Bike Lift

[kilthro]

I unfortunately live up in the North East and winter is on its way. I have some ride time left but I am looking at a Lift that I could store my bike on during the winter. Now if it wasn't bad outside I could lower it and take for a drive. I am sure that once the snow hits the first time, I am done for the year.

I have read through many threads here mentioning motorcycle lifts and some opinions that were on there.

Is it ok to leave them on the lift for approx 5 months that I will not be riding?
I didn't know if that would mess with the suspension since there isn't any pressure on it for that long.
I am worried about flat spots on the tires and would like to avoid them completely if possible.

I have been looking at the lift below
Larin ATV/Motorcycle Jack 1,500lb Capacity Show Edition - ATV - Jack - The Garage Store

I didn't want to go with a cheap lift. I consider the craftsman lift cheap and have read horror stories on it. I was going middle of the road and hopefully it would be a good lift to use without spending tons of money.


I don't mind purchasing a lift since it will also aid in oil changes and maintenance on the bike when I have to do that. I just didn't know if there were any down sides to putting the bike on a lift for 5 months straight.

Has anyone done this without any problems? Any recommendations on brand? I have a few that I am looking at.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[mbgraham2000]

I got the Mr. Goodwrench brand lift from Walmart. $70. It looks like the one in your link but is blue. It comes with tie down straps but not that extra stand thing the one in the link comes with.

I have had my bike on this stand for a couple of days at a time with no issue. I don't really see what leaving it on the stand for 5 months would hurt. It has a locking device, so it is not being held just by the hydraulic cylinder.

I would think that if you got the bike on the stand correctly it wouldn't hurt anything. Just be careful taking wheels off, the bike will shift quite a bit when you do.

[ChicsterMG]

I have the craftsman lift and has served me well for two bikes. My C50 and a honda Shadow I no longer have.
It is pretty much the same lift you are looking at without all the chrome bling for about $40 less. If you keep an eye out, they always drop the price at Sears. I got mine for $69+ tax.

I use it for cleaning, storing and regular maintenance. I can move the bike around the garage on it, so it's never in the way.

Good luck.

[ScooterC]

I think if I were going to get a lift, I'd get one like this .

[Ext1jdh]

a bit large and pricey for the regular wrencher...dontcha think?

not that I've got anything against overkill

[SNAFU]

I bought a bike lift in the idea of storing it on the lift over winter. I'm having second thoughts on doing that because I can imagine walking into the garage one morning and seeing her on it's side.
I read that you can avoid flat spots on the tire by rolling the bike once in awhile so it doesn't sit on the same spot for too long.

This will be my first winter for the M. I would rather store her in the house where she'll be warm, in the living room, so I can sit on her, while I watch T.V. and make Vroom Vroom sounds.

[Apertureguy]

I'm keeping mine on her side stand...and will pray for an Indian Summer.

I got a nice warm garage...the furnace room is just off it & makes sure it doesn't go below 45 degrees. It's not intentionally heated, just works out that way with the design.

But been thinking about getting a lift too...it's a coin toss between WalMart and Craftsman. I guess it would be whichever one I can get the biggest amount off. Then have a senior citizen I know make the purchase for another 10 or 15% off.

Least that's what the wife says...she's the one with the Black Belt in shopping.

[kilthro]

In addition to using it for storage, it will aid me in servicing the bike as well.

The bike will be in covered parking outside. I do not have a garage to store it in. That would be perfect. My apartment rents out covered parking and when I say covered the only opening is where you pull in. The other 3 sides as well as a shingled roof, shields the bike from the elements. It’s basically like a garage but without the garage door.

Would there be any issues for the suspension since there isn't ay pressure on the forks for that long in the cold weather? I didn't know if they would stiffen up or a problem with the seals. I know if it is a bad winter it can get extremely cold outside.
I will not be lifting the bike up extremely high for storage, just enough to take pressure off of the tires.

The biggest fear is that I would go out there and see the bike on its side. I know they have safety locks that in the event the lift fails it would keep it from lowering all the way thus dumping the bike.

[ScooterC]

kilthro, why don't you put your bike in a public storage facility, maybe even share the cost with a couple of other bikers. It'll be out of the weather and out of the elements.

Bob

[Ext1jdh]

Originally Posted by ScooterC

kilthro, why don't you put your bike in a public storage facility, maybe even share the cost with a couple of other bikers. It'll be out of the weather and out of the elements.

Bob

Thats exactly what I did with my stepbrothers bike last year. Worked out perfectly.

[kilthro]

Originally Posted by ScooterC

kilthro, why don't you put your bike in a public storage facility, maybe even share the cost with a couple of other bikers. It'll be out of the weather and out of the elements.

Bob

What do you mean by public storage facility? I have buddy in my complex that is going to split the cost of the covered parking and we will both park our bikes in the spot. It will be out of the snow. However it will not be out of the cold. It will be shielded from the wind but just not the bottom line cold temperatures. Even a non heated garage would be almost the same.
Either way, what about flat spots on tires? Even if it was in a storage facility the bike would be sitting and I would hate to get flat spots on tires.

[kbsnow]

Find storage places in your area. Uhaul is one place here that has heated/cooled storage units. Depending on the size and your area you could get a few bikes in there without having to worry about the cold and you also wont have to worry about it getting stolen.

[kilthro]

Yeah, I just did a search in my area and they all run more than it will cost me for the covered parking. All of the temperature controlled rooms are inside and I doubt they would allow me to push a bike inside. You can never be to safe with a motorcycle. If someone wants it bad enough, they will get it. I am sure that with the chain that I have to hook to the bike/lift it will be ok. My complex is a really good one and I haven't seen or herd of anything major happening there that involved theft. Plus I am friends with quite a few of the neighbors and most of them are elderly and they keep an eye for me as well during the day.

Has anyone left their bike sit on the tires for 5 months straight without having flat spots. If I don’t go with the lift, I guess that I could go out there every so often and move the bike so it is resting on different parts of the tire if needed.

[Ext1jdh]

I went for 3 months but my stepbro would fire it up every week. Dunno if he rolled it around though.

[Rockhead]

I have the craftsman lift and had the bike on the lift all winter. (4 months) The safety lock works just fine and I wouldn’t be worried about the bike dumping over unless someone was doing something really stupid like trying to climb up on it.

IMO It would be in your best interest to store the bike in a facility that could be locked.

[kilthro]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

I have the craftsman lift and had the bike on the lift all winter. (4 months) The safety lock works just fine and I wouldn’t be worried about the bike dumping over unless someone was doing something really stupid like trying to climb up on it.

IMO It would be in your best interest to store the bike in a facility that could be locked.

I agree the best scenario would be to have the bike in a secured facility. Unfortunately, I don't have that option unless I want to shell out some $$$ and I don't have the luxury. I am sure it will be ok in covered parking. Plus the way the covered parking garage is, if I put the bike all the way up front you can't even tell it is there. Like I said the covered parking is like a garage without a garage door to shut. It has 3 walls and a shingled roof. I am also thinking of parking my wife’s civic in front of the bike (car being the last thing in the space) when she is home that way there isn't any access to the bike. The spot is big enough to place two bikes and then her car with no problems and they all will be covered.

[Ext1jdh]

just make sure she doesnt bang into it while its on the lift. Then you'll have 2 repair bills. (been there done that)

I dont think theres insurance for stupid.

[kilthro]

LOL. Definately not. I have a cement block that I will put down that once the tires hit it, she can't go any farther and that will keep her from getting close to the bike.

[ChicsterMG]

You said you are in the northeast, how far northeast?
With the winters we have had the last couple of years I haven't parked the bike longer than a month at a time.

Also, I have in the past parke the bike for up to six months(went away for military duty) and I hadn't any flat spots on the tires. Just make sure you prep it properly before storing it. Put something under the wheels between them and the cement floor. I use 1/2 inch plywood before I go the lift.

[kilthro]

Originally Posted by ChicsterMG

You said you are in the northeast, how far northeast?
With the winters we have had the last couple of years I haven't parked the bike longer than a month at a time.

Also, I have in the past parke the bike for up to six months(went away for military duty) and I hadn't any flat spots on the tires. Just make sure you prep it properly before storing it. Put something under the wheels between them and the cement floor. I use 1/2 inch plywood before I go the lift.

I am in Hershey PA. So the winters can be bad here. It all depends.