Hydraulic lift or hoist, what do you use?

[oldGSfan]

I just read about an injury and MC damage due to a bike falling off a hydraulic lift, the kind that you roll onto. I have had a big one given to me free, and sold it. I couldn't get up close enough to the bike. I also had a smaller one given to me that lifts by the frame, sold it too. Good luck with it, wow, that was sketchy. It fit zero bikes that I tried it on. I rely on a $50 Harbor Freight 1-ton chain hoist. You need a strong beam, but I've had no problem with the big 1100s, etc, with my 2x4 garage beam, which is supported on either side by 45-degree angled 2x4s tying it up to the main roof beams.

With a strong sling (yeah, HF purple one, $10), and/or some ratchet straps, I can lift from front, back, or the whole bike, and get in close, micro-adjust, and rotate 360 as needed. I can't see lifts as being as simple, cheap, or effective. Maybe the only downside I can see is that you may need to take the seat and tank off if lifting from the middle to hoist the whole bike upright.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I use the same system you do. I found a small 1/4 ton chain hoist. I use it for front end work, removing front wheel.
It would be nice to not have to sit on the floor while working, but a hydraulic lift takes up too much space when not in use.
I would want to use a chain hoist for backup safety if I had a bike up on a lift.

 

[oldGSfan]

I use the same system you do. I found a small 1/4 ton chain hoist. I use it for front end work, removing front wheel.
It would be nice to not have to sit on the floor while working, but a hydraulic lift takes up too much space when not in use.
I would want to use a chain hoist for backup safety if I had a bike up on a lift.

I usually can lift mine high enough to sit on my or stool. Have to be careful with the chains, I put a moving blanket on the bike when adjusting. It's also great for doing chain maintenance for bikes with only a sidestand. I put the straps on the upper shock mounts, if possible. If not, the frame rails under the seat work too.

Reading responses to the poor guy, others are showing pics of their dropped bikes and telling of injuries or near misses, well, near hits, per George Carlin..

This guy really went to town, belt and suspenders, and then some. Seems like overkill and also a PITA to get up close to the action.

 

[Grimly]

About nearly ten years ago I bought a decent bike lift.
Best thing I ever purchased, however I found it a bit narrow to comfortably ride the bikes up and off again, so I made a set of side extenders and a proper on-ramp which aid in getting on and off with plenty of room to put a foot down and are removeable easily enough.

 

[Grimly]

And with the long approach ramp...

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I wish I had so much room in the garage.

 

[oldGSfan]

About nearly ten years ago I bought a decent bike lift.
Best thing I ever purchased, however I found it a bit narrow to comfortably ride the bikes up and off again, so I made a set of side extenders and a proper on-ramp which aid in getting on and off with plenty of room to put a foot down and are removeable easily enough.

That's clever, you can remove the extenders and get in close.

 

[Grimly]

That's clever, you can remove the extenders and get in close.

Also, should I ever buy a snowmobile or lawn tractor it will fit.

 

[LAB3]

I use my center stand and a one ton bottle jack to keep it from tipping fore/aft depending on which end of the bike I'm working on.

 

[rphillips]

Dang Kawa ZRX has "no center stand". A real PITA just for something as simple as taking off either wheel. WHY, WHY, WHY??????

 

[gustovh]

I use either a 2 ton hoist, (removing engines) or a newly acquired harbor freight used lift. I gotta say I like the HF lift at my age, the back doesn’t hurt so much useing it.

V

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Just so happens I'm replacing tires dating back to the 1990s, so I have the front end hoisted up.

 

[oldGSfan]

Just so happens I'm replacing tires dating back to the 1990s, so I have the front end hoisted up.

Nice. I like that color scheme on the 750s.

 

[oldGSfan]

I've been lazy lately and just using a trio of bits, not the hoist. I have a center stand dolly that rolls in any direction. It's an amazing piece of kit (and was free). It is easy to get the big 1100E on if you put a 2x6 on the floor, roll the bike backward so the rear wheel's on it, and then stick the dolly under and center it. I can lift the bike without the 2x6, but it's hard on the back.

I deploy the center stand as usual to get the bike's stand on the dolly. This makes it simple to rotate the bike around in my garage. I push down on the back of the seat to lift the front wheel, and it rotates 360 degrees. Next, I hang an HD ratchet strap (Costco, natch) over a beam. Then, from the front of the engine, I use a bottle jack or a small floor jack with a small square piece of 2x4 sitting between the stock pipe to lift the front end by the oil pan. With the ratchet strap in position, I sit on the rear part of the seat and ratchet the front end up off the ground an inch or so, and get to work.

To lower it, I jack the bike up, loosen the ratchet strap, then lower the jack. It takes a few minutes, but as stated above, I can adjust in any direction and get in close to the action. Sweet!

 

[Burque73]

Just so happens I'm replacing tires dating back to the 1990s, so I have the front end hoisted up.

That's a familiar sight The bike hoisted up near the garage door. Easiest way I've found to get the bike back down is pressing the garage door opener button. Just out of habit I hit the opener to let more light in and it took out one of the straps holding the bike up. Somehow nothing hit the ground. I had a plastic paint can nearby that helped break it's fall and one strap held keeping it inches from the floor. My main takeaway from this, when I get up there to throw a strap over the ceiling joist, unplug the opener! I just reminded, I had removed the center stand and front wheel so picking the heavy FJR up after this was not easy.

Really nice looking GPZ there, Bill.

 

[oldGSfan]

Easiest way I've found to get the bike back down is pressing the garage door opener button. Just out of habit I hit the opener to let more light in and it took out one of the straps holding the bike up.

Oh, that moment of realization that you effed up is so awful. Glad it turned out OK. If this turns into a 'stupid things I have done' thread, I'm done for! In my nearly 50 years of vehicle ownership, the only accidents with monetary impact that I've been involved in are by yours truly - damaging my own vehicles in my own driveway.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

My garage door is muscle powered. I have clunked something unimportant once, maybe a clamp on light from a rafter, I don't remember. So the door space is something I'm aware of.

 

[Burque73]

Oh, that moment of realization that you effed up is so awful. Glad it turned out OK. If this turns into a 'stupid things I have done' thread, I'm done for! In my nearly 50 years of vehicle ownership, the only accidents with monetary impact that I've been involved in are by yours truly - damaging my own vehicles in my own driveway.

More on topic, I'd love to have a lift. I've even got the space for one. Getting close enough to the bike without having to lean over has been a concern. I use those lock together foamy matts and knee pads. Arthritis is telling me it's time to change that though.

Only after my blunder did make a 1" iron pipe frame to hang bikes from.