Hydraulic bike lift.

SpeedyCBR1100 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 12 Dec 2018 Karma :

I've disposed of one of my bikes and that means I'll have room in the garage for a bike lift.

I wondered if there was any advice around as to what the best ones are. I can't afford one of the £1500 plus ones but there are several around the £450 to £800 mark.

For further information I have a 1999 Blackbird, a 2016 ZZR1400 and a BMW S1000XR, so all quite hefty machines.

Thank you in advance.

JackButler · Traffic Copper Joined: 11 Nov 2019 Karma :

I bought an earlier version of this :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=333355056864&_sacat=0

The ramp is removable, the plate for dropping out the rear wheel is very handy, but on some of my bikes the centre stand falls on this with the front wheel in the clamp, maybe they sorted that one out.

The unit itself is VERY heavy but it's easy work to lift it with even the biggest bikes on. You'll be alarmed by how much it can rock until you lower it back down onto the locking bar, then it becomes rock steady.

I remember unpacking it & swapping most of the fasteners but I'm still impressed by the quality of the welds. It's more than 15yrs old now & the paint is still OK.

The only reason I could think to upgrade to the pro units is having one that's flush to the floor when down.
____________________
I clean my guns with the tears of the snivelling, left wing scum.

BigTim · Trackday Trickster Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Karma :

I have one of these >> https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cml3-hydraulic-motorcylce-lift/

Not let me down yet
____________________
MZ S50B, Suzuki GP100, Honda CBF1000, Honda Blackbird (I like my Blackbird)

NJD · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Mar 2015 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Everyone who buys an Hydraulic bench wishes they had bought an Air/Hydraulic bench. Pumping with a foot pedal is hard work especially with big heavy bikes.

Do you have a compressor? if you do up your budget and go for an Air/Hydraulic.

Cut a hole in your floor, sink the lift into it and it takes up no room.

Cheap benches are narrow and flexible, expensive benches are wide and stiff, you will notice the difference.

Best value air bench at the moment is the Probike PS450 which is 845mm wide with the side trays (which are useful) and a bit less without but is air only, click here. not cheap at £845+VAT but you won't regret it assuming you have a compressor.

JackButler · Traffic Copper Joined: 11 Nov 2019 Karma :

droog · Spanner Monkey Joined: 03 Dec 2019 Karma :

The Eazyrizer original red is a handy lift - you can raise the bike and remove forks and swingarm simultaneously (the bike rests on the headers and is secured by brackets fixed to the pegs).

Like the Abba skylift it also has a very small footprint and can be easily stowed away when you are not using it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-lift-Motorbike-stand-Eazyrizer-Original-Red-Guaranteed-for-Life-/254796446309

BigTim · Trackday Trickster Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Karma :

BigTim · Trackday Trickster Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Karma :

Fizzer Thou · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

I have two of those Sealey type 401 versions in the shed and very handy they are.In the past I have used one to strip an engine from a 4XV R1 while the rest of the bike was up in the air on the other bench having the rolling chassis worked on.I bought one brand new and luckily,bought the other one from a friend who had to sell his car and bike business so I got it for a fraction of its new price.

I have never had a problem pumping the foot operated hydraulic ram as the lever is the ideal length for this operation,even with the heaviest of bikes that I have had on either ramp,a Kawasaki GTR1000 thing.

I have never used the removeable panel so as to take the back wheel out of any bike.Why would you when you would have to support the wheel Neutral

The best modification to both ramps was the addition of some exhaust clamps so that I could use straps to hold the likes of an enduro bike down on to a one-step stand.The extra width of the 401 model means that it is a lot more steady when raised to its maximum height.The other mod that was done to one of them was to rivet some aluminium chequer plate to the area where a centrestand lowers on to,so that it does not scratch up the painted smooth surface.
____________________
Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

ZebraDriver · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Feb 2011 Karma :

I have an older Machine Mart Ramp. I sunk it into the garage floor, so it does not take up any floor space. Like Fizzer I added some drop down steel hoops to the side of the lift so that I can strap the bike down when working on it (in case the bugger falls off) and they also let me pull the back end down to work on the front forks etc. The wheel clamp only gets bolted on when using the ramp so that its not a trip hazard for the rest of the time.

If sinking one into the floor you need to put props under the four corners of the ramp as it will tip without them when you stand on one end or a corner. Some form of plate to cover the hole where the foot pedals live, and another one to cover the hole that is exposed at the front (when the lift is up) are a good idea too.

ZD