craftsman motorcycle lift vs. stands

[breakdirt916]

How does this compare?

I know it lifts the bike from the frame/engine rather than the swingarm/forks, but is it better? worse? pro's? cons?

http://boston.craigslist.org/mcy/182663985.html

[bigred875]

the craftsman ones can be tricky....if you have a stock exh they are easy...you can lift it by the headers...if not you need to make wood blocks

[s a x m a n]

i wouldn't bother ... just buy front and rear stands ... much better in the long run ... plus lifting from the headers ... eh, doesn't sound like a good idea to me

[bigred875]

Originally posted by s a x m a n
i wouldn't bother ... just buy front and rear stands ... much better in the long run ... plus lifting from the headers ... eh, doesn't sound like a good idea to me

thats how the factory does it...

[s a x m a n]

well what do I know ... just seems like you wouldn't want to put that stress on the engine

who knows though ...

[mikeb]

if your bike has a full fairing won't you have to remove it every time?

[benVFR]

I would use it if I had a harley that had a dry sump + no headers under the engine but I can't think of any sportbikes I would want to use the craftsman lift on... I wouldn't even think it would be smart to use on a Buell as even though they have the dry sump they have the muffler under the engine.

If you have a wet sump + fairing + underengine headers like most of our bikes even your most common jobs are going to be a bit of a PITA with that lift as the lift might restrict access to the oil drain & filter.

If you are not racing and/or going to the track constantly why not look into fitting a centerstand... works great if you the bike has mounts for one.

[Rick Lee]

I have a the next step up craftsman stand but then again i run a motard

[HBerry]

Originally posted by Bhavesh
How does this compare?

I know it lifts the bike from the frame/engine rather than the swingarm/forks, but is it better? worse? pro's? cons?

http://boston.craigslist.org/mcy/182663985.html

This guy doesn't even have a motorcycle!

[OreoGaborio]

dirtbikes & cruisers? sure

sportbikes? you gotta be kiddin me. good luck.

[Kham]

Originally posted by s a x m a n
well what do I know ... just seems like you wouldn't want to put that stress on the engine

who knows though ...

the whole bike is just engine.

as long as the manual say so i don't see why not. i did it and nothing broke.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
dirtbikes & cruisers? sure

sportbikes? you gotta be kiddin me. good luck.

i've done it a bunch without a problem...but you need to have the stock exhaust...

oreo try not to let your ignorance cloud your better judgement...

[breakdirt916]

Ok, just checking...I think the front and rear stands sounds like a better idea just because it wouldn't involve fairing removal.

[OreoGaborio]

To clarify, I wouldn't think all sportbike's exhausts are centered under the CG or be an even enough surface... i've put my bike on a rearstand with jackstands under the edges of the engine case to remove the front end per Peter Kates' instructions, but would think the headers and header bolts wouldn't like it too much if i used a stand like that.

even if it'd be fine, i'd think that front & rear race stands or rear stand w/ jackstands would be would be easier/cheaper to use anyway.... but i've been wrong before. I've done it like that & know it works. I'm not gonna take a chance on skrewing up my exhaust.

My better judgment will always outweigh my ignorance, thank you. I wished him luck, i didn't say you couldn't do it. Dont ever infer to me that i'm ignorant. Stubborn yes. Quick to judge and come to conclusions, yes. Ignorant, no.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
To clarify, I wouldn't think all sportbike's exhausts are centered under the CG or be an even enough surface... i've put my bike on a rearstand with jackstands under the edges of the engine case to remove the front end per Peter Kates' instructions, but would think the headers and header bolts wouldn't like it too much if i used a stand like that.

even if it'd be fine, i'd think that front & rear race stands or rear stand w/ jackstands would be would be easier/cheaper to use anyway.... but i've been wrong before. I've done it like that & know it works. I'm not gonna take a chance on skrewing up my exhaust.

My better judgment will always outweigh my ignorance, thank you. I wished him luck, i didn't say you couldn't do it. Dont ever infer to me that i'm ignorant. Stubborn yes. Quick to judge and come to conclusions, yes. Ignorant, no.

ig·no·rance ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gnr-ns)
n.
The condition of being uneducated, unaware, or uninformed.

what would you call it then?

[Kham]

im no ignorance yo! j/k

just to give idea how light the bike is i use car jack and my hand to turn the jack. there is a flat spot for it at the header for this purpose.

to add - i wouldn't sit on the bike though after jacking up.

[bigred875]

bikes lifted by the exhaust...

[Currently]

I have one of those EazyRizers and they rock!

A bit on the expensive side but I can lift and do whatever I want
to 99% of the bikes out there.

RandyO connected me with a better deal than the US distributor who is http://www.drivengear.com.

I did not believe in lifting by the exhausts but having put a slipon on my bike, the exhaust is more than capable of supporting a bikes weight. Especially the OEM exhausts.

[RandyO]

I wouldn't waste any money on a craftsman

even with my eazyrizer, I wouldn't be without a rear stand,

the eazyrizer is extremely versitile, first time you use it, it may take a while to learn how best use it. and no doubt you might even want to fabricate a specific jig for some bikes

once you have it up in the air, I have never seen a more stable lift, you could run into it with an SUV and you wouldn't tip it over you would only push it along in the upright position