Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Anyone have any experience with the Pitbull manual lift? I saw a demonstration at the Timonium (MD) Bike Show earlier this year and it looked cool (although expensive)...

http://www.pit-bull.com/

I need to get a lift that will easily handle my Heritage Softail (and be relatively easy to move) because I will be overseas for several months over the winter.

Other lifts that you all might recommend?

Thanks!
Mike

Take a look at your local sears store...

http://www.craftsman.com:80/shc/s/s_101 ... cle%20jack

Dr_bar...THANKS, I'll check it out.

I also use the regular Sears lift (not the professional one). Works fine as long as the bike has a hard point underneath that will bear its weight.

Jstark47...thanks for your input...it'll be sitting (or lifted) in my garage so the base will be solid.

I have a Pitbull stand for my Buell. I highly recommend them. But I don't think they make one for HD's.

Johnj wrote:I have a Pitbull stand for my Buell. I highly recommend them. But I don't think they make one for HD's.

Yeah I don't think so either.....

I have three Pitbull stands. I love them and would highly recommend them also. I have one front stand that goes into the hole in the triple which I have pins for the CBR, 900SS, & the Hyper. I have two stands for the rear. One for the double swingarm bikes (CBR, 900SS), and one for the single sided swingarmed Hyper. I have a Harbor Freight motorcycle jack which is basically the identical unit to the smaller Sears one. The BMW of course comes with that unique true centerstand that allows the removal of the front or the rear tire.

As for that motorcycle jack, I only use it on the KLX. I don't really trust motorcycle jacks personally.....I much prefer Pitbull stands. That being said, like John said, I don't believe they make Pitbull stands for Harleys. I really would not feel comfortable jacking up a bike as big as a Harley on the smaller Sears (or Harbor Freights) jack, but that's just me. I would definitely go for the bigger professional model.

HYPERR wrote:I really would not feel comfortable jacking up a bike as big as a Harley on the smaller Sears (or Harbor Freights) jack, but that's just me. I would definitely go for the bigger professional model.

The smaller Sears jack easily lifts a Sportster. Whether it would handle something as big as a Heritage Softail...... dunno. Check the specs on the jack and the weight of the bike.

jstark47 wrote:

HYPERR wrote:I really would not feel comfortable jacking up a bike as big as a Harley on the smaller Sears (or Harbor Freights) jack, but that's just me. I would definitely go for the bigger professional model.

The smaller Sears jack easily lifts a Sportster. Whether it would handle something as big as a Heritage Softail...... dunno. Check the specs on the jack and the weight of the bike.

I think they are both rated for 1500 lbs, although I coud not imagine lifting such heft on a bike jack of any kind.

Do you use it on all your bikes?

HYPERR wrote:

jstark47 wrote:

HYPERR wrote:I really would not feel comfortable jacking up a bike as big as a Harley on the smaller Sears (or Harbor Freights) jack, but that's just me. I would definitely go for the bigger professional model.

The smaller Sears jack easily lifts a Sportster. Whether it would handle something as big as a Heritage Softail...... dunno. Check the specs on the jack and the weight of the bike.

I think they are both rated for 1500 lbs, although I coud not imagine lifting such heft on a bike jack of any kind.

Do you use it on all your bikes?

Yup they work on big big bikes. I've used mine to lift a GL1800 before with no problems, and I also used it to lift the front end of my Camry so I could fit under to do an oil change. They're very sturdy jacks.

For what it's worth you should always strap the bike to the jack first, one strap attached to the one side of the jack, up and over the seat/frame/etc, and the other end attached to the other side of the jack. They don't work well for sportbikes because of the engine being a stressed member of the frame, which is where the pit-bull stands come in.

T-Rex also makes good ones (it's the one I have because I found it used for cheap) and any of the rear or front stands should easily be able to lift anything from a Ninja 250 to a Hayabusa/ZX14, but do take some skill/finesse/strength to get them up onto unless you have someone else helping you, which makes it a LOT easier.