Bike Lift Options

[-Monty-]

I've just finished building a workshop for my bike (and future bikes) in my garden. It's a pretty decent size (4m x 4m) so am now thinking about buying a lift for easier maintenance.

So far I have found 3 options:

- ABBA Skylift - This is the most expensive option at around £450, but seems to allow the greatest access to all parts of the bike, and allows the bike to be easily wheeled around the workshop, making storage much simpler. The main drawback with this is that the bike compatibility seems to be fairly limited. My ZX7r will be fine, but potentially not with future bikes, especially older ones or tourers.

- EazyRizer Lift - Cheaper than the Skylift but not hydraulic. Also seems to have a strange mounting system so not really that convinced by this one. Also, no casters so can't be used to move bikes around.

- Sealey Motorcycle Ramp - Cheaper than the skylift, but doesn't look like it offers the same access to all parts of the bike and takes up a massive amount more space (although a bike could be stored on the ramp if needs be). Also, would still need to use the paddock stands for my ZX7r as it has no centre stand. The main advantage of this for me is that it will be compatible with any future bike as long as it doesn't exceed the 365kg weight limit, and since I have no intention of buying a Goldwing any time soon, that will work for me.

So, does anyone have experience with any of these, or any thoughts which could influence a decision?

Thanks

Alex
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Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]

[craigT19]

Personally if i was building a work shop i would go for a full ramp.

Never had any issues with doing any jobs on any bikes using my ramp combined with a paddock stand or a flat top scissor jack when i was in the trade.
The abbas style stands are good (I own one) but they arnt brilliant. Mine is planted on the flat but on any sort of incline it wobbles around, when doing up anything that requires some grief (or a breaker bar) mine twists abit... not the most confidence inspiring. I find myself having to finger tight some things, lower the bike, torque up, raise the bike... continue which can be a ball ache after awhile. Also as you said any time you change bikes you may have to fork out for the right attachments...although some of them are the same.

If i were to build a workshop and storing a ramp was going to be a problem i would look at dropping the ramp into the floor, either digging a hole or raising the floor around it.
A friend of mine did neither and uses a hand operated winch. The cable runs from the winch up the wall above it along the ceiling above the ramp where it splits into 4 with hook on the end, he hooks one on each corner and lifts the ramp up to the roof beams.

Great idea but he has enough ceiling height to pull it off and he added a few steel bars which lock in place under the ramp once its in the ceiling so if the winch moves or gives the ramp cant move.
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Bikes owned :- 2001 nsr125, 1999 zx6r, 2006 yzf-r1, 2009 xmax 250, 2012 yzf-r1, 2015 MT-07
Current bike : - 2016 MT-10
BCF member pops. sadly missed 1945-2003

[ADSrox0r]

I have a Skylift, it is quite frankly excellent and the most versatile of all options. The Abba team are very good at tracking down compatibility and there is a full fitting kit available. A lot of the fittings are universal to many bikes.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Polarbear]

I have a ramp.

It's good because it raises it up to work on, is pretty stable and you can store a bike on it when not using it. There has to be a reason why you see ramps in professionals workshops and not sky lifts.

However I have never used a sky lift so I can't say if that has advantages over a ramp. I had an Abba stand for bikes that had no centre stand but on the ramp I prefer to use paddock stands.

The ramp I have is this........

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FoxHunter-1000lb-Hydraulic-Bike-Motorcycle-motorbike-Workshop-Lift-Ramp-Bench-XL/112546744647?epid=1439379995&hash=item1a344f0947:g:9S0AAOSw1MBZzMVm

Had it for must be 5 years now and still works fine.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Beehive Bedlam]

I've had the forks off my FZS and changed the engine using nothing more than a 20 pond jack from ebay and a couple of bricks.

Lifts are for tarts who spend more time polishing than riding and of course lets not forget the wannabe Edd China's.

I'm intrigued exactly what sort of 'maintenance' do you think you're going to be doing that requires a lift?

[recman]

[-Monty-]

Thanks for the replies so far. If the skylift would fit absolutely any bike regardless of type or age, I would buy one immediately, but I just feel it could end up as a very expensive ornament if I were to buy a bike that wasn't compatible with it, hence me considering a ramp which would be fine for any bike.

[Islander]

[BTTD]

I have an eazyrizer lift. I bought it second hand and it came with one mounting kit which works on any monoshock bike. I will eventually get, or make, the frame lift mounts.
I've put it on casters so I can now move the bike around my cramped garage while it's being worked on which makes a massive improvement. It also makes it easier to move outside - washing the bike when its up in the air is so much easier.

I did look at a full ramp, but just didn't want to commit the space. For the limited spannering and cleaning I do, the eazyrizer is excellent. By that I mean it gets pulled out from a corner and used three or four times a year.

[MCN]

I have a Sealey lift. It lives against the garage wall when not in use. The ABBA skylift is sweet but.... the bike ramps provide immense area for clutter to sit on whilst one perform open-heart surgery on a bike.

(I also have the ABBA stand c/w with the wee bogie that lets me push the bike close to the wall. Better than a pair of paddock stands but not the greatest of tools for all work.)
I have an ABBA Greatest Hits CD too.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[ADSrox0r]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[ADSrox0r]

Nah, I use a parts trolley to chuck stuff on under the bike then I can wheel it out of the way as needs be.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[wristjob]

[ADSrox0r]

[Polarbear]

[supZ]

Got 1Jac myself.

https://www.1jac.com/

can't ask for an easier lift solution. Works perfectly.

doesn't lift it right up in the air but high enough to move it around/get the forks and wheels off etc..

use it every time I'm on the bike as it enables me to spin the bike around in the garage on the spot.

had a few initial problems as they didn't have an adapter to fit my year blade but a bit of trial and error and we got it all sorted
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[MCN]

[sickpup]

Probably the best cost to usefullness ratio bike lift available at the moment is the Draper MCL4 37190 Air and Hydraulic.

When I get around to building my new workshop I will be getting one of these which will be sunk into so its flush with the floor.

It has a wide bench of 680mm instead of the standard 650mm and once the extensions are added its 1220mm wide. Wheel clamp as standard. Rear wheel change plate. Tie down points. The only thing it doesn't have is a piece of right angle along the sides to stop items rolling off the lift.

Only problem is it is £1200 so more than double your budget but I guarantee it is better than any of your choices and if you bought it you wouldn't regret it 20 years later

[recman]

[Jewlio Rides Again LLB]

[-Monty-]

Well, I have done a lot of thinking about this, and have eventually decided on the Skylift. After a bit more research it seems compatibility is not limited to only the bikes listed on their site, so it seems likely that any bike I do buy in the future should be fine with it.

Thanks for all the replies
____________________
Present: [Kawasaki ZX7r][Suzuki DRZ 400s]
Past: [Honda PCX 125] [Yamaha RXS 100] [Honda CB 500] [Triumph Speed Four] [Honda ST1100 Pan European - Po-Po Edition]