bike lifts

[Couch]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with any of the bike lifts that are available in Aus. I'd really like to be able to raise my bike off the ground to be able to work on it. Taking off wheels, servicing, etc. would be so much easier if the bike was at a reasonable height! 

[Tipsy]

  py
here is an Sportsbike
http://www.sportsbike.com.au/bikelift_motorcycle_work_bench.html

there are a few listed on ebay and some are in Aus
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HYDRAULIC-MOTORCYCLE-LIFT-TABLE-PANEL-LIFTER-1000LB-/221140089413

Tipsy

[Couch]

Many thanks Tipsy . I've looked previously at both of these products, also some of the lifts that are available from the USA. The "Sportsbike" lifts are fantastic, and are top of the range, but they're very expensive. The Chinese made products are very much cheaper, but nowhere near the quality of "Sportsbike" which are made in Italy. I thought that some of our members may have had some experience in using one or the other, and could give some feedback, but it doesn't look like it!   Many of the ST Owners in the States use lifts, and they're readily available over there, but shipping costs to get them to AUS is a killer. I'll keep looking into it! I've requested a current price from "Sportsbike" on a very basic model and I'll post it here if anyone might be interested .
 

py
here is an Sportsbike
http://www.sportsbike.com.au/bikelift_motorcycle_work_bench.html

there are a few listed on ebay and some are in Aus
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HYDRAULIC-MOTORCYCLE-LIFT-TABLE-PANEL-LIFTER-1000LB-/221140089413

Tipsy

[Biggles]

There's a mob called RADUM here in Brissie who will ship anywhere in Oz.

www.radum.com.au

1300 172 386

They have a big range, including turn-tables, jacks, lifts etc.  All reasonably priced.

Offer 5% discount to bike club members.

[Couch]

The lift they offer is too small to take an ST unfortunately..........at 1350mm the bike wouldn't fit on the table. We need about 2000mm

There's a mob called RADUM here in Brissie who will ship anywhere in Oz.

www.radum.com.au

1300 172 386

They have a big range, including turn-tables, jacks, lifts etc.  All reasonably priced.

Offer 5% discount to bike club members.

[saaz]

I would be interested in a basic one with the auto wheel clamp option. I don't know how secure some of the others might be without extra straps etc, which can defeat the purpose of getting access to the bike at a higher level.

Many thanks Tipsy . I've looked previously at both of these products, also some of the lifts that are available from the USA. The "Sportsbike" lifts are fantastic, and are top of the range, but they're very expensive. The Chinese made products are very much cheaper, but nowhere near the quality of "Sportsbike" which are made in Italy. I thought that some of our members may have had some experience in using one or the other, and could give some feedback, but it doesn't look like it!   Many of the ST Owners in the States use lifts, and they're readily available over there, but shipping costs to get them to AUS is a killer. I'll keep looking into it! I've requested a current price from "Sportsbike" on a very basic model and I'll post it here if anyone might be interested .
 

py
here is an Sportsbike
http://www.sportsbike.com.au/bikelift_motorcycle_work_bench.html

there are a few listed on ebay and some are in Aus
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HYDRAULIC-MOTORCYCLE-LIFT-TABLE-PANEL-LIFTER-1000LB-/221140089413

Tipsy

[Couch]

Just second thoughts on the lift from "Radum"...........if the bike was placed on the centre stand prior to lifting it then the length of the table might not be so important. They do actually state that their lift is more suitable to centre stand bikes, the bike could also be strapped after placing on the centre stand and prior to lifting to make it more secure.

It might just fit the bill after all!

The lift they offer is too small to take an ST unfortunately..........at 1350mm the bike wouldn't fit on the table. We need about 2000mm

There's a mob called RADUM here in Brissie who will ship anywhere in Oz.

www.radum.com.au

1300 172 386

They have a big range, including turn-tables, jacks, lifts etc.  All reasonably priced.

Offer 5% discount to bike club members.

[winston66]

winston66
Have you checked out your local Auto One,or Supercheap ,or Repco store.
I recently purchased two Mc lift jacks, (small tables), and by combining them I was able to make a table lift 2400 by 600. with a lift height of around 500 mm.
I removed one of the hydrolic jacks etc. from its respective lift, and then placed the two small tables back to back and joined them together at floor level with a couple of 50 mm rt.angles and at their top (bolted everything together) with a suitable plywood table top.
I then constructed a suitable wheel clamp which was bolted to the table top .
This worked for me and the wheel clamp holds the bike quite securely.
If anyone is interested I will get and post some pictures.
Cheers ,
Winston66

[Shiney]

winston66
Have you checked out your local Auto One,or Supercheap ,or Repco store.
I recently purchased two Mc lift jacks, (small tables), and by combining them I was able to make a table lift 2400 by 600. with a lift height of around 500 mm.
I removed one of the hydrolic jacks etc. from its respective lift, and then placed the two small tables back to back and joined them together at floor level with a couple of 50 mm rt.angles and at their top (bolted everything together) with a suitable plywood table top.
I then constructed a suitable wheel clamp which was bolted to the table top .
This worked for me and the wheel clamp holds the bike quite securely.
If anyone is interested I will get and post some pictures.
Cheers ,
Winston66

I’m interested in looking at some pictures, it sounds like an interesting setup

[STeveo]

Couch, buy this one.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HYDRAULIC-MOTORCYCLE-LIFT-TABLE-PANEL-LIFTER-1000LB-/221140089413

I bought one of these about two years ago and have had every thing on it from 50cc stepthrough, ST1100 to quad bikes. Works well and if used on a flat floor is very stable. The tyre clamp at the front needed to have a couple of washers under it to bring it up straight in line with the moveable piece. The tyre clamp needs to be done up tightly on a fully inflated tyre. You don't need to put the bike on the centre stand, but it does make wheel removing easier. When wheeling the ST onto the ramp I use a timber plank to keep me at right height for balance, a stronger person may not need to do this. The Chinese ones are quite good enough for home use, have even seen them used in bike shops, without the need to spend thousands of dollars for a professional quality unit.

Couch, when you ask for feedback you have to give us time to see you post. Today was perfect riding weather and that's what I did. I have only just now seen you post and replied. 

 

[saaz]

Once question - how to you go about clamping the front wheel if you are a one man operation?  If that is possible, looks like a unit that would work.

[winston66]

winston 66,
 Hi Shiney,
If you look back at my previous post you should find some pictures, when looked at with reference to the write up it might be possible to understand what I was rambling on about.
It will all possibly be as clear as mud but should give some food for thought.
Incidentally the wheel clamp was constructed using an old (disused) wheel chair motor a scissor jack and a bit of mucking around. it is driven by an old car battery and has a polarity change over switch to open or close the clamp and this is operated when the wheel is in position after riding up onto the table  when it is in the lowered position.
The switch is on a flying lead so that I can be operated before dismounting from the bike, providing that you have somewhere to place .your feet to keep everything upright
I also made some  extra  table width supports from the table  top off cuts, in order to do this, and also so that I could place the ST. on its side stand if I did not want to use the lifting facility, This has the effect of raising the Mc a few inches which can be handy for some procedures etc.
Hope that this explains somewhat.
Cheers,
Winston 66

[STeveo]

Hold left handle bar in right hand and lean down to turn handle with left hand. When tight enough to hold can then tighten further with right hand.  If you wish to put onto centre stand (with front wheel in clamp), jack under sump until stand can be swung down and release jack. Reverse procedure to swing stand up. Make sure you have the screw down pads at the front taking some weight to prevent the whole unit rolling away as you push bike onto ramp.

 

[saaz]

Sounds very manageable.  Might also be good to store the old bike on to move out of the way of the others when needed, and I might even work on it to get it going again....

[gaz]

http://youtu.be/G2P32a9AQik

[Sicman]

Nice - Like that bike colour too 

[winston66]

Winston66,
Another two or three or four photos to confuse you all
these attempt to show some detail of the motor driven wheel clamp and the extra movable table top sections.
Hope it makes some sense.
Cheers
Winston66

[Biggles]

The clamp won't win any beauty contests, but a very practical solution to holding the bike while you get off it, and while you work on it.  I presume you add some tie-down arrangement to the rear for total security.

Great find, that wheelchair motor- integral gearbox and useful voltage.

[Yorkie]

When I had a Vulcan many years ago, no centre stand, I got a lift from JB, or something similar, I recall made in Newcastle, he is a Ulysses member and advertise in their mag.
I told him the bike it was for, he went to local dealer for measurements and made it to fit.
With this I could lift the bike approx. 300mm under the engine.

Now I have a unit purchased from Malz about 3 years ago for about $350 from memory, looks very similar to the units on ebay, I put the bike on with side stand down, secure with tie-downs to get it upright, don't usually use the wheel clamp.

[Couch]

Ingenious Winston but I need something that I can move around if I need to, and that unit looks a mite too heavy. Full marks though for coming up with such an effective method of clamping the front wheel. My plan however would be to build a couple of lightweight moveable platforms either side of the table, to the same height as the table in it's lowest position, so I could safely get off the bike once it's on the platform and place the bike on the side stand prior to putting it on the centre stand, then I don't really see a need for a front wheel clamp, . Could also strap the bike if necessary while lifting it to keep it steady then remove the straps once it's in it's final position, or they could be left attached if not in the way of whatever work is being carried out. For instance front straps could be left in place if taking out the back wheel, and vice versa .

[Couch]

Hey Gaz........I've already had a look at the J&S Jack and they're a fantastic unit but they've got to be shipped in from the States. I'm actually waiting on a price from them but I've sort of ruled them out as the ST plastic bits extend below the frame under the ST so you'd have to make up some sort of adapter to fit between the bike and the lifter. J&S actually do this for the Gold Wing. They were originally designed to go under Harleys. Great bit of engineering though!!  I'll post up the price once I receive it from them! 

[Couch]

Hi STeveo............many thanks mate, I've actually had a look at this one on ebay and it's great to have some feedback on it, it looks to be a perfect size for what I want. I'll see what they want to ship it down here to Wonderland . 

PS: You're lucky to have had perfect riding weather today, we've had very cold weather recently and on the few good days we've had, I haven't been able to ride.

Couch, buy this one.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-HYDRAULIC-MOTORCYCLE-LIFT-TABLE-PANEL-LIFTER-1000LB-/221140089413

I bought one of these about two years ago and have had every thing on it from 50cc stepthrough, ST1100 to quad bikes. Works well and if used on a flat floor is very stable. The tyre clamp at the front needed to have a couple of washers under it to bring it up straight in line with the moveable piece. The tyre clamp needs to be done up tightly on a fully inflated tyre. You don't need to put the bike on the centre stand, but it does make wheel removing easier. When wheeling the ST onto the ramp I use a timber plank to keep me at right height for balance, a stronger person may not need to do this. The Chinese ones are quite good enough for home use, have even seen them used in bike shops, without the need to spend thousands of dollars for a professional quality unit.

Couch, when you ask for feedback you have to give us time to see you post. Today was perfect riding weather and that's what I did. I have only just now seen you post and replied. 

 

[gaz]

Hey Gaz........I've already had a look at the J&S Jack and they're a fantastic unit but they've got to be shipped in from the States. I'm actually waiting on a price from them but I've sort of ruled them out as the ST plastic bits extend below the frame under the ST so you'd have to make up some sort of adapter to fit between the bike and the lifter. J&S actually do this for the Gold Wing. They were originally designed to go under Harleys. Great bit of engineering though!!  I'll post up the price once I receive it from them!

 

[Shiney]

winston 66,
 Hi Shiney,
If you look back at my previous post you should find some pictures, when looked at with reference to the write up it might be possible to understand what I was rambling on about.
It will all possibly be as clear as mud but should give some food for thought.
Incidentally the wheel clamp was constructed using an old (disused) wheel chair motor a scissor jack and a bit of mucking around. it is driven by an old car battery and has a polarity change over switch to open or close the clamp and this is operated when the wheel is in position after riding up onto the table  when it is in the lowered position.
The switch is on a flying lead so that I can be operated before dismounting from the bike, providing that you have somewhere to place .your feet to keep everything upright
I also made some  extra  table width supports from the table  top off cuts, in order to do this, and also so that I could place the ST. on its side stand if I did not want to use the lifting facility, This has the effect of raising the Mc a few inches which can be handy for some procedures etc.
Hope that this explains somewhat.
Cheers,
Winston 66

Wow that is an amazing bit of construction, it looks brilliant 

Thanks for shairing

Cheers
Shiney

[winston66]

 

Winston66,
Ok you lot ,if you reckon that my last effort at construction was brilliant.
Have a look at this.
I guess that some of my persona must have rubbed of on one of my young blokes as he came up with this one day whilst rebuilding the gearbox on this crotch rocket.
I subsequently awarded him the medal for the best  of inovations.
Cheers to all,
Winston66