Motorcycle or ATV Lifts

[Paisley Canoe]

Who has a motorcycle or ATV lift? Any recommendations on types, brands, etc. and what to look for when shopping for one.

I have a couple of street bikes (one 800 lbs. and one 350 lbs and a quad maybe 600 lbs) and I'm tired of sitting on the floor or laying on my back to work on them.

Suggestions? Comments?

Thanks,

Al

 

[hetkind]

I own the Handy lift...very stable, runs on air, but expensive.

Howard

 

[P.Allan]

I took a look at the small ones they sell for motorcycles and desided to make my own. It is 30" wide and 48" long with 4" dia steel swivel wheels on all 4 corners works off a 6 ton hyd jack and lifts a 1500 Wing 20". I wanted something I could sit on a 5 gal pail and work from and not have any fear of the bike tipping. I just didn't trust those square base models to be stable when removing a rear tire or taking the front forks off to put in new seals (which I have to do again this year)
I know it sounds like a hell of a project but nothing on it was hard to figure out -- just draw a full size plan -- I am sure I got less than $75 in it.

 

[sasquach]

Bought mine at Pep Boys and have had my bike on it most of the winter with no tires on it or seat or fenders for that fact and no problems

 

[krusty the clown]

i have two handy's and a craftsman jack. they all have thier purpose. as far as the jack style they all seem about the same.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

We have a Direct Lift Pro Cycle XLT DT that we got from Greg Smith Equipment Company. Best money we've spent in our shop. We've had it about three years and have not had one single problem with it. The guys at Greg Smith were excellent to deal with.





I also have a Pitbull Standard Air Lift. Its a very, very good mobile lift. It lifted my GL1500 with ease. Very stable lift...

 

[rpsurfr]

I have three, the most used is the Handy lift- had it for years, and it is rock solid, Have a HF red lift, ideal for smaller bikes, not so good for the big heavy ones, also had it since they first sold them less than 250 bucks, and have a Silver- one was for sale here in classifieds for about a grand. This one is nice and will lift a big bike.

Only the Handy is air driven the rest foot pump oil, about 15 pumps to get to working height.

I would say figure out the size of the bikes you use, also take a look at ebay some copies of the Handy lift for less.
Lifts are pretty tough- and simple just need one that will not topple over due to high weight up high-damn gravity

Let us know what you get

 

[Hiball]

I can vouch for the Handy Air models, They are first rate.

 

[bdog]

I have the red harbor freight one. I have had it probably 5 years and used it fairly regularly. I am not a repair shop but at one time I had 3 bikes and was using it at least once a week. I was able to fit a stretched panhead chopper on it and it also holds my electra glide with no problems. The Handi lifts are supposed to be the best but for what I do this one works fine and was cheap.

 

[Hatman52]

Another vote for the Handy Lift -- I've had my pneumatic Handy Lift for more than 10 years and it's never missed a beat. They're not cheap -- particularly with freight -- but I certainly feel I've gotten my money out of it. My only regret is not buying one earlier! Once you've worked on your bike on a lift, you'll wonder how you ever put up with sitting/kneeling/laying on the floor.

I have friends with the Harbor Freight lift and are happy with it. I'd be hesitant to put a full-dress touring bike on it, but it seems to work okay for lighter bikes. Considering they're fairly inexpensive and HF is always putting them on sale, it's not a bad way to go, particularly if you pick one up at the HF store to avoid the shipping charges.

 

[BrianM]

Once you've worked on your bike on a lift, you'll wonder how you ever put up with sitting/kneeling/laying on the floor.

I must be the exception to prove the rule then. I hate how lifts push me back from the bike, you can't get up close and comfortable with them. Then, the only lifts I've ever had any experience with are the Handy lifts (always without the ATV side attachments). I'm about 12 years in as a paid mechanic and I still prefer sitting on a rolling stool/seat with a bike on normal stands.

But the Handy lifts I've been around have all been rock solid. If I liked them, I'd have one already. I've seen one on Craigslist for $350 before... someone got a Screaming deal.

 

[Dan_inthewind]

Some time I will pick up an air/ hydra lift but for now this serves me well.

 

[gearbuilder]

I use a 6000# scissor lift for my atv. It was about $1000.

Jamie

 

[harvero]

I think I paid around $300 from Harbor Freight for this lift last year.

 

[moose knuckle]

I think I paid around $300 from Harbor Freight for this lift last year.

How do you like that lift, I thought it looks a little cheesey. But I thought about buying the air/hyd model from them.

 

[iagsxr]

I have a HF lift like the one pictured above. Got it for $199, don't know if they ever run that deal anymore. I love it. The wheel vise is a little cheesy. Just cheesy enough to ***** about, not bad enough that I've taken the time to replace it.

Also have a Handy, came with a building I bought. If I were in a shop situation that the lift was going up and down several times a day I'm sure it'd hold up better than the HF lift. My deal is that I don't have a dedicated place for my lift. The Handy's too fooking heavy to move around. That and it didn't come w/a wheel vise. Can almost buy another HF lift for what a Handy wheel vise costs. Right now the Handy's in my storage building out of the way.

 

[T VETTE]

I like you came to the same conclusion so last year found a used one on ebay, HANDY LIFT all the way. Have even seen them on craigslist. New they are steep, but the best. SO nice to get off the floor, why did I wait so long.........

 

[GzrGlide]

We have a Direct Lift Pro Cycle XLT DT that we got from Greg Smith Equipment Company. Best money we've spent in our shop.

We have one of the Direct lifts too. Good product and the best thing I bought for the garage in a long time. Makes working on the bikes so much easier.

 

[tdkkart]

We have a Direct Lift Pro Cycle XLT DT that we got from Greg Smith Equipment Company. Best money we've spent in our shop. We've had it about three years and have not had one single problem with it. The guys at Greg Smith were excellent to deal with.

Me three......
Agreed, best money ever spent on my shop. The side extensions making it 48" wide are well worth having, allows me to ride my HD Ultra right up on the lift. Also works great for working on my ZTR mower and makes an excellent workbench/welding table.

I used it for an adjustable height worktable/chassis table when building my trike: http://www.tdkmotorsports.com/trikebuild/trikebuild.html

 

[ctd]

We have a couple of lifts at our shop, that are all posted already. So I will comment on what I would like.

ATVs are like vehicles to work on, at times you need unobstructed access to the under center area. Example oil changes, installing plow mounts, Diff & drive shaft issue's

Other times you would like all 4 wheels hanging. Example,wheels & tires, brakes, tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings etc.

So sometimes a mid lift scissor that is clear underneath would work or the four post lift at times. I'm not aware of an ATV lift that flexible like this.

I find overall a table lift does not help much other than being at a more comfortable work height.

 

[tncatadjuster]

I have two an old Italian one that the HF is copied off of, and a new Pro Lift form Derrick Weaver. I really like the air lift.

http://www.derekweaver.com/update/products.aspx?id=1&d=Pro-Cycle_Motorcycle_Lifts

 

[Kinger]

I made mine out of plywood and an HF wheel chock.....

 

[zmotorsports]

In our shop we have a Cylce Pro like mentioned above and a Handy both air operated. They work great and a real time/back saver. I personally like the Handy better although I like the larger size of the Cycle Pro.

Another thing I like about the Handy over the Cycle Pro is the smooth surface of the Handy, the tread plate design of the Cycle Pro does not clean as easily. I know it is a little nit-picky but the Handy cleans up nicer during or between jobs.

One I really like is the Ranger RML750HD. That is a nice looking unit. Mike.