Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'd like to know if a bike lift can be used not only to lift a bike, but to keep it in the air without jack stands during a bikes time in storage. Or do I use a lift to jack up the bike and slip jack stands underneath the bike for storage?

Sure, but it needs to be a solid lift (one you can walk away from without fear of someone knocking it over). I have a Pitbull manual lift I use to raise my HD Heritage Softail.

I have one of the inexpensive Sears lifts. Sometimes if I don't the get valve closed all the way it leaks a little air out of the cylinder and starts to lose height, a millimeter at a time. I wouldn't trust it to keep a bike in the air for several months.

Could you just put the bike somewhere where you could roll it a bit every few weeks? You don't have to roll it far, you're just trying to avoid flat spots on the tires.

General rule of thumb is hydraulics are for lifting NOT holding. Just like you lift a car with a jack but leave it on stands.... With the cost of any hydraulic lift I wouldn't leave it holding the bike as it will damage the lift sooner or later and when it does possibly drop your bike.

For what it's worth the hydraulic ones usually do have a locking mechanism on it so that the jack cannot physically lower. I'd trust that without a problem.

Right on Wrider, a lift with mechanical locks is fine just not some of the hydraulic only types.

Should have mentioned it earlier. My Pitbull lift has a locking mechanism. No issues lifting and leaving it up to date.