Bike Lift: Recommendations?

[Ingah]

As i'm going to be moving into a property with a garage this coming academic year ( ) i'm now looking at getting a bike lift to save my back, because i get lower back pain almost every time i do any work on my bike, because my back doesn't like the hunching and bending down. It's nothing overwhelming i openly admit (i imagine the general pains when you get old are worse), but tbh it really puts me off working on the bike and doing the tasks i would like to do (besides which i'd like a project and it'll never happen if it hurts my back every day i work on the machine).

I believe very much in "buy right - buy once" (especially where tools are concerned) and so i want this one bike lift to never need to be replaced by something better. At the same time i'm a student, so i guess some solid value for money is what i'm after.

I'm thinking i want something that can safely and securely hold the bike in place for when i come up against seized components - strapped in place maybe?! (is this important? I ride old bikes, currently 15 years old, so it's very inevitable i'm going to come across awkward components), and also preferably a lift that can be stored away in a reasonable amount of space when i end up in a property without a garage again, as well as hopefully something that isn't too much of a faff or fiddly to get the bike onto otherwise i won't want to use it (Not too demanding then ) but of course other than those starting ideas i'm totally unsure of exactly what i should be looking for, both brand and feature wise. Have had a quick look over the bike lifts linked off the very useful links thread, but felt none the wiser for looking. And so i was hoping for some recommendations and/or advice; Apart from not to get one, because i have already decided my back will thank me for making the effort
____________________
-- Ingah

[Alexio]

They look pricey

https://www.google.co.uk/products?q=motorbike+lift
____________________
will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[27cows]

I've heard good things about Sealey lifts and know several people who have them...but the range in models is a bit bewildering.
____________________
The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[Walloper]

Sealey seem to be the only fcukerz who make them £300 (Inc. VAT) unless you can find 2nd hand.

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEALEY-MC365-Motorcycle-Lift-Yankee-BRAND-NEW-/250614518699?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3a59ca13ab#ht_500wt_956

(Free P&P )

But it is a thing that will be used regularly so not a totally useless investment.
Not only better on knees and feet and back pain but you get much better visibility and access to the twiddley fiddeley bits on the bike.


If you are serious about maintenance then why not? And fellow BCFers can always borrow it from you once you buy it..
____________________
W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[27cows]

A bike lift is worth its weight in gold if you do a lot of work on bikes. It's not till you use one that you realise what a major pain in the arse/back/knees the alternative is.
____________________
The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[russeleoin]

I wish I could afford a lift, however I do a lot of playing with my bikes. I came up with a novel solution to the problem, I have a hand winch and using a tow rope, I winch the bike up to the garage rafters. I loop the rope around the front yoke and then remove the seat and use the rear swing arm as the second securing point. It is not perfect and the bikes do swing around a bit but it is so much better than lying on the cold garage floor! Next time I have one of the bikes up, I will take a couple of pictures.
____________________
I love classic merc's but bikes take up less space.
Current ride is a Yamaha YB 100 and I love it! Oooow and now a running GPZ400R!
Next stop, Direct Access hopefully by the end of summer.

[Ingah]

I'm going to have a word with Sealey tomorrow (technically today but it's not tomorrow until i've slept!) to see if they can convince me of the need for one of their products, but assuming they fail to (probability being high because i can't afford the type of lift Sealey largely does - what i really want - one of them that's essentially a table with a ramp you push the bike up and then bike on it's stand and fully supported - circa £300+!)

And so i've narrowed it down (based on budget i'm afraid), to one of these 2 after someone off a forum that came up on google recommended that style of lift for everything bar engine swaps and oil changes (which i can stand to forego the comfort vs the extra cost of a "proper" lift):

14.5" platform
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270577088815

17" platform
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260538521048

Considering my bikes (see below), this could be an important choice. I'm simply assuming this lift will work with what i have, and instinctively i'm thinking to go for the more expensive 17". It'll be more compatible and more stable, right?

I had to consider that against things like these (which ultimately lost out because i'm suspecting they'll be as compatible or as stable as those above):
https://www.kdbenches.co.uk/product/mx-scissor-lift
https://www.kdbenches.co.uk/product/mini-table-lift-jack

As things stand, i have a CB500 and a CG125 (both currently in need of various repairs and improvements). I'm wanting (sooner or later) an NSR125. A Virago 535 also tempts. I'm looking at a project bike (no idea what), and no doubt another type of bike will catch my eye sooner or later (No i can't afford them all at once, unfortunately - it'll be a case of saving, buying, probably repairing, and selling as i go along until i stop feeling the urge to try out more bikes).

Point is, i'm going to be wanting to use the lift with a good variety of bikes, and i do want to be sure i'm not buying a white elephant.

Further opinions invited before i take the plunge
____________________
-- Ingah

[Grubby]

I've got a Sealey lift & the other thing I'd advise getting is a decent impact gun too. This is the one I bought https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cir24-24v-cordless-impact-wrench/brand/clarke
____________________
I am me & you are he & we are all together. See how they run like pigs from a gun!

[Walloper]

Those cheaper lifts are for Nakid bikes/Trail bikes etc. If you have any fairings/belly plastic it has to come off 1st.

Saying that, you would probably remove the fairings to work on the beast anyway.

But at least on the bigger lifts you can jack the whole deal up to armchair level for access to the myriad of those fukin silly screws the manufacturers persist in using to secure fairings on bikes.
____________________
W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair