HF Lift on Sale, Got one today

As I get older, I more and more need a lift to get my bike up where I can work on it. Harbor Freight had a super sale today so I bought one for $299.
In less than an hour assembly time, I had my bike up to chair level. Nice.
The lift is very well built, simple, and safe. It's going to be handy.
Pics:
Jaydee

Toss that wheel vise and get the $40.00 HF one, it is safer and it works better.

Vince

Unclviny said:

Toss that wheel vise and get the $40.00 HF one, it is safer and it works better.

Vince

Click to expand...

+1, this one, coups from the back of bike mags bring it to $40 http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle ... 97841.html

I have this one bolted to my HF lift, http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle ... 69026.html

Vince

Here is the Canadian equivalent - Princess Auto, on sale for $399. But how great a sale is it when the regular price for the deluxe model with air over hydraulic is $599? (click on the blue thumb nail in the left column to see the sale unit.)

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Moto ... /8133860.p

How well does the wide wheel chock work on our skinny Norton wheels? Looks like it is made for wide sportbike fronts, generally about 5" vs maybe 3 3/4" for a 90/90 19 and 4" for a 100/90/19.

Glen

I wouldn't trust the chock to hold the bike very long without strapping it.



Once it starts to lean, I think it'll go further than you want.

worntorn said:

How well does the wide wheel chock work on our skinny Norton wheels? Looks like it is made for wide sportbike fronts, generally about 5" vs maybe 3 3/4" for a 90/90 19 and 4" for a 100/90/19.

Glen

Click to expand...

I find it to work just as well with my Norton as it does with my Goldwing. The only issue I ever had with the stock chock was with an older moped with 2.25" tires on it. I put a block of wood next to the wheel and it held it fine.

I don't use the lift and standard chock without either a center stand or straps.

Sorry drones, my post wasn't very clear. I was referring to the roll on non adjustable wheel chock. I have the lift with the stock adjustable wheel vise, they are next to useless (the vise, not the lift)as the vise is so low and wimpy. I dont even use it, I go straight to tie downs. So the roll on wheel chock appeals, but, it strikes me that the whole idea of the wheel chock is to hold the bike up more or less vertical by holding against the tire. This works if the tire is a near fit in the chock but once there is an inch of slack in there, how much real use is the chock?
For my own situation I have everything from 3" trials fronts to 5" sport bike fronts to deal with. Some sort of adjustable unit is probably best, but it needs to be much sturdier that the little low thin gauge stock vise.
The more expensive lifts do have adjustable wheel vises that look as though they would really hang on to the bike, no strapping necessary.

Glen

This one is about $42 with coupon. Will hold a bike w/o tie downs (and by that I mean for as long as you need to go get them). Adjustable for multiple wheel diameters AND the front section is removable so that you can lift the bike (centerstand via jack and remove front tire.

In my new house...

I would never trust a wheel vise alone to hold the bike. I use the vise for a locator and straps for safety. Front and rear sometimes.
The HF vise I got (standard) is designed for much wider tires than a Norton has. One jaw is fixed, so when you tighten the other side, the front wheel is off center.
I saw this at installation, so I moved the vise platform over about 1.5". I also moved it up some so that the clamp was in the center of the tire contact patch.
I wish I'd bought a lift about 30 years ago.
Jaydee