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Powerbuilt Triple Lift - 2 ton lift for bikes, ATV's etc

1.9K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Kurt V  
#1 ·
Guys, as I mentioned in the Air Filter thread, the kids are mostly grown up and my A16 Gen 1 only has 11k miles. So I have been recently inspired and probably have 500mi on this year (In Minnesota). Even the wife lets me know - she is glad that my motorcycling hobby has been been revived this year.

So I mention that a really cool item for working on bikes, cleaning, wrenching would be a lift stand. She says well you should find one . . .

So that statement being right up there with - "you should buy us a boat" from 20 years ago, I start in depth shopping. There are basic flat top ones which initially I thought might work best, but my oil drain plug appeared to be in the way. The two arm, style- I was concerned the bars were too wide apart and not sure how the bottom frame of the KLR would rest on it. So after some study and tape measure I found the Powerbuilt Triple Lift at FleetFarm. I made the wife happy cuz I used A coupon she had for me. This is a 2 ton capacity unit. Youll think twice before you reach down and toss it in the trunk.

I learned that the KLR is tail end heavy (mine is anyway) so after some experimentation a 1 x 4" board on the frame directly below the peg mounts worked quite well. Otherwise I could not move the rig back far enough to get the rear off the ground. The board effectively moved back the fullcrum and the rear would raise followed by the front. The unit raises it some 17inches and then employs a lock bar so it isnt relying on hydraulic for being in the air an extended amount of time. To be honest I am quite overjoyed. I took a could of hours puttering with it. and with the bike now in the air, and folding chair to sit on and the bike is right at fingertips without having to lean over. My rims have never been cleaner, and it was a fun job, not a back breaking job.

So, I havent seen threads on bike lifts, but I will recommend this unit. line6
 
#2 ·
Great that you found a lift that works for you. I have used the hydraulic two arm and the "ratchet" powered flat lift. Different lifts required for different maintenance processes!!! You can lie the bike down on its throttle side to work on the doohickey / stator, without having to drain the oil (no really!!!) as well... whatever works for the situation.
Also consider what you could do when you hang the bike from the rafters with a few ratchet straps. No comments from the safety nannies please!!! ;)
Most importantly, get out there and ride it as much as you can. You never know what surprises, aka health issues, may prevent you from riding tomorrow. Now go ride today!!! And enjoy it...
 
#4 ·
I leave it sit for weeks as the safety bar shown above will hold it and hydraulic pressure is not needed. I have seen them for $139. with free shipping. Free shipping???? this thing is a pig somewheres 80 - 90lb range. It was all I could do to wrestle it into the car. I'd like to see the look on the UPS guys face when he delivers for free shipping. better use a dolly.


line6
 
#6 ·
Yeah I guess you are right, I could have done a lot worse. Put it this way, I opted not to ask her to take it out of the trunk for me. We have been together 35 years this Nov. ( now that I think about it I better put it on calendar and get a card).

hEY Jack, cool looking GenII. What did you do with the fairing and what is that you replaced it with? I happen to generally like the GenII fairing, but your headlight rig is badass! line6
 
#7 ·
Thanks, glad ya like it. I cut down the side panels to the minimum. The center section was replaced with a simple headlight from PoliSport. The stock gen 2 instrument panel is still in place but I"m considering a digital instrument unit from Trail Tech. I ride mostly on pavement so I've taken the bike in a kinda half-assed super moto direction after seeing maverick9611's scooter. The main fairing center section is sitting on a shelf in my shop.

This thread; Shedding Plastic...... covers most of the mods I did to the fairing.
 
#8 ·
I use the harbor freight lift pictured above.It works everything from my KLR 650, 1971 triumph or 2014 Harley. I actually prefer it to a roll on stand as it’s easier to set it to the height that I want and move the bike around if needed. And it doesn’t take up much room! I have done frame up restorations on motorcycles using nothing more than that harbor freight lift.