Motorcycle Lift

I had the pnuematic Clarke (Machinemart) version for several years. Did what it said on the tin and the only issue for me is I’d have preferred to set it into the floor so I could have parked the car over it. Other than that, no problems. Andy

 

Abba skylift but if I had a garage @Android853sp scenario would be the thing to do frankly. The abba is more of a detailer & show off piece of kit. May be selling mine at some stage, keeping mulling getting shot of it.

 

Yeah .
I'd wanted one for yonks ..... very clever design , good build quality etc.
Then a mate got one , so I got a chance to play around with it , and I was put off buying one .

Reasons - I didn't feel it was solid and sturdy enough to do anything but light spannering ,
and also because one of it's key features , the ability to trolley the bike around the garage ,
was pretty much gone on his rough concrete garage floor ...... it was a bit scary , to be frank .

..... but just my two drachmas worth ....

 

Sealey, et al, are mostly the same lift with different badges. Chinese made and sold by the 1000’s.
They’re not a bad lift. Will stand up to diy use, but nothing like a pro’ lift. Nothing like the cost either..
If you want a quality one, have a look at Probike or RS workshop equipment. You’ll find many of the professional lifts are Italian. I use LV8 lifts.
I would suggest checking the sizes and the capacity of any lift you’re looking at. A lot of diy lifts, especially with a front wheel stop or clamp fitted, would struggle with something like a Multi, never mind a X Diavel.
I’d also try and build in a safety net with the capacity. Mine are rated at 600kg. When at max lift, there’s a “bit of a wobble” when working heavily on the bikes, despite them being bolted into solid concrete! I wouldn’t want a 250kg multi on a 250kg lift at a meter high……..

 

I know it's not anything like the equivalent, but I really appreciate the fact that my homebrew lift made from an electric hospital bed (tested to 262kg) has wheels... it depends how much space you have, but for me to be able to move the lift across the workshop (with or without bike) is a godsend.
Maybe something else to consider?

 

I have some "Quick jacks" for lifting the cars. They are 12v hydraulic. And work off the car battery. I did use an old motorbike battery at one point
You can by an adaptor where you put them side by side and use them as motorcycle lift
Whether they are worth the investment depends on how much work you do on cars. Not worth buying just to use on a motorcycle

 

What you buy will depend upon how much money you're prepared to spend & the space you have available.
I have an Autec hydraulic ramp & an Abba Skylift, both have their benefits & both are very good, quality items. I know what one of the previous posters means about the Skylift feeling a bit "flighty", but I like it & wouldn't be without it now.
As has also been said the Machine Mart lifts are Chinese made & there are many variations on the market with slight differences between them. Things like different colours, slightly different pedals, but they are good value & most will serve you well. Places like https://probike.co.uk/motorcycle-lifts/ have a good selection of lifts too. A mate of mine had an air operated one which was good quality & sturdy.
In an ideal world a bike ramp is best when positioned in a cut-out in your garage floor. That way when it's not being used you don't keep tripping over it !!

 

I've got a Skylift too, managed to grab a bargain from a chap who bought but never used it. It's perfect for my use, which at the moment isn't engine removals, but have removed the suspension on my 900SS and it was fine at that level of spannering. Agree that i wouldn't want to manoeuvre the bike on concrete that's any rougher than what's in my garage, if i did it would only be after lowering it as low as poss.

The downside for me is that unless i break it down after use, it gets in my may with the sticky-outy leg. If somehow it could be made to be like engine cranes with a pivoting leg, that would be useful. I did speak to Abba about whether they were going to make a wall mounted storage "system", and apparently it was in progress.

I've also got a hydraulic car lift system that's sunken into the floor in a shallow pit, then covered over with scaffold boards when not needing used (its not one of the lightweight two piece portable ones that sits under the sills, its a heavy-as-fk chop ya finger off if not paying attention types). We dug that pit some years ago and put a very deep layer of reinforced concrete down as a base. Worked on the stupid project car for years with it. I'm sure it's not beyond possibility to fabricate an adapter to use it as a bike lift, like a Clarke platform.

 

Had this Lv-8 bike lift fitted into the floor in 2 garages now. Top quality and fitted in several Uk dealerships.

 

That’s a garage? I’d live in there!

 

I have a bike tek?.pdslift03 for many years

It's been great with ry my monster and 998 and a zx10r

it feels a bit scary with my mates bmw k1200 on it( but did the job fine tbh)

 

I have used a Clarke CML3 lift rated at max 450kg for over ten years and has been very useful. I accept the points that a professional lift would be much better for every day use but I only used it occasionally & it has been fine. It needs the seals on the pump replacing which I intend to get round to in the coming weeks. As both bikes have now vacated the garage, it will be up for sale along with lots of other paraphernalia in the near future.

 

Hmmm. Might be interested, as you’re not far away! message when you’re ready?

 

I agree with bigredduke, I’ve got a Clarke CML3 as well. It works fine and rated at 450Kg is sturdy enough for my Multistrada. Of course lifts such as the Lv8 are superior but how often are you going to use it?
I wound up getting a manual pump version and for occasional use it’s fine. In fact I’m glad I did otherwise I’d have to power up the compressor every time I wanted to lift a bike.

My present garage is narrow, only 1 car width but it is 1 car + 1 bike in length. I have to say it’s a pain in the arse having the left there, I’m dancing round it the whole time. When I build the ‘Mega Man Cave’
I’ll be aiming to recess it into the floor. In the meantime I park the bike on the left and the whole lot, bike+lift sits inside a Cacoon to protect from condensation.

In short, in my opinion the Clarke is certainly good enough for non professional use. You pays your money and takes your choice. Simples.

 

Will let you know!