blackrams
Gold Member
I have an idea to build a stationary motorcycle lift in my shop. Yeah, it can and will be used for other things. Thought I'd run it by those who may have some experience with such things.
First, this lift will have it's base set into concrete deep into the soil inside my shop. The intent is for it to be free standing and not dependent on the actual shop structure to lift, hold and maintain the load. This will entail or require me to cut the concrete floor and remove concrete, fill gravel and three to four feet of soil. This lift will be a pedestal style, one post and a table to ride the bike up on nose first, secure it and lift.
Planning on using one of those 2K lbs electric winches run over a top pulley to the lift table to raise and lower with safety cogs or pins to hold in place while in use. I've previously had a motorcycle lift table, it simply took up too much valuable floor space.
I have 12 foot ceilings in my shop. I want this to be self supporting and not attached to the wall, but, up against or close to the wall. The lift table will fold up and be out of the way when not in use. We all know how valuable floor space is in a shop. I expect this lift to be able to handle up to 1K lbs. of weight easily but never over 1.2K lbs. so the chosen winch should be able to handle the planned load. My bike doesn't weigh that much but, once you have something like this, word spreads and all of a sudden you have friends you didn't know you had. :laughing:
My question is, what type of post should I use. I've considered I beam and heavy duty square/rectangle tubing but each presents it's own challenges as far as what kind of mechanism the lift table would ride on and, what type of bearings I should use. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, I ride a Honda Valkyrie, 1520cc (horizontal or flat six cylinder) with lots of "safety chrome", one of the sexiest two wheeled machines ever built.
Any other riders out there?
First, this lift will have it's base set into concrete deep into the soil inside my shop. The intent is for it to be free standing and not dependent on the actual shop structure to lift, hold and maintain the load. This will entail or require me to cut the concrete floor and remove concrete, fill gravel and three to four feet of soil. This lift will be a pedestal style, one post and a table to ride the bike up on nose first, secure it and lift.
Planning on using one of those 2K lbs electric winches run over a top pulley to the lift table to raise and lower with safety cogs or pins to hold in place while in use. I've previously had a motorcycle lift table, it simply took up too much valuable floor space.
I have 12 foot ceilings in my shop. I want this to be self supporting and not attached to the wall, but, up against or close to the wall. The lift table will fold up and be out of the way when not in use. We all know how valuable floor space is in a shop. I expect this lift to be able to handle up to 1K lbs. of weight easily but never over 1.2K lbs. so the chosen winch should be able to handle the planned load. My bike doesn't weigh that much but, once you have something like this, word spreads and all of a sudden you have friends you didn't know you had. :laughing:
My question is, what type of post should I use. I've considered I beam and heavy duty square/rectangle tubing but each presents it's own challenges as far as what kind of mechanism the lift table would ride on and, what type of bearings I should use. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, I ride a Honda Valkyrie, 1520cc (horizontal or flat six cylinder) with lots of "safety chrome", one of the sexiest two wheeled machines ever built.
Any other riders out there?
Last edited:
