Which motorbike lift?

[mini-thumper]

On Monday night, after crouching for a long period working on the SR, I stood up and my knee gave a very audible 'pop' and weight bearing on my right leg became instantly impossible. Following several hours in A&E I was diagnosed with a possible meniscal tear in my right knee cartilage. I suspect that even after any repair my knee movement will be severely impaired to the point where I can no longer work on my bike whilst its parked on the ground; so I need some way of raising it*. During my subsequent days off I have found, and bid on, several full bike lifts on Ebay but they seem to go for silly money (usually not far off the new price at around £250-£300). I can't really justify spending that sort of money on something I hope to only use occasionally, so the next best thing might be one of these:



Does anyone have any experience of them, and are they any good/worth buying? At around a £100-£75 new they are considerably cheaper but am I better to put that money to a full size lift?

Any thoughts, comments or observation appreciated.
Boyd

*You can see where my concerns lie - not with work or general mobility obviously!!! 

[guest288]

One of my friends has an Abba bike lift- I've never used it but he swears by it, don't know how much they are...
I bought a crappy looking bench lift off eBay- rusted to buggery but a knotwheel in a grinder and a bit of hammerite, used brake fluid to unseize the hinges and it's good- two years now, it owes me forty quid... Not bad...

[Steve H]

On Monday night, after crouching for a long period working on the SR, I stood up and my knee gave a very audible 'pop' and weight bearing on my right leg became instantly impossible. Following several hours in A&E I was diagnosed with a possible meniscal tear in my right knee cartilage. I suspect that even after any repair my knee movement will be severely impaired to the point where I can no longer work on my bike whilst its parked on the ground; so I need some way of raising it*. During my subsequent days off I have found, and bid on, several full bike lifts on Ebay but they seem to go for silly money (usually not far off the new price at around £250-£300). I can't really justify spending that sort of money on something I hope to only use occasionally, so the next best thing might be one of these:



Does anyone have any experience of them, and are they any good/worth buying? At around a £100-£75 new they are considerably cheaper but am I better to put that money to a full size lift?

Any thoughts, comments or observation appreciated.
Boyd

*You can see where my concerns lie - not with work or general mobility obviously!!!  

Boyd,

I bought one of these at Stafford a few years back. They are not brilliant quality but they do work. It was ideal for the DR as it the DR had two bottom rails which sat on the lift quite well. It doesn't work too well for the SRX as the lower frame rails are asymmetric and the SV doesnt have rails. I ended up building a frame for the SRX which I bolt on (when I can be *******d)
In my opinion they work but are not as useful as a full size platform lift.

Hope the knee recovers quickly

[guest833]

I have one of these- Sealey 365 (see link)- it's the best thing i ever bought- saves your back in any job you want to do on the bike. Get the handlebars over head height so you can work on it standing up if required. You don't need a more heavy duty one the 365 will comfortably lift most bikes. I had an old Kwak z750 on it and it pi$$ed it- and that was a heavy bike

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEALEY-MC365-Motorcycle-Lift-Yankee-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ250594402780QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item3a589721dc

You can probably get it cheaper if you look- or may get a used one on bidding if you can be bothered (and with no guarantee)

You can come and have a look at it if you want (and the lift)

Cheers

[themoudie]

Oh B****r, Boyd!

That is a scunner, nae more spannering in the grit of the paddock! However, I hope you can prove them wrong and heal well. Rearsets maybe a thing of the past though. 

I know you didn't think spending dosh was a good idea, but, I went and purchased one of these lifts when they first came out:

Eazy Rizer 'Nough 002!

Used for a selection of bikes, Honda Bros, SRX, Morini 125, BMW F650, Duke single, Aprilia 50RS & 125RS, Suzuki Bandit, MZ Skorpian. When not in use it hangs up on the wall out of the way, unlike the ruddy table lifts, so you can do other jobs when limited for space.

Get well, that's the main thing.

All the best, Bill.

[mini-thumper]

Many thanks for the useful and supportive advise. I'll just have to save my money and keep an eye out for a secondhand lift!

Thanks again
Boyd

[OMEGAMAN]

 Sorry to hear of your I'lls!

 If you can?  pop down to my place & have a look at my set up....might be a very cheap & easy solution......also, if you have the time, you might be able to help with a couple of small things that are causing me problems (& we have a comfy chair )

[mini-thumper]

John
As soon as I can walk and/or drive the car I'll pop over. I will bring your Mondo Enduro DVD back as well!!!!!! I phone before I call.....

Boyd

[guest18]

Yeah sorry to hear about your knee, horrible things they are, hope it improves soon and confounds the quacks expectations!

[trophydave]

Boyd,I have a fairly cheapo full size lift bought second hand,sorry I don't know the make off hand.You are welcome to come and put your bike on it to try it for size.One thing I would say,if you go for a full size one make sure it's plenty big enough.Mine would only just take my VFR and the Transalp and Africa Twin are just too big to go on it,I need to lengthen the platform a little.

[BrendanO]

HI. I'm probably repeating the thoughts of others...

I bought a BRAND NEW table lift, £150, bloke had two (long story). looked a bit short, but he had some big Jap 4 on his, so I thought fine! New price being a LOT more.

It has bin too short for comfy use for one of my bikes, ok for small thumpers. Had to make an extension bit for it, which looks a bit crap. Getting bikes on centre stands feels a bit scary on a table lift (same at my MOT station, where they often get me to do it, or at least help).

It's been sometimes handy...but mostly sits in corner with 3 push bikes stored on it. If I had my time again, I'd be tempted by the wee moto x type lifts..as long as your frame is lower than your pipes or plastics!  (and symmetrical!).

Try your bikes on everything that we've got before buying (even if you have to wait till your knee improves) - you only want to buy this ONCE!  Hopefully, it'll protect whatever's left in yr knees too, that's why I bought one. However, I mainly just wear knee pads as it's less hassle than getting the lift out!

Where abouts are you?  Then, your local Thumpers can offer you a cuppa and a go of a lift. I'm in Embra, but I suspect you're further Sahf!


Best wishes!

[tj63]

I've got one of the small lifts you can try out, Boyd.  I'm not many miles from you, next to Junction 28 of M1.

Give us a shout if I can help, and get well soon.


Trevor

[mini-thumper]

Again, many thanks for all your words of wisdom and support. I have to admit that ar$ing about on/with motorbikes is off the cards at the moment as just walking is a bit of a chore. I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon next Wednesday and hopefully that will shed some light on what happened and how it will pan out. As soon as I'm more mobile I'll certainly be in touch with some of you to try-before-I-buy.

Cheers for now and thanks again.

Boyd

[paulp2655]

Again this echos the others thoughts. Sorry to hear about your knee and hope it gets well soon.

Last year I bought the Clarke one from Machine mart, which is pretty much the same as the Sealey MC365. And I cant recommend it highly enough. Sure it sticks in the back of my throat that its made in china, but on the other hand my life has been transformed by it.

What prompted me to take the plunge and buy one, was that I was trying to repaint collecter box on my CBR6 and it was a ball ache to say the least.

Had to extend the workshop by doubling the size of it  and errr indoors was surprisingly supportive, happy days