Motorcycle jack or full platform lift?

[oneup]

I'm soon to begin building an XS650 based bobber. (purists relax, I'm not hacking up a good bike, using a Cycle One custom frame and all new everything else) Those of you with multiple builds under your belt.....would you go with a simple jack or full platform lift? In a perfect world I suppose both would be nice but I don't live in that one so one will have to do. What say you guys?

 

[lakeview]

If you are doing any serious work and you have the space, a platform lift is the only way to go.
On whatever you get, watch out for the sharp corners on the platform. Perfect height for damaging ankles!

 

[CoconutPete]

How much space do you have? I have one bike on the jack and one bike in the chock, it works out pretty well. If I had a giant space I'd love the lift but that just isn't the way it worked out.

 

[gggGary]

+2 if you have the room and $$ you will absolutely love a lift. My cheapo harbor freight has served me well for more than 10 years, most of that time with bikes on it. Can't believe I waited so long. Waited for a CL deal, got one with a failed XS project sitting on it . Never mind that half the time I have a bike on the lift and am working on a DIFFERENT bike in the shed. Like oh last night, changing turn signals and fixing a loose headlight on the Zooky, While Madness was on the lift.

Yes grab a file or angle grinder round the corners BEFORE you tear your jeans and leg, not after like I did.
Nothing finer than the sound of tools and parts rattling their way towards the floor when you finally fire up a long dead bike on the lift.

 

[mrtwowheel]

Neither one. Working on a bike without a lift or table will give you 6 pack abs and arms like Popeye, great benefits.

Scott

 

[gggGary]

Neither one. Working on a bike without a lift or table will give you 6 pack abs and arms like Popeye, great benefits.

Scott

And a back like an arthritic 90 year old.

 

[59Tebo]

I'm cheap (but I'm not easy. No, I'm easy too) so I built a motorcycle table out of mostly scrap wood I had laying around. It's pretty sturdy/stable and with the addition of a HFT wheel chock and some 6 x 6 wooden blocks (with 'V' cuts), for when I have the forks and swing arm off, I'll be working on the basket case from the comfort of a mechanics chair instead of having my butt on the concrete floor of my friend's hot rod shop.

 

[motormike]

I got 3 lifts. The Handy is great.. air, nice clamp. Got it used.. great deal. $500.00. New, I heard they'r pushing $1500.oo. Then there's the H/Freight unit. Foot hydraulic foot pump. On sale $300.oo... the stock wheel " clamp " is J.U.N.K. Order a proper wheel clamp from Red Line Industries. Great " L " shaped clamp.. delivered to you door for $135.oo
My brother use to work for a X ray machine company. They toss'd a old X ray table. Perfect size for a motorcycle.. electric...great price.. Free.. I can afford free. I added a Red Line clamp.
The H/Freight with a proper clamp works very well.

 

[oneup]

I have room for a platform, just have to set my rockcrawling buggy in the wheel dollies and roll it sideways as far as I can.

 

[electra_boogaloo]

i replaced my old jack recently and i can't fine a good spot to lift this bike with. any suggestions? it seems to be very front heavy

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Several great threads in here.
Do a forum search on "Lift", click "titles only"...

 

[xjwmx]

Can't your wife hold it up in the air for you?

 

[gggGary]

If stock the kickstand is the issue preventing an easy lift. I have a jack and with a couple pieces of board to level things out have put the XS's up on it many times. Because of the boards I always use a ratchet strap to keep the bike secure on the jack. Always meant to make an XS specific adaptor and document it. but the lift is so easy... I did make a jack adaptor for the royal star with a retaining pin, because it's too big for the lift table and has no center stand. That poor jack!!!