
322lbs for the lift, which is fully assembled when shipped, 37lbs. The lift arrived on a wooden pallet with a total weight of 397lbs.

Work in the garage during those summer months is out of the question. Communications were fluid and the lift arrived on schedule, just in time for the end of the furnace which is summer here in Scottsdale. COVID has slowed production somewhat and it was some seven weeks between order and delivery. While the Handy costs three times as much as the one at your local Harbor Freight, it’s safe (safer?), parts are available and, as I can now testify, the quality and finish are gorgeous. It is not the support mechanism when the table is in use. Air pressure is only used to raise the table. Instead of a hydraulic cylinder the lift uses sturdy rubber bellows to raise the table, with an automatic mechanical locking device to retain the table in place. Handy states it has tested this design to 25,000 cycles (I will be 178 years old by then) and it’s ingenious. which will make Harley riders happy my 1975 BMW comes in at 435lbs. The range is broad, and I settled on a pneumatic model, the SAM 1200, which uses rubber bellows, powered by your air compressor, to raise the lift table. There’s a reason Handy has been in the business since 1964. The reviewer’s inspired idea of using a furniture dolly to move the collapsed lift is repeated in my narrative, below, and is entirely attributable to that reviewer. Like that reviewer, I have no connection, economic or otherwise, with the Handy’s makers, other than I paid with my own hard cash for one. If I disagree with one opinion stated in that video it is about the slots for tie down strap hooks which the reviewer does not particularly care for.
#Handy motorcycle lift how to
My review, which follows, is more focused on the user experience and also addresses related issues of how to prevent the lift sliding on a slick garage floor, how to use tie down straps and how to select, adapt and use a jack to raise the rear wheel for removal through the removable rear plate. There is extensive comparison with earlier Handy lifts and also comments on the cheap imports out there. The video is professionally produced, devoid of the puerile commentary and raucous music usually found on YouTube pieces, and written by an objective, dispassionate engineer. The guys (and gals) at Handy, a division of Janco Industries.įor an excellent video review of the Handy SAM 1200 motorcycle lift click here.
#Handy motorcycle lift professional
Visit any professional bike mechanic’s workshop and the chances are you will find that the lift used is made by Handy Industries of Iowa. As the average trip to that specialist runs $500 and up, cost recovery would not take long even for a premium priced American product, and I very much wanted to buy American made, not an import from the Far East.Īs for paying up for American labor and steel, what’s your life worth? More importantly, what’s your bike worth? And with 30 years on my Airhead you could say we have formed something of an attachment. (I do not).Īfter the last such session I decided that I could either delegate maintenance tasks to the local Airhead specialist or get a motorcycle lift. A serious session of motorcycle maintenance means a morning after reminiscent of a good beating with a cricket bat. Also decided to add both the OrionMotorTech Dilated and Goplus Hydraulic for their compact designs and thick rubber platforms.Truth be told, the old knees are not what they used to be. The Black Widow ProLift offers a versatile height range, while the Auto Lift 1000M can easily accommodate ATVs and snowmobiles. Also added the Titan Hydraulic due to its durability and access ports for supporting tie-down straps. Included APlusLift MT1500 for its adjustable front extension and low-angle ramp.
#Handy motorcycle lift free
When lowering the table, you must keep your hands free of all moving parts and be cautious to avoid trapping hazards and obstructions. A wheel clamp should always be used whenever possible, and the ratchet mechanism should be checked before commencing work. Ensure that the front wheel is securely strapped down when working on the back end of the bike, and vice-versa. When using a motorcycle lift table, it is essential that safe practices are observed.

They are often used in conjunction with a service jack in order to perform this task, and two of our choices, the APlusLift MT1500 and Black Widow ProLift provide these as part of the package. Not only do they provide easier access to most working parts of the vehicle, but also make wheel removal much easier, while also keeping the bike safely secured in place. A good lift table will take a lot of the hard work out of motorcycle maintenance and repair.
