HarleyTechTalk

 
Any suggestions for a motorcycle jack, need to lift Ultra when not riding.

Thanks

Quote from: paryder04 on May 30, 2013, 03:21:22 PM

Any suggestions for a motorcycle jack, need to lift Ultra when not riding.

Thanks

I have 2 jacks to lift the bikes, 1 from HF and an Aluminum one from Sears. Both work fine but if you're needing it put in the air for long periods of time, I'd get a Table lift not a jack.

I have a red Sears that cost about $65 on sale. It's been working fine for 6 yrs.

It depends on what you want to do.  If you just want to take the weight off the suspension and still have the tires touching the ground than any of the purpose built scissor style jacks ( like the dealer will use on the lift table to raise the front or rear of the bike - tire changes etc ) will work fine on the concrete floor in your garage.

If you want more than you can buy any of the advertised motorcycle or ATV lifts, 1500 lb rating.  Not all of these types are created equal and buy the better ones as they are stronger & more stable.  The bike will rock front to back slightly when using these and you can tie the bike down to the jack.  For most things you are going to do with the bike the better ones of these will work fine for most things.

The full blown lift table, various makes & prices, just depends on the size of your wallet.  These are handy, no doubt about it, but they do take up a lot of room and for any serious maintenance you still need to get a scissor type jack to lift the weight off the front or rear for tires changes.

No easy answer, just have to figure out what you want the jack to do for you.

Quote from: paryder04 on May 30, 2013, 03:21:22 PM

Any suggestions for a motorcycle jack, need to lift Ultra when not riding.

Thanks

1st, how many digits  to the left of the decimal did you want to write on that check?

I picked up my lift at harbor freight, it was around 300

Thanks  -- I keep my bike off the floor when in garage, use it for routine fluid changes, bike wash, check tire pressure, etc., minor stuff, but keep it stored off floor during winter months. Have used a craftsman jack from sears for 11 years, just time to replace it. Just was seeing what maybe out there.

Thanks again

I highly recommend the J&S jack. Not the cheapest, but high quality.Made in USA.

Sears and Harbor Freight jacks work well and are very stable when the bike is jacked up. When my Sears jack's ram gave out I thought I would try the Sears aluminum lift. Getting the bike up was OK but it was not very stable. The aluminum jack is more or less a three point while the Sears type is four point which is more stable for a 900 lb. bike. I thought my RGU was on a teeter-totter when on the Sears aluminum jack. I was able to get a new ram for the Sears jack from Pull'R Holding Company for $19.99 + $11.53 shipping and handling. I don't know if you can get a ram for some of the others.
   Bigs

Quote from: paryder04 on May 30, 2013, 05:48:47 PM
...Have used a craftsman jack from sears for 11 years, just time to replace it. Just was seeing what maybe out there.

Thanks again

     Sounds like you have the answer.

BTW I use the red Craftsman, Handy w/drop out, and Black Jack scissor lift.

Now I just use my K&L Fat Jack for lifting bikes off the floor. The lift is very stable and there is now way to accidentally drop the bike like there is with hydraulic jacks.

Quote from: Dogbone45ACP on May 30, 2013, 05:59:01 PM
I highly recommend the J&S jack. Not the cheapest, but high quality.Made in USA.

I will agree on the J&S I use mine for washing the bike and changing the oil and checking  the tires and for long term storage. It rolls easy with the bike on it or you can screw down the brakes if you don't want to move it . When I ordered mine I got to talk to the owner and they are made in the USA. The only thing that is imported is the Hyd. jack and that is because they had to many problems with the jacks they were using that were made here in the states. the jack has saftey stops on it as I would think most do. I have an ultra nad it is very stable when it is in the air on the jack. The J&S has a wide and long foot print wich contributes to is stability.

After a couple of chinese jacks I really appreciate my J&S jack. Pricey to get to Canada but worth it for me.

+1 for the J&S jack. Not cheap but a good solid jack, and it's easy to move the bike around. Had a Sears jack but it was way to wobbly for my comfort.

J&S here too. Last jack you will ever need.

Quote from: Coyote on May 30, 2013, 06:52:26 PM
Now I just use my K&L Fat Jack for lifting bikes off the floor. The lift is very stable and there is now way to accidentally drop the bike like there is with hydraulic jacks.

I bought two of the Drag brand fat jacks.. It sits there as Both the K&L fat jack are way better in quality .. its just the little things

Unlike the Harbor Freight and Sears jacks The J& S looks a lot like my BlackJack.  Wide footprint & long lifting arms to say nothing about the lift bars being longer than the econo jacks. 

For safety, nothing better than a wide footprint and lift bars that extend out past the frame by at least an inch or more on both sides..

I found on the BlackJack, the longer lift arms have a plus and minus.  The Plus is with the longer arms you can lift the bike much higher than with an econo lift so there is almost no job you can't do from a seated position and it is rock solid at maximum lift.  The minus ( at least on the BlackJack ) is if you only lift the bike up to the first stop, you do get some front to back wobble caused by the arms being more horizontal than vertical.  Not unsafe, but less than you would see on a smaller jack.  Keep in mind, my BlackJack is 20 year old technology so the J & S may not display the same characteristics as the BlackJack.

Having had a motorhome fall on me, I look for safety first.  Wide footprint, wide footprint, wide footprint always seems to win.

Like others pointed out, I am also a J&S owner.  I've had the jack for well over ten years, still works like it did when it was new.

J&S owner for over 10 years. Rock solid - not one complaint.
Before that had a Sears that was very scary to use.

Has anyone used a Pitbull lift?  I looked a them about 16-17 yrs ago.  If I didn't have a table, I'd take another close look at that one.

http://www.pitbullmotorcyclelifts.com

J&S here too..

Sears Red here..

J&S lift for 8 years now and still like it.
The Pitbull is a good lift as well.

What swayed me to the J&S besides the price was back then it would lift the bike up off the side stand, level it as it picked up and the reverse as you set down. With the Craftsman, I had to either run the bike up a short front ramp or lean it on the side stand to get the jack fully under.

The J&S is rock solid. I even tried the sit on the passenger pillion and it didn't budge.

Quote from: Snuff™ on June 01, 2013, 04:26:19 AM
Has anyone used a Pitbull lift?  I looked a them about 16-17 yrs ago.  If I didn't have a table, I'd take another close look at that one.

http://www.pitbullmotorcyclelifts.com

Yes. Have had mine for just two years, and really happy with it. Top shelf, made in USA quality product. Bike is absolutely rock solid at full lift height. Have never felt a need to strap it down. Store it all winter on the lift.

Jeff