ABBA skylift or 'normal' lift
Discussion
Looking for some help for me to decide on what to get...
So, bog standard garage 18ft x 10ft.. I have some units, a work bench and a boiler in there...
I have a few different bikes, service them myself along with brake/fork/chain/general work...
I'm getting a bit fed up or rolling around on the floor, and since I've now got a new roof and door going on, I thought it was time to treat myself.
But I really can't decide on the 2 options.... ABBA lift sounds great, but I already know at least 1 of my bikes doesn't fit it, and another you have to MacGyver a solution using other bits... but won't take up as much room.
A normal lift would work with all bikes, but still have the issue of front/rear paddock stands and takes up a lot of valuable floor space..
So help! please...
So, bog standard garage 18ft x 10ft.. I have some units, a work bench and a boiler in there...
I have a few different bikes, service them myself along with brake/fork/chain/general work...
I'm getting a bit fed up or rolling around on the floor, and since I've now got a new roof and door going on, I thought it was time to treat myself.
But I really can't decide on the 2 options.... ABBA lift sounds great, but I already know at least 1 of my bikes doesn't fit it, and another you have to MacGyver a solution using other bits... but won't take up as much room.
A normal lift would work with all bikes, but still have the issue of front/rear paddock stands and takes up a lot of valuable floor space..
So help! please...
I recently bought a "table lift"
Because any bike fits on it, I regularly change bikes and usually I'm just cleaning / fiddling / painting rather than an in-depth strip down
It also takes up bugger all space if you park a bike on it
If you do the opposite then an ABBA is the way to go IMO
Because any bike fits on it, I regularly change bikes and usually I'm just cleaning / fiddling / painting rather than an in-depth strip down
It also takes up bugger all space if you park a bike on it
If you do the opposite then an ABBA is the way to go IMO
as an owner of a sklylift i think they are really good and they influence bike choice as it was expensive
i think you've answered your own question - one bike doesn't fit, the other has to be bodged to fit, and the skylift doesn't collapse down it will take up space - as much as paddock stands stacked on top of each other
i think you've answered your own question - one bike doesn't fit, the other has to be bodged to fit, and the skylift doesn't collapse down it will take up space - as much as paddock stands stacked on top of each other
wa16 said:
as an owner of a sklylift i think they are really good and they influence bike choice as it was expensive
i think you've answered your own question - one bike doesn't fit, the other has to be bodged to fit, and the skylift doesn't collapse down it will take up space - as much as paddock stands stacked on top of each other
I replaced some of the bolts on mine with thumbscrew types and now it stacks down and leans up flat against the wall. Only a minute or so extra to reassemble it now.i think you've answered your own question - one bike doesn't fit, the other has to be bodged to fit, and the skylift doesn't collapse down it will take up space - as much as paddock stands stacked on top of each other
I like my skylift its great for anything chain or wheel, especially proper cleaning. The downsides are I keep tripping over the damned thing and it take up a LOT of floorspace.
I've replaced the strap affair with a simple plate with holes in each end. Much more solid and if I want another angle I just drill another hole.
I've replaced the strap affair with a simple plate with holes in each end. Much more solid and if I want another angle I just drill another hole.
the cueball said:
.... ABBA lift sounds great, but I already know at least 1 of my bikes doesn't fit it, and another you have to MacGyver a solution using other bits... but won't take up as much room.
A normal lift would work with all bikes, but still have the issue of front/rear paddock stands and takes up a lot of valuable floor space..
So help! please...
What bike doesnt fit the ABBA?A normal lift would work with all bikes, but still have the issue of front/rear paddock stands and takes up a lot of valuable floor space..
So help! please...
I have minimal space and the ABBA suits my needs perfectly...
My MT09 won’t fit as I have a quick shift with upside down gear change (1 up, 5 down) so it goes over the lifting points.
They never actually had a fitting kit for it at all until recently, I checked with them 2 years ago and they didn’t have one, and weren’t thinking about it.. actually surprised it now has one listed...
They still don’t have anything for the Pan European... but can use the blackbird/cbr parts for it.
Thanks all for your thoughts...
They never actually had a fitting kit for it at all until recently, I checked with them 2 years ago and they didn’t have one, and weren’t thinking about it.. actually surprised it now has one listed...
They still don’t have anything for the Pan European... but can use the blackbird/cbr parts for it.
Thanks all for your thoughts...
the cueball said:
My MT09 won’t fit as I have a quick shift with upside down gear change (1 up, 5 down) so it goes over the lifting points.
They never actually had a fitting kit for it at all until recently, I checked with them 2 years ago and they didn’t have one, and weren’t thinking about it.. actually surprised it now has one listed...
They still don’t have anything for the Pan European... but can use the blackbird/cbr parts for it.
Thanks all for your thoughts...
Thats where you would use the “swingarm removal kit” ,They never actually had a fitting kit for it at all until recently, I checked with them 2 years ago and they didn’t have one, and weren’t thinking about it.. actually surprised it now has one listed...
They still don’t have anything for the Pan European... but can use the blackbird/cbr parts for it.
Thanks all for your thoughts...
which doesnt lift the bike on the swingarm pivot, so you can remove the swingarm and fully dismantle a bike..(as the name suggests!), it picks up from the footrest mounting points instead.
https://abbastands.co.uk/product-detail.asp?item=s...
ABBA dont “list” a kit for every bike , like these old NS400 and RG500s ,ive used just 3 kits to lift over a dozen bikes with the stand..
podman said:
Thats where you would use the “swingarm removal kit” ,
which doesnt lift the bike on the swingarm pivot, so you can remove the swingarm and fully dismantle a bike..(as the name suggests!), it picks up from the footrest mounting points instead.
https://abbastands.co.uk/product-detail.asp?item=s...
ABBA dont “list” a kit for every bike , like these old NS400 and RG500s ,ive used just 3 kits to lift over a dozen bikes with the stand..
Yeah, I have checked it all out, I understand how their kit fits together with the different bits, that's why I know it doesn't work..... which doesnt lift the bike on the swingarm pivot, so you can remove the swingarm and fully dismantle a bike..(as the name suggests!), it picks up from the footrest mounting points instead.
https://abbastands.co.uk/product-detail.asp?item=s...
ABBA dont “list” a kit for every bike , like these old NS400 and RG500s ,ive used just 3 kits to lift over a dozen bikes with the stand..
The MT09 is designed differently from normal bikes... the footrest actually mounts on/through the swingarm bolt, so the above kit is useless.
I have Just checked with ABBA again to be sure, and yes they now have the lifting kit for the MT09 (but I still couldn't use it due to the previous issue),
and they still say that can't use their stand to take the swingarm off.
Thanks for the help anyway...
Stuart Fordyce said:
When I had a Ducati Multistrada 1000 ABBA didn't do the bits for it. I asked them at a bike show if they were thinking about it and they offered to custom make me them - but at a substantial price. If you keep your bike on the table surely its footprint isn't so bad?
They've already been asked many times over the years for a "correct" Pan Euro kit, they aren't interested for some reason.I agree that a bike could sit on it... it was more that it'll always be there, and I'll probably fall over it moving bikes around...
Most of the bikes are pretty jammed into the garage... maybe I just need to think about how it would all work it a bit more.
cheers
mikedxb said:
The Clarke CML3 seems a popular option and for reasons I can't explain I prefer the idea of a lift table. Can front and rear paddock stands be used at the same time?
Assuming the bed is long/wide enough then I don't see why not. You might have to faff about taking the front wheel chock off mind.Cheers all.
Yes, I have a load of front/rear/head stock stands that I currently use.
Bikes have changed slightly, but still 4 and there will be modular cabinets going down the left side...
I think I’m just having a mental block about having a table in the garage ‘all the time’ if that makes sense.
Yes, I have a load of front/rear/head stock stands that I currently use.
Bikes have changed slightly, but still 4 and there will be modular cabinets going down the left side...
I think I’m just having a mental block about having a table in the garage ‘all the time’ if that makes sense.
Given that picture, I think I'd be looking for something mobile. Either a platform with castors, or something like the skylift. Even if the platform is on castors, you still are going to have to do some moving around to get bikes on/off the ramp and organised so you have some space to work on them. Not sure how involved you want to get, but if you could flush mount one i think it would be easier, I have flush mounted scissor lifts in my garage for cars and its great, there is no restriction at all to moving things around the garage, but its a big commitment.
As I said before I've changed the fittings on my skylift to thumbscrews and it breaks down and stores very compact up against the wall/on a shelf.
As I said before I've changed the fittings on my skylift to thumbscrews and it breaks down and stores very compact up against the wall/on a shelf.
I have a table, not hydraulic, which are heavy to moveabout, and not practicle for me, just static, bike sits at a nice height, front and rear stands fit OK, loading ramp which doubles up as a bench to sit on when working, and when not in use, it folds up and sits against the wall, useful if you don't want it cluttering the floor space up in a small space.
Its a sealy work bench.
Its a sealy work bench.
mikedxb said:
The Clarke CML3 seems a popular option and for reasons I can't explain I prefer the idea of a lift table. Can front and rear paddock stands be used at the same time?
Clarke CML3 Air;
And with the wheel chock removed.
Also can put bike in backwards - chock the rear wheel which can be useful for certain jobs.
catso said:
I have been thinking about buying some heavy curtains to divide up my workshop either in the winter to save heating the whole space or for reducing dust when I use a grinder / paint gun
Is that what you use them for / do they work ok ?
I was a bit worried about them being a fire risk / going mouldy
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