lifting bike...

[ching_ching]

Hi folks,

Have any of you used an engine crane (the ones with the boom arm) to lift a sports bike around the garage. I want to be able to lift my bike up onto a small level work table as well as up onto the back of my nasty ute if needs be. It needs to be a one person operation... basically 'cause I'm an unsociable bastard and have no friends to help me. Have the chance to score a brand new 1 tonner for about $300- cold fold. As well as being an unsociable bastard I'm also a tight one and don't want to fork out $1000- plus for one of those flash lift workstations.

Your opinions please.

the chingy one

[pete376403]

Sounds good provided the boom lifts high enough to get the bike onto the truck and, how are you going to attach the bike to the hook?
Once the word gets around you will make a whole lot of new mates to borrow the hoist for engine swaps and so on.

[FROSTY]

Hi folks,

Have any of you used an engine crane (the ones with the boom arm) to lift a sports bike around the garage. I want to be able to lift my bike up onto a small level work table as well as up onto the back of my nasty ute if needs be. It needs to be a one person operation... basically 'cause I'm an unsociable bastard and have no friends to help me. Have the chance to score a brand new 1 tonner for about $300- cold fold. As well as being an unsociable bastard I'm also a tight one and don't want to fork out $1000- plus for one of those flash lift workstations.

Your opinions please.

the chingy one
sounds like a scarey proposition to me. How in hell r ya gonna lift the bike without damageing it?
Myself Id suggest a couple of decent ramps. one for the work table and one for the ute. You could ride the bike onto the table and the ute

[ching_ching]

Sounds good provided the boom lifts high enough to get the bike onto the truck and, how are you going to attach the bike to the hook?
Once the word gets around you will make a whole lot of new mates to borrow the hoist for engine swaps and so on.

Word won't get around about the engine crane. Like I said I've sod all friends... but I digress.
Have been able to source some 1 tonne strops that are between 1-2M long. I've been able to pass one strop around / through the steering head-handlebars. I can see that I'll be able to pass a strop under the frame under the seat with padding to cushion pressure on any vitals. Basically I'm sussing out a versatile method where I can lift, move, suspend and place the bike without any help. I thought about the ole block and tackle or chain block method suspended from rope wound round one of the garage rafters or even an electric or handwinch but this engine crane is starting to look better every time.

[LB]

Hi Ching - can't really offer any advice, but thought I'd say "hi"! :)

[ching_ching]

Hi Ching - can't really offer any advice, but thought I'd say "hi"! :)

Hello Ducati Girl,

Howz the new bike? Got any pics?

ching_ching

[LB]

Hello Ducati Girl,

Howz the new bike? Got any pics?

ching_ching
The new bike's going fine ta. That's in in my avatar, it's on the right. Will email you a piccie from work. Bet it's cold up your way at the moment!

[Motu]

I doubt if it would work,specialy with the type of bike - they just won't lift high enough and shifting it around would be danderous,they have small steel wheels and only work on a smooth surface.You could make something to lift the bike directly off the boom,but then you can't swivel the bike - better to lift the bike from the roof then back ute or move the work table under.

[marty]

i used to lift the RS from the roof truss, but i strengthened it first, and i never lifted the whole bike - just one end at a time. i would have thought a 1 tonne crane on a garage floor would be perfect - it's operating at less than 1/3 its rated loading, and if you are picking straight up, i can't see how it would be an issue.