Motorcycle lift mod

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I have a motorcycle lift in my garage that I park behind my stored car. It sits against the wall on one side and there’s barely room to walk between the lift and rear end of the car. Because of space constraints, I usually store one bike on the lift. The trouble I was having is when I go to put the bike on the lift, when the front tire hits the lift ramp, the whole lift would propel itself forward until it hit an unmovable object - not an ideal situation. For those that own such a lift, you know there are two threaded posts on the front of the lift which are to help prevent the lift from moving. They work marginally well when I can access them. Trouble is, in my cramped location, I can’t reach them to wind them down.


I thought about a solution and came up with this… I bought a length of M16 threaded rod, drilled and tapped one end (to hold the original pad on), then had a friend machine a hex for a 1/2” socket on the other end. I cut a pair of holes in the deck of the lift so I could access these new posts from above with a socket, extension and ratchet. I wanted to improve the grip of the pads on the floor, so I stuck a rubber pad to the steel pad at the end of the post, then stuck a piece of #50 sandpaper to the rubber pad. I assembled it all and it works like a charm. I’m not sure how long the sandpaper and pad will last though. Another small victory for a Friday afternoon.

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I was just looking at jacks and lifts online yesterday. I'm really appreciating the value of a lift these days as I slowly get up from the floor...
Must redo my shop to accommodate a lift.
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https://www.kendonusa.com/collectio...ding-sport-bike-lift-folding-motorcycle-lifts
I'm eventually going to write up a full review on this Kendon lift that I recently bought.
I paid more for this one because it is super narrow (yet secure). I can put a bike on it, and then push it over so that I can work on another bike in my small work space.
Also, it STANDS UP, so you can get it out of the way when not in use.
It's a really nice lift, and I'm very happy with it.
 
View attachment 337732
https://www.kendonusa.com/collectio...ding-sport-bike-lift-folding-motorcycle-lifts
I'm eventually going to write up a full review on this Kendon lift that I recently bought.
I paid more for this one because it is super narrow (yet secure). I can put a bike on it, and then push it over so that I can work on another bike in my small work space.
Also, it STANDS UP, so you can get it out of the way when not in use.
It's a really nice lift, and I'm very happy with it.
Nice looking lift. A bit more than I’d be willing to spend though. My cheap lift is quite wide but I like that for placing tools and parts while I’m working on the bike.
 
View attachment 337732
https://www.kendonusa.com/collectio...ding-sport-bike-lift-folding-motorcycle-lifts
I'm eventually going to write up a full review on this Kendon lift that I recently bought.
I paid more for this one because it is super narrow (yet secure). I can put a bike on it, and then push it over so that I can work on another bike in my small work space.
Also, it STANDS UP, so you can get it out of the way when not in use.
It's a really nice lift, and I'm very happy with it.

Do you have a problem with jerky left/drop.

I worked in 2 shops that had hydraulic lifts and I did not like them. The raising was too fast and was on or off, no slow raise and the drop was very jerky if not taking it all the way down.

The fold up is very nice option though!
 
Nice looking lift. A bit more than I’d be willing to spend though. My cheap lift is quite wide but I like that for placing tools and parts while I’m working on the bike.
No, there isn't much space for tools. On the other hand, you don't have a wide table in your way, so you can stand or sit very close to the bike when working, which can often be convenient.
Do you have a problem with jerky left/drop.

I worked in 2 shops that had hydraulic lifts and I did not like them. The raising was too fast and was on or off, no slow raise and the drop was very jerky if not taking it all the way down.

The fold up is very nice option though!
You can raise it with compressed air, plus it also comes with a jack handle, so you can raise it by pumping by hand. I saw a video, and I think it takes something like 150 hand pumps to raise it all the way, so that's slow. Raising it with compressed air is very fast. There is a hand operated valve, so you can pause every few seconds as you raise it with compressed air. I suppose you could also regulate your air supply so that it raises slowly.
Lowering is smooth, the valve works well and allows for a very slow lower if you want.
No jerkiness raising or lowering.
It's a well-thought out lift.
 
View attachment 337732
https://www.kendonusa.com/collectio...ding-sport-bike-lift-folding-motorcycle-lifts
I'm eventually going to write up a full review on this Kendon lift that I recently bought.
I paid more for this one because it is super narrow (yet secure). I can put a bike on it, and then push it over so that I can work on another bike in my small work space.
Also, it STANDS UP, so you can get it out of the way when not in use.
It's a really nice lift, and I'm very happy with it.
I worship DB like a god but have to insert a dissenting opinion on this one.
Bought a nice used Kendon from a guy that also had a harbor freight lift in his garage. When I asked why he was selling the Kendon, he mumbled around a bit. I'd traveled a good distance so loaded it up.
I moved my HF out to the shed, put the Kendon in the shop, used it for a winter or so,did some gggGaryizing. Then sold it on, my ad read just the like one when I bought it, "works as designed".
Put the HF back where it belonged, in my shop. I no longer remember the exact details but yes the larger table is handier to work from, was trickier to get bikes on the lift and stable, had to add to the sidestand support and anchor points. Think the one I had had tool trays on the sides. Seems like I worried about side to side stability when a big bike was up high? Part of this may be I seldom use a front wheel vice just not my way of working.
Anyways I left my shed door unlocked one night and now I have TWO HF lifts. shrug. They both eventually needed some new o-rings in the pump and a bit of shaft polishing to stop leaks.
Speaking of this the Bool is sitting on the lift with it's oil pump apart, and it's riding weather, later.
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I worship DB like a god but have to insert a dissenting opinion on this one.
Bought a nice used Kendon from a guy that also had a harbor freight lift in his garage. When I asked why he was selling the Kendon, he mumbled around a bit. I'd traveled a good distance so loaded it up.
I moved my HF out to the shed, put the Kendon in the shop, used it for a winter or so,did some gggGaryizing. Then sold it on, my ad read just the like one when I bought it, "works as designed".
Put the HF back where it belonged, in my shop. I no longer remember the exact details but yes the larger table is handier to work from, was trickier to get bikes on the lift and stable, had to add to the sidestand support and anchor points. Think the one I had had tool trays on the sides. Seems like I worried about side to side stability when a big bike was up high? Part of this may be I seldom use a front wheel vice just not my way of working.
Anyways I left my shed door unlocked one night and now I have TWO HF lifts. shrug. They both eventually needed some new o-rings in the pump and a bit of shaft polishing to stop leaks.
Speaking of this the Bool is sitting on the lift with it's oil pump apart, and it's riding weather, later.
View attachment 337805
I wonder if you had the same model I have.
I absolutely could not fit a HF lift in my work space, and still do what I want there.

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Bike on lift (it goes a little higher), shoved all the way against a long lab work table. The Super RustBucket on the floor, I can walk all the way around it. Folding table on the right, I can fold it up if I need more room. The folding table is where I take all of my eBay pictures, there is enough room to take pics with the lift where it is. I'm about to take the carbs off the Supreme RustBucket, then I will roll the bike forward and work on the carbs on the folding table.

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The lift seems stable enough. It's for people who are willing to pay more for a narrow, small footprint lift, or who want a lift that folds up, and easily stands up. This is my first lift, so I have nothing to compare it to. Maybe it has some drawbacks, but it's a really well thought out and well made lift.
 
It seems my opinion has gentled over the years.... from ten + years ago; I did mention Kendon may have made changes since the one I had was made.
What they say, after way too many decades without, I would never give mine up. File/grind the sharp corners off the platform BEFORE you tear your jeans. I took the vice off and don't miss it.

I also bought a Kendon (stores on end) lift off craigslist this year, the guy had a harbor freight lift he was keeping, I should have known. I have yet to find any part of the Kendon lift that I like or that is comfortable and in a lot of cases even safe to use. POS

As soon as you get your harbor freight lift, file and round the corners on the table or your jeans (and leg) will get torn.
I bought that Kendon used and cheap with the PO saying "it works just like the factory designed it". I used the exact same phrase when I sold it. I spent a day or better, removed the PO's mods and tried my own to make it more mechanic friendly but threw in the towel. To be fair I think Kendon has revised it a bit since.
Best way to buy an HF is in package with a "failed project bike" sitting on it. I've bought three that way. LOL
Will probably have a second one out in the shed if I get some concrete out there,
(might happen this summer) Even an HF table is a bit narrow for BIG bike sidestands, sometimes have the front tire half on the turned up edge to get the side stand mostly on the table, should weld a side stand bulge on it "one of these days".
PS it is no fun getting a big bike on the centerstand once it's on the table, just not enough room for the bike and me balancing it and grunting it up on the stand. I ask my wife to come down and spot but usually get r done at risk of life, limb, and bike before she shows, XS is little problem.
Yes in the right situation, a crowded or part time workspace, a much smaller stand up lift makes good sense. but if you have dedicated room.....
For big bikes another foot of length on the HF would be nice. But it's smarter to just avoid big bikes :D
 
Do you have a problem with jerky left/drop.

I worked in 2 shops that had hydraulic lifts and I did not like them. The raising was too fast and was on or off, no slow raise and the drop was very jerky if not taking it all the way down.
Mine was a bit quick to drop, but it was easily adjusted via a pre-set valve on the ram body.
 
With the Kendon, there's no getting the bike on the centerstand, too narrow. If you need to raise a wheel while it's on the lift you're going to need an appropriate jack. Probably a two-man job for safety, with the Kendon lowered.

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Since approximately forever, my lift was like this. Simply a rectangular profile that levers the bike up when you rotate it 90 degrees. More examples below. Cost nothing, and takes up almost no space. To get the front wheel up, you use the homemade jack and then just muscle the front wheel up and put a block under the front of the engine. If the bike is low to the ground, you just roll it onto boards until you can slide the lift under the bike. If the bike is too high, you just put boards under the lift to raise it. This type of lever lift could be used with a bike on the Kendon (or any lift table) to raise a wheel.
I had one of those little scissor lifts that raise the bike 12 or 16 inches. Hated it, and put it back on Craigslist. It was too heavy and took up too much space, among other things.
I finally decided that I am too old to be doing all of my work on my hands and knees, hence the Kendon.
My Kendon has a capacity of 600 pounds, which is perfect for an XS650. They are sold out of their bigger model which will handle a Harley full dresser.

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