Bike lift...opinions sought.

[SteveD]

Thanks all. You've collectively confirmed my own thoughts.

I had a look at it because the price was right but the working base seemed way too small! The longer ones like the Harbour Freight lifts and like the one Grant has are $500 to $600 here.

Grant, I'll see if I can source the Spannerman in Williamstown. Thanks.

[R90Steve]

It is pretty hard to beat the value of the Harbor frieght lift on sale or off. I have two of them and one of the little Craftsman lifts like The Raven's. The Craftsman lift is a little shaky while trying to get an Airhead on it, no doubt. It works fine for most dualsport and dirt bikes though. The construction of an Airhead just doesn't lend itself very liftable from the bottom IMO.
I heard numerous complaints regarding the failure of the hydraulic jack in the Craftsman unit. After mine quit I took it apart several times before finally converting a regular 6 ton import jack to fit.

[sterob]

I have a table bike lift Steve. I think you can get them for about $500 these days. Alot safer and you will use it so much you won't know how you did without it.

Sterob

[Frog]

I have a Handylift and love it. One of my friends and professional moto mechanic chose the harbor freight lift over any other. He loves how simple and adjustable it is. I do understand his point.

The Handylift is sturdy and well built. But the height adjustments are limited to the notches that are on it. It is also quite heavy and not easily moved with a bike on it. The harbor freight model can be moved with a bike on it. The harbor freight model does have sway to it, while the Handylift is rock solid.

[guy]

Go with the harbor freight lift. I waited a long time for a sale with a price I could stomach until I finally bought it. Air heads are light enough to never over load the 1000lb lift. Use as many tie downs as you need to feel comfortable and set the leveling screws first. I have used a Sears ATV lift but it is a pia because it blocks access on the side it is run under the bike from.
Guy

[Deleted User 287]

Go with the harbor freight lift.

We have to remember that SteveD (OP) is in Australia, and probably doesn't have a Harbor Freight store on the continent.

[Roy Gavin]

The main problem with the little screw up stand is that you need clear access to the frame rails to use it, and to get this on my airheads you would have to remove either the exhaust or the center stand, or both.

You might be able to make up a block/spacer to fit under the sump, but you would want the bike/stands better stabilized , perhaps a few eye bolts in the floor to attach tie downs.

Would be perfect for the BSA B44's exposed frame rails - stands that go down to 120mm are hard to find.

I won a couple of old pallets and made a little ramp and low platform out of them - even 140mm makes a surprising difference, and a couple of milk crates as seats work well too.

[Jeff in W.C.]

Riderwearhouse offers a aluminum or steel plank w/ramp that sits on top of two milk crates. $267/$237 respectively.

For that kind of money, I would make my own from wood. And because the milk crate height is less than other home-made stands, it would be easier to get the bike up.

Also, the riderwearhouse crate workstand has a maximum weight of 500lbs. While I'm not very knowledgeable in this area, it seems a bit low to me.

[SteveD]

Riderwearhouse offers a aluminum or steel plank w/ramp that sits on top of two milk crates. $267/$237 respectively.

For that kind of money, I would make my own from wood. And because the milk crate height is less than other home-made stands, it would be easier to get the bike up.

Also, the riderwearhouse crate workstand has a maximum weight of 500lbs. While I'm not very knowledgeable in this area, it seems a bit low to me.

From memory, a R100RS weighs 215kg dry. So just over 470lbs before the fluids are considered. Tank off would knock > 30lbs off, depending on volume of petrol in it.

I've got my eye on a Harbour Freight style stand, before I go thinking of alternatives.

[KenHawk]

Look....

I bought one of those small (But heavy!) "bike lifts" and kept it around for maybe 48 hours before returning it to Sears. Complete junk!

The HF lift isn't perfect but if it's used with a modicum of common sense, it'll make maintaining a bike much more of a pleasure than laying around in your driveway trying, to get a good look at the bottom of the bike. IMO, at less than $300 OTD, it's a real bargain thats made the Airhead hobby much more of a pleasure than it was before.

PS: I seldom use more than two straps to secure the bike to my lift unless I need to move the bike, while it remains on the lift. When I do that "stupid pet trick", I always lower the lift before horsing things around. Moving the lift with the bike raised up, is asking for an expensive accident!