[Ducati] Inexpensive motorcycle lift?

[Mark Hatten]

Hi Garth:

I bought a Handy Lift seven or eight years ago, and my only regret is not 
buying one sooner.  Once you have one, you'll wonder how you ever survived 
without one.

Handy Lifts are pretty much the standard in most bike shops, but I don't 
think they're overkill for a home shop.  They're built like tanks here in 
the good ol' US of A, there are all sorts of accessories, extensions, etc., 
and if something goes wrong, you know the company will be around for parts 
and support.  Considering the cost of what you have on top of the list, not 
to mention the potential for serious injury, it just never seemed like a 
good place to scrimp on a few bucks.

Retail on the basic Handy Lift is $799.  Freight is the killer, of course. 
If you can find a few friends who also want to buy, it cuts down on the 
freight per person.  Also, picking up at the freight terminal is much 
cheaper than home delivery.  Handy used to go to the various winter bike 
shows and sell the lifts right there with no additional freight, but I don't 
know if they still do that.

I've found their basic lift works great for sportbike/racebike use.  If you 
have a long-wheelbase vintage bike or cruiser, you might want the table 
extension.  I've never found a need for the front wheel vise -- I just roll 
my bike up on the table and use a rear stand or a front and rear stand.

As someone else pointed out, the easiest way to completely disassemble or 
assemble a Ducati is to have the engine held securely and start bolt on 
parts.  I bought a Cycle Cat engine stand back when they sold them, and find 
it's incredibly useful for that purpose.  It's just a few inches too wide to 
fit on the table of the Handy Lift, but a pair of 2 x 4s underneath it solve 
that problem.

Mark Hatten
Wounded Duc -- Used Ducati Parts Online
Home of the "Loud Clutches Save Lives" T-Shirts
www.woundedduc.net
(Note the URL change!)
AMA Pro #521
AHRMA #52 (#1 for 2007)
WERA Expert #521


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Garth Williams" <garthfw at gmail.com>
To: "Ducati List" <Ducati at ducati.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 8:51 AM
Subject: [Ducati] Inexpensive motorcycle lift?


> Hey gang,
>
> As I get set to (sometime soon) reassemble my 900 after the bent-frame
> debacle, I am interested in a stand for the bike.  I can build a wooden
> stand as a one-off, to be disassembled after use, or I can buy a 
> motorcycle
> lift that I would keep using.
>
> My question is this- are there any good motorcycle stands available that 
> are
> reasonably priced?  I know, "what's reasonable?"  I'd like to spend around
> $500 or so for a lift & chock.  Is that possible?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Garth
> *****
>
> Our newest sponsor, MC Stands, has just opened its doors!  It's a 
> motorcycle
> stand superstore.  Every brand, every model, 95% in stock for immediate
> shipment. Whether front stands, rear stands, paddock stands, dirt bike
> stands, or any kind of stand or lift, MC Stands tests, rates, and 
> discounts
> everything they sell.  Check them out!
>
> Visit: http://mcstands.com/
> _______________________________________________
> Ducati mailing list
> Ducati at ducati.net
> http://list.ducati.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ducati
> Mailto: hatman at columbus.rr.com
>