HF Lift Table Sale - $299.99

About the best price they've ever had it at.
http://view.harborfreightemail.com/?j=fef515757c6d06&m=fe9512717066027874&ls=fe8712767d64027a72&l=ff9c1572&s=fe8f11747d61077976&jb=ff2b16797161&ju=fe8b1d777265027874&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2316b&utm_source=1025&cid=mEmail_s1025_c2316b&r=0

I saw that. I was going to use it to beat up a local guy trying to sell a used one on craigslist for $275. If I can buy a new one for $300 then a used should be $200 - right??

They are so-so tables.

At best.

For lighter bikes or scooters.

I know I'll hear about how people put fully dressed Harleys on em and Goldwings and they are sturdy, and that I am off my rocker, but unless I got one for peanuts or free I would much rather spend more $ buy a more heavy duty lift table.

Not totally knocking the HF product but there are a LOT of things i do not like about the table.

My 2 cents

In reply to CarKid1989:

Really? Thanks for that precaution. Now I won't feel too compelled to get one, for my ~900 pound Road Glide.

Care to expand on its shortcomings?

I don't argue there are better tables, but boy do they cost more.

I know about the lousy wheel chock, but what are the things you so dislike about this table?

I had one and sold it in almost new condition for $200.00. If you have a valuable bike, heavy bike, or top heavy bike, I wouldn't use it. One fall could cost more than the difference between the HF one and a better one.

NOT A TA wrote: I had one and sold it in almost new condition for $200.00. If you have a valuable bike, heavy bike, or top heavy bike, I wouldn't use it. One fall could cost more than the difference between the HF one and a better one.

Can you elaborate? Is it tippy, or what?

stuart in mn wrote:

NOT A TA wrote: I had one and sold it in almost new condition for $200.00. If you have a valuable bike, heavy bike, or top heavy bike, I wouldn't use it. One fall could cost more than the difference between the HF one and a better one.

Can you elaborate? Is it tippy, or what?

Yes, please, elaborate. Is it the flimsy wheel chock, foxtrapper mentioned? Could it be easily/inexpensively improved with a better chock?

I got it out of a body shop that just wanted it out of the way, I'd agreed to pick it up instantly and make it go away figuring I'd get at least enough for it to cover my time, gas, etc. Drove to the body shop, loaded it in my truck, and drove directly to the nearest bike shop. Asked them if they knew anything about it and what it was worth. They knew it and had tried them when they needed more lifts on a low budget. THEIR recommendation was not to put a valuable, heavy, or top heavy bike on it based on their experience. Armed with the knowledge from them I took it to a couple regular repair shops where I know the guys and gave them the same advice on value, weight, and tip. $200.00 offer got it off my truck and I went about the rest of my day. The lift is still in the shop and there's usually a Sporty sitting on it. For what it gets used for at a $200.00 investment they're happy.

Hmm.

You want to talk about a bunch of squirrels, get the Harley guys going. They've got stupid money wrapped up in their extremely heavy bikes. All hail Pit Boss as the only motorcycle jack to have, avoid Harbor Freight at all costs.

But even they generally are very happy with their Harbor Freight lift tables. As evidenced by several threads:

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/850837-pros-or-cons-on-the-harbor-freight-lift-table.html

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/453607-harbor-freight-1000-lb-motorcycle-lift.html

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/457608-anybody-use-the-harbor-freight-lift-table.html

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/general-harley-davidson-chat/710872-harbor-freight-lift-table.html

I've got one. My chopper is sitting on it right now. I replaced the front wheel holder thing with a bolt-down HF front wheel holder. And the wheel chocks are a bit of a PITA. I wedge a piece of cardboard behind the back wheels and that helps a lot. Overall, I'm happy with it. And my chopper is not a "light" bike by any means. I haven't put my dresser on it yet.

My friend bought a top of the line lift. Not HF. Rated at 1200 lbs or something. He put his dresser on it and has to remove the tour pack and saddle bags to get it to move up. His bike is under the max weight rating of the lift. So, even the expensive ones can have issues.

NOT A TA wrote: I got it out of a body shop that just wanted it out of the way, I'd agreed to pick it up instantly and make it go away figuring I'd get at least enough for it to cover my time, gas, etc. Drove to the body shop, loaded it in my truck, and drove directly to the nearest bike shop. Asked them if they knew anything about it and what it was worth. They knew it and had tried them when they needed more lifts on a low budget. THEIR recommendation was not to put a valuable, heavy, or top heavy bike on it based on their experience. Armed with the knowledge from them I took it to a couple regular repair shops where I know the guys and gave them the same advice on value, weight, and tip. $200.00 offer got it off my truck and I went about the rest of my day. The lift is still in the shop and there's usually a Sporty sitting on it. For what it gets used for at a $200.00 investment they're happy.

so zero first hand feedback?

I've got one in the garage right now. I haven't used it to pick up my Goldwing yet but have used it for my KZ650 many times along with my CRF450.

The KZ650 is not Goldwing weight but not exactly a light weight either.

I also replaced the original wheel chock with this one from HF

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-69026.html

I'm quite happy with it. Sold my very old Handy lift that used a air bag to lift it up since it was too short for my wing. I really like the removable floor section to drop out rear wheels.

GPz11 - are you comfortable leaving your bike on the chock without any straps or the kick stand?

I am currently using a wooden table I made and was thinking of adding a chock to it. I have one of the these and have to keep the forks compressed with straps.

the bike I am working on now is older and doesn't work with the race stands I usually use.

I always use straps when a bike is on a lift.

I've had a phone call from my wife asking why my RC51 race bike was laying on the floor.

From what I've read on-line there are two SKU numbers for the lifts. one is known to be better then the other...and its on the internet so you know its true. :) I have the lift HF copied mines made in Italy some 35+ years ago still works good. Mine was not equipped with a safety bar but it is now so I can relax the hydraulic pressure and not worry about it sinking over night etc. Side to side tippy ness if the lift is set up right is not a problem but that being said never trust the tire holder vise to hold the bike add tie down as well. Other more expensive brands have legs that move inward as it goes up that would scare me and in my case not work as my floor's not smooth and crack free. Use your brain when you lift any bike and it should be fine.

Back...

Ok. My take.

The chock sucks and thats been mentioned above. You can replace it with something better and any upgrade will be a great one. So, you bought a lift and now you need to buy extra chock setups to have it work better. Time and money added.

The drop out for the rear wheel is nice, however its a bit flimsy in that area. You can reinforce it with scrap steel. More time added.

The whole table top, the diamond plate top is flimsy. Sometimes ill chock the front and get the bike on the centerstand and you can see the table divot/flex when the centerstand is.

Tippy. Yes, its tippy. Get a heavy bike on there and get it lifted up and youll move very carefully when youre doing any heavy duty work. Now, i am a tall guy, so i usually like it raised all the way up. Thats my experience with it being tippy.

The hydraulics seems ok though, and the safety bar is a nice touch.

When you load a bike onto it, even with the leveling legs properly lowered, sometimes the front of the lift will wheelie and its annoying and loud when it slams back down.

If I am working on a scooter, ill use the HF lift.

If i am working on a small cc bike ill used HF lift carefully.

Anything bigger than, I dunno, CB 500, Ninja 500, SV650, V7, etc, it goes on the black air powered lifts with the good front wheel clamps. (1500lb?? capacity? maybe 2000lb?)

My two cents. Your results may vary

GPz11 wrote: I always use straps when a bike is on a lift. I've had a phone call from my wife asking why my RC51 race bike was laying on the floor.

I feel I should mention my RC51 fell off my old Handy lift, not the harbor freight one. After it fell, I always use straps on the bikes.

44Dwarf wrote: From what I've read on-line there are two SKU numbers for the lifts.

I did not realize those two units are not the same. 33" lift vs 29.5" lift. Several other differences as well (weight, overall length). Table dimensions are the same.

Thank you for bringing that point up.

They had both at the HF store I bought mine at. I went for the one that was a little longer. The chopper is pretty long. It fits. I've had it all the way up and I didn't see any stability problems. I, of course, use (HF) tiedowns.