Motorcycle Lifts: What You Should Look For

While a jack for a car is only necessary when doing work on the underside of the car, motorcycle lifts are essential for nearly every type of work on a bike.  With so many brands and types of motorcycle lifts available, though, it is often hard to decide on just one.  The following are some of the key characteristics to look for in motorcycle lifts:

Stability

An absolute necessity in motorcycle lifts is stability.  If a motorcycle can easily be rocked back and forth or side to side while on the motorcycle lift, then the lift is not stable enough for anything other than light maintenance like oil changes or cleaning.  Don’t be fooled by tie-down straps, either. If the motorcycle is able to rock on the lift, the tie-downs will do little more than hold the lift to the bottom of the bike as it all topples over.

Capacity

Make sure your potential motorcycle lift is able to do what you want.  At dry weight, a Sportster 883 weighs 563 pounds, while a Road King weighs 737 pounds.  In running order with all fluids, the bikes gain an additional 20 to 30 pounds. A GoldWing, on the other hand, has a dry weight of 860 pounds.  Obviously, the motorcycle lift that you purchase should be able to lift your motorcycle.  If the maximum capacity for a lift is less than your bike’s dry weight, it isn’t going to lift and hold your motorcycle when it’s in running condition.

Usability

If you are working on a motorcycle without any assistance, then your motorcycle lift needs to be easily operated.  One person would have a difficult time standing the motorcycle and holding it while rolling the motorcycle lift into position.  At the same time, one person would have a difficult time holding the motorcycle steady on the lift while operating the lift with their hands.  Ideally, you should be able to lock the bike into place before operating the lift, and then operate the lift without the need to hold the bike.

Mobility and Storage

Motorcycle lifts can easily weigh over 100 pounds, and they can take up precious floor space when not in use.  Consider your storage options, and look for a motorcycle lift that can be stored in the area with which you have to work.  Also, look for motorcycle lifts that can be easily moved across your work area, whether it is a concrete floor or a gravel driveway.  If you can’t get your lift to where you need it, it’s useless.

Options

Take a look at available options and accessories for the lifts you are interested in, and decide whether those would be worthwhile to you.  Some lifts require adapters for Harley-Davidson Big Twin models.  Others offer oil change adapters, which are virtually hands-free systems with a collection pan that allows you to easily drain and collect the old oil from the bike.  If there are options, accessories or adapters that you may need, be sure to get a motorcycle lift that carries them.

There is a large variety of motorcycle lifts on the market, including those made only for specific types of motorcycles.  With a little time and research, you can easily find the lift that works with your bike and work area.