Motorcycle table height

ckahleer · Mar 15, 2020

I'm considering building a wood table to work on motorcycles. Is there an ideal height to make it?
Would a cheap lift like the Harbor Freight one be so much better, that I shouldn't build my own table?
Just trying to find a cheap way to stop spending so much time crawling around on the garage floor.

gggGary · Mar 15, 2020

The harbor freight one is nice went for decades without and you couldn't get it away from me now.

jetmechmarty · Mar 15, 2020

IMHO, the Harbor Freight lift is good enough that you shouldn’t bother. Just buy it when it goes on sale.

arcticXS · Mar 16, 2020

For a wood/plywood table with fixed height, it all depends on how you wanna use it. Standing, or sitting. Normal office chair height, or a lower garage type stool. And obviously your heigth and strength as well. If it was me, I'd build it fairly low. That way you won't need an impractically long ramp, and the chance of you losing control of it, while securing it is reduced. I'd say 40 cm or 1'4" tops.

5twins · Mar 16, 2020

Keep your eye on your local Craigslist for a used HF lift. The older ones are made better, they've cheapened the new ones up some. They cost more now too. It's hard to get one for anything less than about $300 now, even on sale. When I got mine a good dozen years back, I paid a little under $250 out the door. The deal was just too good to pass up. I'd consider around $200 for one of these nicer, older units used a better buy than their new offering.

member28833 · Mar 16, 2020

To have a lift in your garage is a fine luxury. The best lift I ever got to work with was of a Single Pneumatic post in the floor style which had a large diameter sturdy cylinder. Once in the air that legless platform could also be spun in the work station. That old Honda shop had two of those.

Never had a lift of my own. I just have some shop carpet down. Dress with extra thick clothes, (coveralls) and KNEE pads too and go for it on the floor when necessary. Lighting and sight is the biggest challenge for me under a bike lately. Sometimes even a lift of a 2×6 under the center stand is helpful.
I never own a street bike which doesn't have a center stand.
-R

halfmile · Mar 16, 2020

Got mine 3 years ago with a 20% off coupon for just a little over $200. I can`t imagine owning a motorcycle without one. :thumbsup:

I added a eyelet in each corner and loops in the outer edge for tie downs. Much easier to sit in the shop chair (stool) and work at arms level. :thumbsup:

There is also a horizontal platform jack I haven`t been able to find that looks handy too.

5twins · Mar 16, 2020

Like with many HF items, a few "tweaks" can much improve the product. On these table lifts, they bent a lip up along both sides but left the corners pointy and sharp .....

You'll be catching your pant leg on them and tearing holes in it in no time, lol. Round them off with a grinder .....

The front wheel stop is the same way. They left it squared off with sharp corners. The wheel contacts the center area of the stop so those outer corners serve no purpose other than to tear holes in your pant legs, lol. You can angle cut a couple inches off each side without affecting the stop's intended function .....

member28833 · Mar 16, 2020

Well all this reminded me that I have to get back under my 79 to remove & service the side stand (which just broke of course upon a straightening attempt) and more importantly the Center Stand
Yikes..

5twins · Mar 16, 2020

I see your centerstand tang isn't braced. That will be the next to go, lol .....

member28833 · Mar 16, 2020

Perhaps not. I use a very correct lifting technique and those long shocks help too. On the center stand there is just a bit of rear tire clearance. Just right !

member28833 · Mar 16, 2020

I don't weld or have the amenities to do many of the mods that could be good. But I also don't use my bikes much

member28833 · Mar 16, 2020

Had to go real low this am as a matter of fact...

arcticXS · Mar 16, 2020

I just come to think of another thing. On my lift, I fitted a front wheel chock, like those many use in trailers and pickup trucks. It keeps the bike somewhat secure while you are fiddling with swingarm stands or securing straps. Extremely handy for bikes without center stand, or no stand (race bikes)

arcticXS · Mar 16, 2020

halfmile said:
Got mine 3 years ago with a 20% off coupon for just a little over $200. I can`t imagine owning a motorcycle without one. I added a eyelet in each corner and loops in the outer edge for tie downs. Much easier to sit in the shop chair (stool) and work at arms level. There is also a horizontal platform jack I haven`t been able to find that looks handy too

Halfmile,
That is a huge rear sprocket, must be 40-45 tooth? Since the bike has a headlight, I assume you intend to run it on the street. Or is it a scrambler build, for fireroads and such?

Motorcycle table height

ckahleer

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