With the snow arriving outside and work 'insisting' we work from home today (yeah right, I'm gonna do that!) - bugger I forgot, I always work from home...
Anyway I digress, my mind wandered as it so easily does to what prize toy would I want for my garage if I could afford it?
Well I have decided that my number one improvement would be a table lift. Can any of you with far more experience than I advise on a particular make/model and rough cost that will comfortably lift the GTR without any wobble?
I had a table lift in the early life of my Goldwing but gave it away as it worried me too much when lifting the bike. It had a definite jelly wobble feel to it :)
Thanks, in advance.
Pete, there are so many lift options available today, mine came from a company called S L Lifts, although I think they may not be in business anymore.
Make sure that whatever lift you purchase that its capable of handling the weight of your bike, also it might be worth considering setting any lift into the floor so that you can wheel your machine straight onto it rather than up any sort of ramp, as the GTR is, as you know, a big lump :mfr_lol:
I believe that at the moment Sealey have offers and I know that their quality is good
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=DoProductSearch&method=mProductSearch&productdescription=&productcode=&category=31&catgroup=249&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16&grouplevelonly=0&fulltext=0
This is another company that advertise quite extensively, but I've no experience of them myself ...good luck, and let us know how you get on
http://kdbenches.co.uk/
Hi PCPete,
I have one of these and highly recommend them, BUT you need to be confident and reasonably strong to use it.
you need to get the bike on diagonally so that you can put the sidestand down (unless you get a really wide one). You then need to balance on the ramp while you lift it onto the mainstand (ps take the panniers and topcase off b4 putting the bike on the ramp) Now you can get to work on your bike without knee pains
Coman
P C P My advice would be to try putting the bike ON one before you decide to buy, I actually sold mine when I had put the GTR on it a few times, I just didn't feel confident enough to consistenly get it right when putting the bike on it :sweatdrop:. I found it a real balancing act that scared the :shit: out of me, and I just know that over a period of time it would have led to tears :surrender:.I feel much safer when crawling around the earths crust :yes:.
Quote from: 100milesaway on January 18, 2013, 01:13:18 PM
.I feel much safer when crawling around the earths crust :yes:.
Which is not something that can be said when on a 'pink armband' tour :mfr_lol:
Try these www.machinemart.co.uk. look under the Motorcycle section.
Thanks All - appreciate the feedback - will be a while yet before funds allow but at least I know where to look :)
Some of the loading ramps can be a bit steep. I put the tail of the ramp on a couple of decking boards,then have an off cut of flooring board from concrete to decking board. It reduces the total ramp angle and makes loading less fraught.
Thanks DoeBag...
It was not getting the bike on the bench that did me in, it was getting the bike on the centre stand once it was there :eek: If I had kept mine I think the bike would have gone over and been smashed to bits, or I would have ended up in a :wheelchair:. I still say try before you buy. :smiley:
Agreed Geoff, that's why I made the suggestion of letting the ramp into the floor so that its level with the ground, it makes the whole process of putting a bike on and taking a bike off so much easier/safer. Its something that I wish I'd done.
Its one thing pushing a 200Kg bike onto a ramp and quite another doing the same with on weighing over 300Kgs
Quote from: olde coney on January 19, 2013, 05:18:03 PM
Its one thing pushing a 200Kg bike onto a ramp and quite another doing the same with on weighing over 300Kgs [/color]
Amen to that, it takes two of us to get the GTR up onto my hydraulic ramp and even then, I am sure it is only a matter of time before it gets dropped as part of the loading process. My 180-ish kg race bike is simple in comparison.
It would be significantly easier if it was let into the floor, or if there was a loading ramp at both ends and enough space to push it on and off forwards.
Great things when you do have the bike loaded though. Really helps the comfort levels when working on the bike.
Martin.
Dont forget that if you cut the table into the floor that you will be losing 5-6 inches of the lift height, also access to the "footpump" will be compromised, Not a problem if you get the more expensive comp' air version
Coman
If you have a concrete floor in garage do what I did. Very accurately mark the floor where the 4 stabilising feet sit. Drill holes big enough for 4x rawlbolt sockets and exchange the feet on the lift for bolts the same thread as the rawlbolt.
Solid as a rock.
Quote from: tommytool on January 20, 2013, 10:11:50 AM
If you have a concrete floor in garage do what I did. Very accurately mark the floor where the 4 stabilising feet sit. Drill holes big enough for 4x rawlbolt sockets and exchange the feet on the lift for bolts the same thread as the rawlbolt.
Solid as a rock.
Makes me feel more comfortable with going this root :) - the 480kg Goldwing was damn heavy to use on my original table lift and I was VERY uncomfortable with using it at height - hence the reason to get rid at that time. However I find the GTR a lightweight in comparison (the major reason to change from the Wing) so a table lift - with all this advise is a serious consideration again.
Thanks all - really appreciated.
Quote from: coman37 on January 20, 2013, 09:47:03 AM
Dont forget that if you cut the table into the floor that you will be losing 5-6 inches of the lift height, also access to the "footpump" will be compromised, Not a problem if you get the more expensive comp' air version
Coman
Very true Coman :agree:, however mine, and the majority of lifts will lift your P & J high enough to perform all tasks, even when recessed into a floor, the foot pump is attached via a lengthy hose so that isn't an issue, in some cases, as you say, a lift can be raised by by comp air which makes life easier, (i prefer pressing the lever to foot pumping the lift ) :mfr_lol:
Being without a lift would be a major problem, I really don't know how I used to manage without one :no:
Just thinking....who needs a lift ? apparently a couple of 'special' Paddock stands make any job easy :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlax5L8BVGc
I would just like somewhere level to work on baby.. The parking where I live is on a slope. The only 1 area that is slightly level has the bike garage on..
Most of you are spoilt with proper garages/rev sheds... :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Debs ... Just ride over to The Rev Shed and ask if you can commandeer a couple of spare acres in the corner to work on your bike !
Quote from: Rusty on January 21, 2013, 10:28:32 AM
Debs ... Just ride over to The Rev Shed and ask if you can commandeer a couple of spare acres in the corner to work on your bike !
You would be very welcome, although its rather a long way :wink:
Quote from: Rusty on January 21, 2013, 10:28:32 AM
Debs ... Just ride over to The Rev Shed and ask if you can commandeer a couple of spare acres in the corner to work on your bike !
I wish I could.. Bloody Management Company were moaning at me because I didnt get permission from the land owner to have my tiny rev shed in the parking area. Told them "am I supposed to leave it out so it gets knicked" Grrrr. They not bothered me since. Think they were getting on to landlord..
Quote from: olde coney on January 21, 2013, 10:34:05 AM
You would be very welcome, although its rather a long way :wink:
Thank you OC.
My solar charger has been covered by the snow and the battery is dead on baby. Struggeled in the small space to get it off & now its on charge. :sad:
Even the local authority wouldn't require planning permission for what is a temporary building Debs
I reckon the Landlord won't mind if that is pointed out to him/her.
Quote from: olde coney on January 21, 2013, 02:43:30 PM
Even the local authority wouldn't require planning permission for what is a temporary building Debs
I reckon the Landlord won't mind if that is pointed out to him/her.
Its the land owner I didnt ask as I have put it in a 'visitors space' as my parking space is on the slope,, but hey ho.. Im not moving it... :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Quote from: Debs on January 21, 2013, 03:01:49 PM
Its the land owner I didnt ask as I have put it in a 'visitors space' as my parking space is on the slope,, but hey ho.. Im not moving it... :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Yep, I understood that you were talking about the landowner, I used the council planning dept as a comparison, sorry if I confused. :oops:
And I agree with you, as I don't think a reasonable landlord is going to take issue with your home for 'baby' :wink:
Is baby in the corner.... :mfr_lol:
Quote from: Winston Smith on January 21, 2013, 09:13:24 PM
Is baby in the corner.... :mfr_lol:
or on the 'naughty step' :mfr_lol:
Quote from: olde coney on January 18, 2013, 09:58:06 AM
Pete, there are so many lift options available today, mine came from a company called S L Lifts, although I think they may not be in business anymore.
Make sure that whatever lift you purchase that its capable of handling the weight of your bike, also it might be worth considering setting any lift into the floor so that you can wheel your machine straight onto it rather than up any sort of ramp, as the GTR is, as you know, a big lump :mfr_lol:
I believe that at the moment Sealey have offers and I know that their quality is good
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?gotonode=DoProductSearch&method=mProductSearch&productdescription=&productcode=&category=31&catgroup=249&analysiscode=&requiredresults=16&grouplevelonly=0&fulltext=0
This is another company that advertise quite extensively, but I've no experience of them myself ...good luck, and let us know how you get on
http://kdbenches.co.uk/
Pete, I was thinking about your post and my reply...My lift came from SAL lifts not SL :oops: and SAL are still very much in business !
In case your still thinking of buying a lift these are the guys who supplied me with mine, and they are very good, I had a problem with the hydraulic pump and they came the very next day and replaced the pump f.o.c that's what I call service :clap:
Any way here's the link, hope it helps
http://www.saluk.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=59
Many thanks - still trying to persuade the long haired general that it is a necessity (but working on it)