to put under the engine to make it work.

Then, I bought the HF table lift for $299 two years ago and it has absolutely been the best purchase I have made in a long, long time. To do it right, you need to also purchase a decent wheel chock for it. I also replaced all the fasteners with ones I purchased at the local hardware store (HF fasteners are notoriously cheesy). It works with all my bikes...the CR85, XL600 and my ST1300.

Another 'plus' for the table is the myriad of non-moto uses you will get out of it. I backed my truck up to it and used it to unload a tool cabiniet when I made that purchase. Also use it as a second workbench on certain items that need to be in the middle of the garage to work on.

As you mentioned, I my ST1300 spends the winter months parked on it, as well (in the 'down' position'.

$299 is a good price (common, but very good for what you get). You can spend a LOT more for a table with additional features. But if you are simply looking for a table that will lift and hold your machine for repairs and maintenance, you can't go wrong with this one.

What he said!!

use for my gsxr or fxr-sp, very pleased!

One thing i did (after i almost lost the bike due to rear wheel plate slipping out of position) was to drive a sheet metal screw ( actually 2) to hold rear plate in position.

 

[Ric in Richmond]

I have an air powered Handy with extension and clamp.

LOVE IT. So glad I bought it and makes working on bike a breeze.

I cleaned and lube the shift mechanism on my bike today. All at waist high.



Easy to get suspension off: Center stand, jack stands or blocks under frame and then use straps to secure one end down and do what you need.

THe aren't all that tall, but might be tough to park over. You can get a handle that slips in one end and jacks it up and you can roll it around.

Cars aren't allowed in my garage unless I am working on them.

 

[shoturtle]

depends on what you are doing, suspension work you will need to jack it off the wheels. If I only had one, the jack would be the one I get first.