Hydraulic lifts

What you must realise is that nearly all tools such as these are made in China...That doesn't mean they aren't very good but I would say that perhaps 90% of them are identical ( if the spec is the same) apart from the colour and the name painted on it, If time allows, you might find the same thing but cheaper elsewhere although I've had a very quick look around and found the price from CJ Autos is not too far off the mark.

What I would say for the ones that CJ Auto sell is that they have an extended high rise front wheel clamp, many bike lifts have lower clamps, so this is a plus point especially on safety.

The above feature comes to mind when I remember in one episode of "American Chopper" a huge bike tipped completely off the side of this type of lift on two occasions.....

Les

I have the hydraulic ramps and just wish I'd had them twenty years ago it would have saved me a lot of time and effort and I would really have got my moneys worth out of them. Mine are used for cars and are very substantial and extremely useful. They also have a very low lead in which with modern cars with low bumpers is a great advantage as are impossible to get onto ordinary ramps because they are too steep, unless an extra lead in is added.

As Les says they are all made in China and rebranded. I bought mine online from an engineering company in Czechoslovacia about four years at a lot less than in the UK and that includes shipping and customs duty. Mind you the Euro has moved against us since then so I don't know what the comparison would be at the present time (2017)

I imagine that as far as cost goes the above applies to hydraulic workshop ramps for motor cycles too.

I have had my lift for 10yrs.It is not from cj but very similar and absolutely fine.

It still pumps up easily but no longer remains in situ without the locking bar. Just as well really from a safety perspectivs.

I bought mine at stafford show. The vendor delivered next day .

The advice on the tall clamp is correct.Mine is short like a vice hence less stable.

Find one at a price you like and buy it..you cannot go wrong as the hydraulic ram is the most expensive fix should it fail,even then they are reasonable.

Just a quick extra bit of detail (probably too late) I like the "Scissor" action type as less length is required to house them as the lift is vertical rather than the pivoting type which makes them longer when in the down position. Also the locking of the table is very secure....you just slide in a locking tube and the "triangulation" of the arms makes it impossible for the thing to drop down....Here is my choice of type which includes the tall front wheel support:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hydraulic-Motorbike-Motorcycle-Bike-Lift-Ramp-Service-Shop-Bench-1000-lbs-450kg/281634300108?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40800%26meid%3De3b9742acff14d82a1a66cc7cf884e84%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D281464265545

Les

Having never used a hydraulic bike lift but thinking of buying one myself...it makes me wonder how you set the bike on the lift by oneself. If the front wheel clamp holds the bike vertically how can you clamp the wheel in position? most modern bikes only have side stands so the bike would be leaning over. Then to try to clamp the front wheel and hold the bike vertical with the other hand would seem beyond human capability. Even if the bike has a centre stand it it would then have to be pulled back to put the bike on the stand which would move the front wheel out of the clamping position, or you could put the bike on backwards and clamp the rear wheel?.

Would appreciate some user gained insight on how to use this type of lift please...or is it a case of needing a second set of hands everytime....Much appreciate the info...Thanks.....Les

PS ...If I get one I am thinking of making up a jacking type centre stand to lift the rear of the bike once in the clamp....

JUST FOUND THIS VIDEO>>>Seems simple enough now....:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cml3-hydraulic-motorcylce-lift/

You've got a point with the high front clamp. On my 16H or the racers with a rear paddock stand it's quite easy to use the rear stand without using the front clamp at all. Think I'll go to the workshop and weld a taller one. Maybe make something like the type used in the race van. Works perfect with all kinds of bikes except fatwheeled Harleys. Just push it in and it stands by itself.

Previously Mikael Ridderstad wrote:

You've got a point with the high front clamp. On my 16H or the racers with a rear paddock stand it's quite easy to use the rear stand without using the front clamp at all. Think I'll go to the workshop and weld a taller one. Maybe make something like the type used in the race van. Works perfect with all kinds of bikes except fatwheeled Harleys. Just push it in and it stands by itself.

I like that! Where can I get one?

£36 at Biltema in Sweden. Probably of chinese origin.

Google motorcycle transport stand uk you'll find a lot more.

I have both type of lift, two of the parrallel ones and a scissors type, all the bikes will go on the former however my new old nail, a 1942 Ariel, only has a rear wheel stand this makes the bike to long for the scissors type, I have had to lay a couple of cut scaffold boards on the platform to enable the Ariel to stand upright by its rear stand, the advantage of the scissors type is they rise in their own length, they are however, well mine is, a little higher to begin with which makes getting a heavy machine on and then trying to use the centre stand quite an achievement without the perishing bike toppling over Kind regards

I keep looking at these but my garage is round the back of the house along a back alley. And I'm not sure if I'd be able to persuade the delivery driver to go round there. So how will I move145kg of ramp 50 metres or so - much of it on a grassed surface? I'd have to fit it with wheels. Although on reflectionit's just dawned on me thatmaybe I could put it on my motorcycle trailer.

what you have identified Terry is the probem with these short bed scissor action lifts, and that is why I have had to use the scaffold boards, However spurred by this posting I have researched and found a scissor action small lift with a support each side which I can place under the lower frame rails and elevate the bike in a similar fashion to a centre stand, well thats what I envisage anyway. somewhere around £36 off fleabay, so not crankily expensive if it don't work! have faith it will! kind regards