Bike Lifts

[sama3033]

Hey People

Has anyone found a good bike lift that will accoomodate a 990 without folding or tipping over and that doesn't cost and arm and a leg? Maybe someone has come up with a DIY fix. Free beers to the best suggestion.

SM

[nevgriff64]

Find a shorter Women so she doesn`t have to bend over as far when she washes your bike..

I`ll have a Tooheys Platinum thanks...

[sama3033]

No beer for you

[MortimerSickle]

I use one of these for my 950 and for my Honda Sabre, which weighs about 150 lb. more. Works very well, and it is priced right (60 bucks.) http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=2792

[sama3033]

Mortimer

This is exactly what I was looking for. Right price too. Many thanks

six pack of your choice whenever we meet!

[jsrider]

Originally Posted by MortimerSickle

I use one of these for my 950 and for my Honda Sabre, which weighs about 150 lb. more. Works very well, and it is priced right (60 bucks.) http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=2792

What part of the bike do you position it under? Aren't there oil lines that get in the way? Do you worry about the bike falling off either front or back?

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by jsrider

What part of the bike do you position it under? Aren't there oil lines that get in the way? Do you worry about the bike falling off either front or back?

It depends on the bike, some do present problems. But happily, it works perfectly on the 950. Just place one runner under the rear hinges of the skid plate and the other under the plate itself. The jack has loops for tie downs, but 950 sits solidly enough that I often don't use them if I am doing only light work. (I should mention that if you are going to take off a wheel, put a block under the other wheel.) For my XR, I use a small square of plywood across the runners to fill the gap between them. My Sabre was more difficult. The exhaust pipes are lower than the frame, so I had to make a cradle to put the load on the frame only.

If I am feeling ambitious tomorrow, I will post a pic of the 950 sitting on the jack.

[jsrider]

Originally Posted by MortimerSickle

It depends on the bike, some do present problems. But happily, it works perfectly on the 950. Just place one runner under the rear hinges of the skid plate and the other under the plate itself.

Sorry, forgot to mention I have a 950 ADV. Assumed the stock skidplate wouldn't be strong enough to take the weight. This would be a perfect solution for me. The price is right and I don't have a lot of room to store a full-size lift. How high can you jack up the bike with it?

Thanks for the info.

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by jsrider

Assumed the stock skidplate wouldn't be strong enough to take the weight. How high can you jack up the bike with it?

The specs claim a 16" lift, but in this picture it measures 16.75", leaving the front tire 4" off the floor and the back tire 5.5" off. This is higher than I usually lift the bike, but it is still stable at this height. (Still, strap it down if you are going to really tweak on it.)





The skid plate seems to be plenty strong enough to support the weight of the bike (actually more like half the weight, because one runner is under the hinge mounts.)





In my small garage, I leave off the T-handle to make the jack more maneuverable.



By the way, Sears sells what looks to be the same jack for 90 bucks.

Another thing: be sure to get a yellow one, or be sure of the part number. I say this because they did also have a red jack that was not as sturdy and was only a little less money. They have an aluminum one too, but it costs $160.

More info here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=2792

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...jack&Submit=Go

[Hank.SD]

This would be the aforementioned Sears / Craftsman one:



I think I got it on sale for $60. Yup they look very similar, although not identical.

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by Frequencydrive

This would be the aforementioned Sears / Craftsman one:



I think I got it on sale for $60. Yup they look very similar, although not identical.

Yeah, that looks like it. And, I see that they are a little different. The side rails on the Sears look like angle iron, and on the Harbor Freight they are channels.

You hit a good deal; Sears currently lists it at $89.99. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...&gobutton=find


Oh yeah- how come your garage is so nice?

[jsrider]

Originally Posted by MortimerSickle

The specs claim a 16" lift, but in this picture it measures 16.75", leaving the front tire 4" off the floor and the back tire 5.5" off.

Rats. I'm looking for something to get the bike pretty high off the floor so I can work on it without having to bend over too far. I am lazy and old, after all. Looks like I may have to go for a full-size under-wheel lift after all.

[MortimerSickle]

Originally Posted by jsrider

Rats. I'm looking for something to get the bike pretty high off the floor...

You could gain another 5 or 6 inches by building a spacer block/box, but you might lose some stability.

If you have room for a full lift, they have them for as little as $300. That will get you up 31". I have never used one, so I can't say how good they are. http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...jack&Submit=Go

[jsrider]

Originally Posted by MortimerSickle

You could gain another 5 or 6 inches by building a spacer block/box, but you might lose some stability.

If you have room for a full lift, they have them for as little as $300. That will get you up 31". I have never used one, so I can't say how good they are. http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...jack&Submit=Go

Yup. I've had my eye on this very one.

[TipOver]

I have not used the above platform lift sold at Harbor Freight but it looks like it might work for occasional use (there is a HF store within 30 minutes here). I can't remember whether it has a rear wheel drop-out panel.

It is NOT a Handy-Lift in quality & guage of sheet metal used. Harbor Freight about $300, Handy-Lift $800-$900 (incl freight?)

You get what you pay for.