Motorcycle lift
Discussion
I have reached a "significant" age and have spent far too many years grovelling on cold floors whilst working on my bikes. I'm therefore going to treat myself to an electric motorcycle lift, maybe the Sealey MC680E (once I see a deal on one as they are £££).
Yes I could save a lot by buying a foot pump/air model but a) I have earned a treat and b) I am old, so an electric lift it is.....
As I don't have too much head height in my garage I'm also thinking of dropping the lift into a well in the garage floor so the bench when lowered is level with the garage floor. This will make it easier on and off the ramp and also allow me to raise the lift a bit higher than if it was sat on the floor.
My question is, has anyone got any experience with an electric lift and any suggestions / recommendations?
Yes I could save a lot by buying a foot pump/air model but a) I have earned a treat and b) I am old, so an electric lift it is.....
As I don't have too much head height in my garage I'm also thinking of dropping the lift into a well in the garage floor so the bench when lowered is level with the garage floor. This will make it easier on and off the ramp and also allow me to raise the lift a bit higher than if it was sat on the floor.
My question is, has anyone got any experience with an electric lift and any suggestions / recommendations?
Unless you are going to dig a pit for you to stand in as well, the bike will still only go as high as you garage ceiling. In an ideal world I would like to have my lift level with the ground, it just gets it out of the way and if you want it buried it will have to have some sort of powered lift. If i was using the space for more than just a motorcycle workshop I wouldn't sink it into the floor though.
I have a table and a sky lift, both foot operated. To be honest once the bike is at a height I like thats where i tend to leave it. The sky lift is handy because you can move the bike out of the way whilst it is still mounted, but I prefer the table for most jobs.
I have a table and a sky lift, both foot operated. To be honest once the bike is at a height I like thats where i tend to leave it. The sky lift is handy because you can move the bike out of the way whilst it is still mounted, but I prefer the table for most jobs.
I don't have an electric lift, but I do have a hydraulic one and it makes a massive difference. I only have a pretty low ceiling height in my garage (not enough room over the door for an electric door) and I don't have an issue with space above the bike. I can't really imagine you'd have an issue with space above unless you're a Paris Dakar mechanic 
It would be nice to have it at ground level though. Getting bikes on/off is the only bit I don't like, especially if the ramp has any oil residue left on it. I've had the front wheel lock a few times when trying to slow it when backing the bike off, which wouldn't be an issue if you have the luxury of sinking it to ground level. You could also use it to store a bike on when not in use, which I have to but it's a bit of a pain getting it on/off regularly.
I'll also add, just make sure you strap the bike on when lifting if you do get one. I've heard of one really sad story and I had to go rescue a friend of my dad's when a Triumph twin toppled off his.
I'd also vouch for Sealey's stuff. I had a tour round their warehouse with work when we were kitting out a new facility and it's really well made stuff and they have brilliant UK based aftersales.
It would be nice to have it at ground level though. Getting bikes on/off is the only bit I don't like, especially if the ramp has any oil residue left on it. I've had the front wheel lock a few times when trying to slow it when backing the bike off, which wouldn't be an issue if you have the luxury of sinking it to ground level. You could also use it to store a bike on when not in use, which I have to but it's a bit of a pain getting it on/off regularly.
I'll also add, just make sure you strap the bike on when lifting if you do get one. I've heard of one really sad story and I had to go rescue a friend of my dad's when a Triumph twin toppled off his.
I'd also vouch for Sealey's stuff. I had a tour round their warehouse with work when we were kitting out a new facility and it's really well made stuff and they have brilliant UK based aftersales.
As it happens, I have that exact Sealey lift along with the width extension platforms. It's an excellent piece of kit, as it also happens, I'm in the process of extending my workshop and the plan is to cut the floor so that the lift is level with it, so no need for the ramps and it will be flush. It's about 210mm deep from memory. As my new floor build up is about 150mm deep (75mm void former/75mm screed) I need to cut about 60mm off the oversight. If you are cutting into an existing floor be aware that your slab may not be that thick so you may be cutting through rebar etc depending on the build and you will likely need to do some remedial work and go a bit deeper but nothing too taxing hopefully.
This pic shows it with the extension side pieces fitted which is really useful for placing tools and bits so I have it permanently like this. You could also fit a ride on mower/quad etc on it like this with the platform width about 1260mm from memory.
I'm not sure if I'll sink the extension pieces into the ground, I might leave it so they rest on the floor so there is a bit of a lip because otherwise there is a trip hazard to consider if there is a trench below there and bound to be an ankle twister unless I cut some neat infill pieces to fit in the floor pit when elevated which is the more likely option.
The Abba Skylift is also an exceptionally useful piece of kit, and as others have said, it's great in a smaller workshop as it keeps the bike mobile and able to be pushed out of the way as required.
Edited to add that with the Skylift, you obviously get to have it wheels off the deck so great for wheel removal, fork removals, swingarm removal with the optional SARK (Swing Arm Removal Kit) etc.
This pic shows it with the extension side pieces fitted which is really useful for placing tools and bits so I have it permanently like this. You could also fit a ride on mower/quad etc on it like this with the platform width about 1260mm from memory.
I'm not sure if I'll sink the extension pieces into the ground, I might leave it so they rest on the floor so there is a bit of a lip because otherwise there is a trip hazard to consider if there is a trench below there and bound to be an ankle twister unless I cut some neat infill pieces to fit in the floor pit when elevated which is the more likely option.
The Abba Skylift is also an exceptionally useful piece of kit, and as others have said, it's great in a smaller workshop as it keeps the bike mobile and able to be pushed out of the way as required.
Edited to add that with the Skylift, you obviously get to have it wheels off the deck so great for wheel removal, fork removals, swingarm removal with the optional SARK (Swing Arm Removal Kit) etc.
Edited by NITO on Friday 17th October 12:09
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