Ideas? To use 2 post hoist for bikes

Need some help brainstorming this new "farkle"for the shop. Not sure if I can use "farkle"here but I digress.

I currently have a 1000lbs lift table in the shop and a large 2 post 7 ton hoist. The motorcycle lift table seems to always be in the way and has become a great spot for me to pile up the stuff I don't want to put away or cleanup. So I want to get rid of the dedicate lift table and just use my 2 post hoist instead. The benefit is that I get some space back and I can lift the bike as high as I want. I'm a tall guy so the lift table still feels really short for me.

Here's where I need the help. My first thought was to get a piece of metal channel and span it across two of the arms and then find a way to quickly bolt and unbolt it from the arms. But now I'm thinking that using just one arm will make all of the parts of the bike easier to access.

What do I need to consider here?

Since I'm going to Fabricate this from scratch what features should I add or are you missing from your table?

- I need a way to strap down the bike. Or is there a better way to hold it up right?
- Should I be getting a U-channel wide enough that I can put the center stand down?
- Have considered adding lights but think that they may just get in the way more than help.

It might be interesting (although not sure how necessary...but who cares)...

How about making up a frame that connects to one set of the arms (Or both...not sure how far apart they are)...that gives you the option to either raise the bike by the frame (like a standard bike lift would) or where you can raise it by the tires (like using chocks) so the engine is completely unobstructed?

This is not a bad idea. The hoist I have is in the link below it’s a typical 2 post hoist so the arms are extendable and can be configured for almost any width. As soon as I read this I pictured a chock on each arm to hold the wheels but a section of U-channel in between that could be pulled out if I wanted to keep the middle “Engine” section wide open. But then I run into the problem of two arms on one side of the bike. Which means to work on that side I need to constantly climb over one arm.

Maybe I need to make two configurations of this?

As with anything 1/2 the fun is fabricating some new things

http://www.johnbean.ca/aul_12k2post.asp

http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j...ent-2-Post-Hydraulic-Car-Lift-QJ-Y-2-45C-.jpg

^^^ no link posted

Similar challenge in here:

http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36071

Might look into methods and gadgets used for servicing mini-tractors and riding lawnmowers.