Motorcycle Hydraulic Lift

I have one , it’s big!! So you need a couple of feet each side for a stool, it’s heavy to install , no issue ref center or side stands , I park there on the side stand and ratchet down if I want to jack up , pulls back a bit onto center stand but a tug forward slides the bike into the front clamp , the table top is a bit slippy if oily , when backing off down ramp don’t use front brake !! , and don’t stand on table , it can tip even as heavy as it is , some wood blocks under a good idea . 

I did some initial restoration work crawling around on my hands and knees and eventually plunged for a bike lift. Best thing I ever did. I looked for ages on eBay for used lifts but soon realised many had a hard life and most were nearly the price of a new one when shipping was included. I bought a new lift from https://www.sgs-engineering.com/. Really happy with it and expect to recover most of the expense if I chose to sell it. I will try dig out the model but it has a ramp and wheel chock with a pneumatic ram. The bike fits on even when the ramp is removed for easier access to the bike. 

https://images.app.goo.gl/cLeNYxSWqgTtvfX9A

I purchased a Machine Mart CML3 about three years ago. Best bit of kit I have purchased. I have managed to do lots of repairs sat on a stool! I also purchased the stool at the same time. The lift comes with a locking bar. Use this bar, as over time the the lift will loose pressure and slowly lower itself, It did take a couple of months to do this from a 2ft lift. The wheel chock came with mine. I paid about £450 for mine, they have gone up a lot in price since then

John.

... I went for the cheaper ATV / motorcycle lift like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185485080002

It can be a bit of a faff getting the bike on but like the one mentioned by Martin it leaves front and rear wheels free. It can be a bit tippy but used carefully it's fine. It also folds down low enough to go under the bench.

I like the idea of a platform type but to my mind they take up far too much floor space, even though now my garage is much bigger than the one I had in the pic.

I have used a similar one to the Clarke for a couple of years. Seems there is a number of different priced ones which looks the same. You have to add a few hook points. Never liked the front clamp. I've seen that if you fit a front wheel stand similar to https://www.louis.eu/artikel/steadystand-fix-152-front-wheel-clamp/10002863 you can get the bike on the stand single handed. A scissor lift like https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/draper-mcpl2-motorcycle-frame-scissor-lift/ is very useful on the lift. I also often use paddock stands on the lift. Except for  a 16H which has a rear stand. I have 3 feet free space on each side.

Hello Phillip, regarding a lift,  you might also check the mode of operation. My friends and my lift both have the same max working height with two alternatives, these are chosen by inserting a bar in predetermined positions,  the pressure then being released takes the load off the ram.        My friend's lift works on the principle of a parrallellagram,  therefore when lowered from working height the platform effectively moves forward about eighteen inches so this needs to be allowed for. My lift, like my friends is full size although four inches narrower and works on a scissors principle.  This means that the platform rises and falls within the space that the base occupies. It's worth thinking about if space is at a premium.