Motorcycle Lift - BARF

Lucytriple · 12-01-2020, 12:33 PM

I'm looking to buy a Handy air lift, preferable, but open to other options.

Maddevill · 12-01-2020, 06:00 PM

I bought a Blank Widow lift from Discount Lifts. Heavy duty, very similar to the Handy Lift. Around $800
Had a Harley Night Train up on it with no problems.

Mad

motomania2007 · 12-01-2020, 09:28 PM

I have a HF lift and a wooden work table.

The lift table is great. The HF lift table has served me very well for about 14 years. If I were to do it again, I would buy the lift from Discount Ramps https://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-lifts/c/2121/ as they are a twice the price BUY a lot more stable and better built than the HF lift table.

I have never had a tip over or any other failure on my HF table and I have had 800+ lb bikes on the lift. But the nicer lift table would be nicer to have.

kpke · 12-02-2020, 07:03 AM

I sold my home made wood one years ago to a BARFer when I bought the HF lift (maybe motomania?). Getting up and down on a wood table with very expensive motorcycles is sketchy IMO.

My HF lift has worked wonderful for many years. It gets used more than the black handy lift??? (I think). The black one I bought secondhand for $250 or $300. It gets used less because I don't like firing up the air compressor to go up and down once or twice and don't mind pumping up the HF one.

For the price new the HF manual unit is quite "handy". Lots of foot pumps to go up

But if you are setting up a real shop, which you might be, and have an air compressor running, I recommend the handy lift or equivalent. It's really fast going up. I'm sure you know this being a mechanic. I guess it might be safer also in that it has many auto locking height indexes for you to choose from as it is going up. The HF one if you only wanted it up partially you may be inclined to not lock the table up. I would not trust the jack on that thing to hold a heavy bike up. In fact you can hear it clicking down very slowly when it's not locked. It has two positions to slide a solid metal bar into two lock it.

ScottRNelson · 12-02-2020, 08:12 AM

Not sure how well it will meet your needs, but I recently bought a Motorcycle Lift form Harbor Freight. There are two different versions of it, an aluminum one that costs more and the steel one that I got. I was just using a dirt bike stand, but after getting my KTM up on it to take the wheels off I realized that there was no way I was going to be able to get it back off of there by myself. The lift makes it totally easy for both of my bikes. It takes up a little bit of space when not in use, but I have a spot for it that's mostly out of the way.

Here's the link:
https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-l...ift-60536.html

Maddevill · 12-02-2020, 08:52 AM

The big problem with HF lifts is they use a very small ram and they have a very high failure rate. And you can't just buy a replacement ram. You have to modify something else. The lift ram on my Black Widow is almost 3 feet long.

Mad

Lucytriple · 12-03-2020, 10:41 AM

I've used those HF lifts for years at Moto Guild, but I'm actually utterly spoiled with the Handys. I am planning on this being a shop lift, so the investment is worth it. I didn't have that Black Widow on my radar, I'll check it out.

Thanks for the suggestions and feedback!

hophead · 12-11-2020, 01:54 AM

I have a titan xlt 1500 lift with wheel chock, side rails the whole 9 yards, in excellent condition available at a great price, won’t be using it, if interested pm me. Edit: I use a compressor and includes also a ramp, professional’s lift��

Lucytriple · 12-12-2020, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hophead

I have a titan xlt 1500 lift with wheel chock, side rails the whole 9 yards, in excellent condition available at a great price, won’t be using it, if interested pm me. Edit: I use a compressor and includes also a ramp, professional’s lift��

I'll message

augustiron · 12-12-2020, 03:52 PM

Where are you setting up shop Lucy?

Lucytriple · 12-12-2020, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by augustiron

Where are you setting up shop Lucy?

Too early to tell but somewhere in the city

haybaler · 12-30-2020, 11:32 AM

Check Craigslist Redding; expensive, but looks brand new. Cheers!

https://redding.craigslist.org/mpo/d...244604416.html

Lucytriple · 12-31-2020, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haybaler

Check Craigslist Redding; expensive, but looks brand new. Cheers!

https://redding.craigslist.org/mpo/d...244604416.html

Thank you!

12-01-2020, 12:33 PM	#1
Lucytriple Wrrrench Contributor + + Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Motorcycles: SV1000, Braap Name: Lucy	Motorcycle Lift I'm looking to buy a Handy air lift, preferable, but open to other options. __________________ Chronic fixer. Message me if you'd like me to fix something of yours

12-01-2020, 06:00 PM	#2
Maddevill KNGKAW AMA #: 542337 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hayward Motorcycles: ZX14,GS750E, KTM 450/540 Name: Steve	I bought a Blank Widow lift from Discount Lifts. Heavy duty, very similar to the Handy Lift. Around $800 Had a Harley Night Train up on it with no problems. Mad __________________ If your nose runs and your feet smell, you're built upside down.

12-01-2020, 09:28 PM	#3
motomania2007 TC/MSF/CMSP/ Instructor Join Date: May 2008 Location: Merced, CA Motorcycles: BMW R1200R, FZ09, FZR400, CR250R Name: George	I have a HF lift and a wooden work table. The lift table is great. The HF lift table has served me very well for about 14 years. If I were to do it again, I would buy the lift from Discount Ramps https://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-lifts/c/2121/ as they are a twice the price BUY a lot more stable and better built than the HF lift table. I have never had a tip over or any other failure on my HF table and I have had 800+ lb bikes on the lift. But the nicer lift table would be nicer to have. __________________ If you are not having fun riding a motorcycle, you are doing it wrong. The best performance upgrade is upgrading the operating system of the operator. It is cheap, easy, fast, safe and works on every bike you will ever ride. I am also a Patent Attorney so if I can help you with any IP matters, please just ask.

12-02-2020, 08:12 AM	#5
ScottRNelson Mr. Dual Sport Rider Founding Member Contributor Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Meridian, ID Motorcycles: Honda XR650L, KTM 790 Adv R Name: =Username	Not sure how well it will meet your needs, but I recently bought a Motorcycle Lift form Harbor Freight. There are two different versions of it, an aluminum one that costs more and the steel one that I got. I was just using a dirt bike stand, but after getting my KTM up on it to take the wheels off I realized that there was no way I was going to be able to get it back off of there by myself. The lift makes it totally easy for both of my bikes. It takes up a little bit of space when not in use, but I have a spot for it that's mostly out of the way. Here's the link: https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-l...ift-60536.html __________________ Scott R. Nelson - Meridian, Idaho (after 30 years in the Bay Area)

12-02-2020, 08:52 AM	#6
Maddevill KNGKAW AMA #: 542337 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hayward Motorcycles: ZX14,GS750E, KTM 450/540 Name: Steve	The big problem with HF lifts is they use a very small ram and they have a very high failure rate. And you can't just buy a replacement ram. You have to modify something else. The lift ram on my Black Widow is almost 3 feet long. Mad __________________ If your nose runs and your feet smell, you're built upside down.

12-02-2020, 07:03 AM	#4
kpke Veteran Contributor + Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Livermore Motorcycles: many 2 strokes 06 R1 LE 158 Name: Ken	I sold my home made wood one years ago to a BARFer when I bought the HF lift (maybe motomania?). Getting up and down on a wood table with very expensive motorcycles is sketchy IMO. My HF lift has worked wonderful for many years. It gets used more than the black handy lift??? (I think). The black one I bought secondhand for $250 or $300. It gets used less because I don't like firing up the air compressor to go up and down once or twice and don't mind pumping up the HF one. For the price new the HF manual unit is quite "handy". Lots of foot pumps to go up But if you are setting up a real shop, which you might be, and have an air compressor running, I recommend the handy lift or equivalent. It's really fast going up. I'm sure you know this being a mechanic. I guess it might be safer also in that it has many auto locking height indexes for you to choose from as it is going up. The HF one if you only wanted it up partially you may be inclined to not lock the table up. I would not trust the jack on that thing to hold a heavy bike up. In fact you can hear it clicking down very slowly when it's not locked. It has two positions to slide a solid metal bar into two lock it.

12-03-2020, 10:41 AM	#7
Lucytriple Wrrrench Contributor + + Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Motorcycles: SV1000, Braap Name: Lucy	I've used those HF lifts for years at Moto Guild, but I'm actually utterly spoiled with the Handys. I am planning on this being a shop lift, so the investment is worth it. I didn't have that Black Widow on my radar, I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestions and feedback! __________________ Chronic fixer. Message me if you'd like me to fix something of yours

12-11-2020, 01:54 AM	#8
hophead Veteran Contributor ++ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Ramon Motorcycles: Fz1, Vfr, Z900 Name: Dan	I have a titan xlt 1500 lift with wheel chock, side rails the whole 9 yards, in excellent condition available at a great price, won’t be using it, if interested pm me. Edit: I use a compressor and includes also a ramp, professional’s lift�� Last edited by hophead; 12-11-2020 at 10:24 AM..

12-12-2020, 03:52 PM	#10
augustiron 2fast 2live 2young 2die Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Truckee SF Reno Motorcycles: All of them eventually. Name: nope	Where are you setting up shop Lucy? __________________ "If you think you can overcome a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there is no limit to what you cannot accomplish"

12-30-2020, 11:32 AM	#12
haybaler Mechanical Contributor + Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Berkeley Motorcycles: Kawasaki EX 500 Name:	Check Craigslist Redding; expensive, but looks brand new. Cheers! https://redding.craigslist.org/mpo/d...244604416.html Last edited by haybaler; 12-30-2020 at 11:36 AM..

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