Bike lift recommendations please

[waddycall]

I’m spending a lot of time on my knees these days tinkering with my old BSA’s.
As much as I’m enjoying it, it’s killing my back, neck and shoulders so considering investing in a lift. Trouble is I only have a single garage so a bit concerned about space.
Anyone got any recommendations? Budget up to a few hundred.
Cheers

 

[Hopefuldave]

I’m spending a lot of time on my knees these days tinkering with my old BSA’s.
As much as I’m enjoying it, it’s killing my back, neck and shoulders so considering investing in a lift. Trouble is I only have a single garage so a bit concerned about space.
Anyone got any recommendations? Budget up to a few hundred.
Cheers

you're going to hate this....

A couple of sturdy pad-eyes into a beam or three, ratchet straps and slings, a few carabiners, you'll have 'em swinging like a masochist having a good time!
If it works for the Rapid Offensive Unit "Hold My Mindstate And Watch This" (ZZR1400) it should work for anything? Well, Hardly-Fergusons might be a stretch...

 

[Rannsachair]

I have a sealey hydraulic one, works well, stable, adjustable height on hydraulic pedal with lock, ramp, front wheel retainer.

I had a friend who bought a BMW LT and sold it to me for under £200 as not rated for his bike, been ideal bar takes up a bit of space when not in use.

 

[Morrisman]

I have a sealey hydraulic one, works well, stable, adjustable height on hydraulic pedal with lock, ramp, front wheel retainer.

I had a friend who bought a BMW LT and sold it to me for under £200 as not rated for his bike, been ideal bar takes up a bit of space when not in use.
View attachment 443777

I saw a photo of a guy with a Harley who thought that front tyre clamp was meant to hold the bike upright, without a stand down… when the ramp was up in the air….
It wasn’t pretty.

 

[pawsnizzy]

I saw a photo of a guy with a Harley who thought that front tyre clamp was meant to hold the bike upright, without a stand down… when the ramp was up in the air….
It wasn’t pretty.

Harley's aren't though

 

[frank horton]

I bought the biggest avail....stable with everything I put on it.....K1100LT.....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38495458...mciZsreQEsLR2Pw9BFkFxdB4bg==|tkp:BFBMnqW__dFj...

it was just under £200 then and 1/2 the price of a Clark.....still works great and no leaks....need to modify the caster tho....

 

[Greeves246]

I bought the biggest avail....stable with everything I put on it.....K1100LT.....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384954581577?epid=16027539160&itmmeta=01HT7XFTA79477D416YTZMDPEK&hash=item59a114c249:g:zpkAAOSwGXxirGO7&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8ChsIuLV/2yuZqeYHyynCPg0Bccegh4UqCa4nV3UDJnQmmdkqLm3ejKFdrzCTPUmFClIIyqdSPFuxeZloA70v2rHKA1Y3yN297A9zzyenvxQeOchJqwMGjmx/gQqu1TtekdCDNHVjEyYRfk6eIrVkxlbeJ303hcSLeKYMoxdijRJIeCSGCz69kT52iS6cgGcSDMO9EvZF+/VFJ8SCDnwklyqhuRbH/nMKrAdFjHNakPHHZGYlNl6378zCDfRovzevodt3cAx5cVuswmLcEXZir4R4kYdYb+roNRuQFdTmciZsreQEsLR2Pw9BFkFxdB4bg==|tkp:BFBMnqW__dFj...

it was just under £200 then and 1/2 the price of a Clark.....still works great and no leaks....need to modify the caster tho....

Same as the one I have. About £250 back then. Well worth it. I put a length of carpet on it, stops bits bouncing off never to be seen again.

 

[waddycall]

I have a sealey hydraulic one, works well, stable, adjustable height on hydraulic pedal with lock, ramp, front wheel retainer.

I had a friend who bought a BMW LT and sold it to me for under £200 as not rated for his bike, been ideal bar takes up a bit of space when not in use.
View attachment 443777

Beautiful matchless! By the way I ended up with a BSA B31 and loving it

 

[droopsnoot]

I’m spending a lot of time on my knees these days tinkering with my old BSA’s.
As much as I’m enjoying it, it’s killing my back, neck and shoulders so considering investing in a lift. Trouble is I only have a single garage so a bit concerned about space.
Anyone got any recommendations? Budget up to a few hundred.
Cheers

My mate has a motorcycle lift that he's been talking about getting rid of, mainly because he's got rid of his bikes. I think it's a Sealey - it's certainly red - but I can't say any more than that*. He's in South Cheshire. If that's of any interest send me a PM and I'll put the two of you in touch.

( * Because I don't know, not because it's a secret)

 

[waddycall]

My mate has a motorcycle lift that he's been talking about getting rid of, mainly because he's got rid of his bikes. I think it's a Sealey - it's certainly red - but I can't say any more than that*. He's in South Cheshire. If that's of any interest send me a PM and I'll put the two of you in touch.

( * Because I don't know, not because it's a secret)

Thanks droopsnoot but I’m in Cornwall so probably a bit too far.

 

[Rannsachair]

Beautiful matchless! By the way I ended up with a BSA B31 and loving it

Nice bikes, what year?

 

[Jasper42]

I have one as per the photo, replaced the split pins but does the job. I have a triumph Speedmaster so a bit of a lump.

 

[RichardM]

I made my own, there's some photos on here somewhere. Utilises a low profile jack to lift and comes to bits when not in use to store upright against the garage wall.

 

[addjunkie]

You can get some slim ones that store vertical against a wall. Like this

Slim Line Bike Lift - ideal for easier bike maintenance

Slim Line Bike Lift with air operated attachment. Over all length with ramp attached 2600mm. The perfect accessory for maintaining your bike.

cjautosheywood.co.uk

 

[winchman]

We have a generic one bought for about £150ish second hand I cant remember, its great but I can see how it can also be in the way

 

[mangocrazy]

I'm a bit of an evangeliser for the Abba Skylift. I bought one about 5 years ago as I was sick and tired of grubbing about on my knees trying to fix bikes. Since then I've been so grateful (and so have my 74 y.o. knees) for the ability to sit on a stool and work on my bikes. I'd definitely have a good look around Abba's skylift web pages and videos. Here.

They are a bit spendy, but get on their mailing list and every so often they have deals available. They are currently offering Free delivery until midnight on Easter Monday. As your bike is an oldie I'd probably get onto them and ask what fitting kits they have available. Modern bikes tend to have hollow swingarms into which an adaptor can be fitted - for your bike they would probably need to provide a fitting kit that fitted snugly around the swingarm bolt/nut heads. The deciding factor for me was that once the bike was on the skylift I could wheel the plot around anywhere in the shed - it just frees up the space you have available.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

What about using a Hi Lift pallet truck ? I bought one for £75 and sold it for £150 on eBay when I no longer needed it

 

[waddycall]

Some great ideas here - thanks chaps

 

[waddycall]

I'm a bit of an evangeliser for the Abba Skylift. I bought one about 5 years ago as I was sick and tired of grubbing about on my knees trying to fix bikes. Since then I've been so grateful (and so have my 74 y.o. knees) for the ability to sit on a stool and work on my bikes. I'd definitely have a good look around Abba's skylift web pages and videos. Here.

They are a bit spendy, but get on their mailing list and every so often they have deals available. They are currently offering Free delivery until midnight on Easter Monday. As your bike is an oldie I'd probably get onto them and ask what fitting kits they have available. Modern bikes tend to have hollow swingarms into which an adaptor can be fitted - for your bike they would probably need to provide a fitting kit that fitted snugly around the swingarm bolt/nut heads. The deciding factor for me was that once the bike was on the skylift I could wheel the plot around anywhere in the shed - it just frees up the space you have available.

That does look good. I have two bikes - one plunger frame and one swing arm so could be a bit of a pain to fit. I’ll give them a shout and find out.

 

[waddycall]

You can get some slim ones that store vertical against a wall. Like this

Slim Line Bike Lift - ideal for easier bike maintenance

Slim Line Bike Lift with air operated attachment. Over all length with ramp attached 2600mm. The perfect accessory for maintaining your bike.

cjautosheywood.co.uk

That looks good.