Best TYPE of bike lift....

[msb]

Not necessarily the brand, but looking more for recommendations on the "type" of lift and features best suited to the Valk (I have an IS), to be used mostly for general maintenance, cleaning, etc (not storage). New home  that we're looking to purchase has an oversized double garage and high ceiling, so will now have room for proper work area, the wife's Miata, etc, and a proper lift for the Valk. Coupled with me starting to scale back work, I will be having more time to tinker and learn to do more maintenance & repairs myself on the old girl, so would appreciate any suggestions.
Thx 

[BigM]

Can use most any 2 arm type m/c atv jack. As far as lift tables if thats what your referring to. I think those are useless. I have one and its really only good for raising the hole bike up. But cant really do anything on it. Takes up more room than its worth for me. Cant really remove the wheels etc.              Craftsman makes a good jack. Harbour freight makes one probabably the cheapest Works o.k for the money. There are many brands out there. Pretty much get what ya pay for. The Pro lift is a good one for the bucks. You will also need a Jack Adapter as many have bought this one for the Valk. Is on your bike for when you want and may need it. Many sold, good price, and good feedback.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOOK-VALKYRIE-HONDA-JACK-LIFT-ADAPTER-1-BEST-MOTORCYCLE-ITEM-Save-/181170677159?hash=item2a2e9d25a7:g:R9wAAOSwu4BVsCA7&vxp=mtr
 

[hubcapsc]

After reading what other people do and trying a lot of different
stuff, I'm real happy with the "regular" two-arm jack too. With
the use of a board jambed in the scissors, I barely raise my
bike off the ground to work on it, I raise and sink it as needed,
I can work with the rear end off, or the front end off... never
get into trouble and since I'm happy sitting on the ground,
always comfortable...





After I got my 1800, I got one of those stiffer two-arm jacks made from
aluminum, it is really good 



-Mike

[MarkT]

Misfit found a Snap-On electro-hydraulic car lift and thought of me since I have a shop and could adapt it to bikes.  I added a steel deck, removable loading ramp / rear wheel deck, a front wheel clamp and a Black widow scissors/platfom lift.  Of course I have my permanent installed lift adapter on all my bikes for the Black Widow to lift.  I don't know how I lived w/o this setup having used it for a while.  How nice to put whatever you are working on at eye level!  I can lift either end or both depending on where I put the Black Widow under my permanent lift adapter, remove the rear wheel deck/ramp to enable dropping the back wheel; put cinder blocks under the back wheel and lower the whole thing to lift the back wheel into position.  I zip the Black Widow up and down with a Dewalt drill & socket - really fast! Not clamp it in front for changing the front wheel, lift the whole bike off the deck with the Black Widow for cleaning the wheels...  Not sure I've explored all the versatility this setup has available.  And being a 6000 lb car lift with extra wide deck, how handy for placing all my tools at my fingertrips while working, and being totally solid - not the slightest wobble.  Yep this is the best tool in the shop!

Before this table lift I used Sears and Harbor Freight bike/ATV lifts, and axle jacks I modified to lift bikes with custom adapters - one jack was a long frame truck axle lift, to lift the bikes high, the other a standard car axle (punkin) jack modified the same way.  This table lift is WAY better!



BTW I sell this lift adapter in versions for use with a belly tank or not, cheaper directly to club members here, than I do on ebay. Available with paint or powder coat finish. PM or email or call; contact info at my banner ad above or http://www.horseapple.com

[Beardo]

Can use most any 2 arm type m/c atv jack. As far as lift tables if thats what your referring to. I think those are useless. I have one and its really only good for raising the hole bike up. But cant really do anything on it. Takes up more room than its worth for me. Cant really remove the wheels etc.              Craftsman makes a good jack. Harbour freight makes one probabably the cheapest Works o.k for the money. There are many brands out there. Pretty much get what ya pay for. The Pro lift is a good one for the bucks. You will also need a Jack Adapter as many have bought this one for the Valk. Is on your bike for when you want and may need it. Many sold, good price, and good feedback.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOOK-VALKYRIE-HONDA-JACK-LIFT-ADAPTER-1-BEST-MOTORCYCLE-ITEM-Save-/181170677159?hash=item2a2e9d25a7:g:R9wAAOSwu4BVsCA7&vxp=mtr
 

I built my own lift table and if you use a small scissor jack and wooden adapter, it works great for removing the wheels. Not having to work on your knees or bend over is nice too...something important for a guy of Mike's age...he's getting up there. 

[..]

Table lift.

Who wants to be still crawling around when you can have everything at eye level.

BigBF travels with his and it makes his life a LOT simpler and quicker.

[msb]

Table lift.

Who wants to be still crawling around when you can have everything at eye level.

BigBF travels with his and it makes his life a LOT simpler and quicker.

Precisely...that was the intention of my post, albeit maybe not made clear.
For clarification-sake, I was asking about table lifts...I have a decent MC floor jack. Now that I will have the extra space, I wanted to be able to get up off the floor/stool, so was just looking for pointers on what features of a table lift to consider when purchasing. Thx.

[Redline +]

Here ya go Mike... not a table, but it works for me.



Redline

[Leathel]

I use a std bike lift and a floor jack (thanks to Big Poppa for suggesting it) but I may get a bigger jack and make a frame at some stage

[gordonv]

If you do a search, you can find a lot of what others have done.

There is also this one, which was recessed into the floor.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,82367.0.html

If you want a jack lift, I have one you can have, only need to fix it, as it doesn't hold pressure, and pick it up in Richmond. I've fixed lifts before, usually just need new seals. It might be a Sears or Canadian Tire.

[baldo]

I have a Kendon rail type lift. It works like a scissor table lift, without the table. It's better for a smaller shop. It folds up for storage against the wall when not in use. It works well for me, rock solid, but more work space would be great.....

https://www.kendonusa.com/stand-up-motorcycle-lifts/

[msb]

Here ya go Mike... not a table, but it works for me.



Redline

lol...perfect Cal, no bending down there! mmm...now, where do I store the forklift?

[baldo]

Here ya go Mike... not a table, but it works for me.



Redline

Holy machine shop....

Is that your man cave, or is it your workplace?

Very nice, either way....

[Bone]

gordonv if it's a Sears mine started going down slowly it's 3rd year. Got out the instructions and it tells us to change the oil every year. Our Sears store closed so I went to Autozone and bought a bottle of Jack oil. It fixed the problem !
Now I change it every 2 years and never leave it loaded without stopping at one of the locked positions.

[Redline +]

Holy machine shop....

Is that your man cave, or is it your workplace?

Very nice, either way....

Both, I work from home.

Redline

[gordonv]

gordonv if it's a Sears mine started going down slowly it's 3rd year. Got out the instructions and it tells us to change the oil every year. Our Sears store closed so I went to Autozone and bought a bottle of Jack oil. It fixed the problem !
Now I change it every 2 years and never leave it loaded without stopping at one of the locked positions.

Thank you for that tip. Will check. Cleaning out mom's garage for a move, have the lift and need to get rid of it either way. I gave most of my Valk parts to a Seattle Vermin member. Still have ACE T and GW parts to get rid of.