🌟 Huge thanks to each one of you for taking the time to watch our latest video! Your support makes all the difference. If you enjoyed the content, please consider hitting that subscribe button, sharing the video with your friends, and giving it a thumbs up. Your support fuels our passion to create more content for you. Let's grow this community together! 🚀 Don't forget to spread the word - the more, the merrier! Thanks again, and stay tuned for more exciting stuff! 🎥👍 #ThankYou #SubscribeNow #ShareTheLove"
I bought a Handy Lift, American made, best quality made lift out there. It’s a game changer if you’re a garage mechanic and older. 🤣. I saved $400 in labor in 1 tire change alone. Awesome channel, love the content.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply..been on vacation...i couldnt work on bikes without one again..and yes my next lift will be a handy for sure.
I’ve got a Handy S.A.M. 1200. I got the side extensions, rear wheel drop out & wheel chock. It uses air billows and is super heavy duty. The foot pedal for raising & lowering work’s flawless. Way better quality than the APlus 1500XL in my opinion. Better craftsmanship, heavier duty metal, better finish just much better all around. There’s a reason why most HD dealerships have them in their service department. Yes, it’s more expensive. I paid about $3K out the door. Free shipping. Arrived in 3-4 days from time of order. Great shippers. Backed the truck right down to my garage. Great warranty. And best thing yet…100% entirely made in the USA!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes I agree the handy is a very nice lift. If I upgrade again the future it will be a handy for sure.
The value of my lift was directly tied to my age, at 30 I never would have bought one, at 60 I wouldn't want to live without it! I use it for my Harley, the Bicycles, the Lawn mower service, hell we even wrap Christmas presents on the thing!
sorry for the late reply..its funny I did the same thing this year...wrapped all my Christmas gifts on it haha that worked out awesome. Its definitely saved whats left of my back.
I have got the A plus 1500 XL motorcycle lift it has served me well for the last three years, I just recently went to a trike the first time up on the lift I had a concern about bending the rear support for the tables. I solved this by sliding the Jack under the trike near the back and Jack It up enough to Put the weight to the middle of the lift. It works well for me.
First I enjoy your content! Live northern Illinois and when I retired I purchased the same 1500XL as my gift to my knees and back. My wife never sees me since I am in garage all the time! When I bought this lift it was just prior to Pandemic and they dropped prices due to shipping delays! Placed order and delivered by freight within a week. I have a Electric glide, Fatboy and BMW. All get serviced on my lift and my leisure. First thing I noticed was the table surface needed more anti skid material. So off to Amazon and buy a roll. And did both side panels and along the center of table. Then I bought a new foot control to replace the supplied foot control. (Have to find where I ordered the new one from.) It locks off in center position when released and no air is released cost about $100 from some lift company out of Indiana? No one that I know liked the first style foot controller? My first controller is in box! And those who have the more recent model with updated foot controller are having warranty replacements? Time will tell? Beside the baggers, my snow blowers and heavy zero turn mower fits on table great but have noticed the side panels bow out? The Hollow pipe on these side panels has to be upgraded? Was thinking of straightening support pipe in press and installing a inner pipe welded in to stiffen it to help? I also fabricated up some Harbor Freight moving dolly’s to move the lift table when floor space is needed for other projects. Keep up the content! Thanks for the video!
if you are unfamiliar with the harley davidson service manuals and it tells you to do something with the jiffy stand at least you know what it is. side stand, kick stand, drop stand, crutch...call it what you want
i've had my XL for 3+ years and i love it. i have 3 bikes so there's always something that needs to be done. at 70, i'm not into working on the floor any more. get one of these and you'll be surprised how many new friends you'll have. mine has hardly had any time when someone's bike isn't on it.
I have a HF lift for all my light items (dirt bike, sporties, push mower, etc.) I purchased it for a very good price about 10 years ago. My main lift is a Direct-Lift that I purchased in late 2019. Nothing but problems and it requires consistent maintenance or it blows seals like crazy. I would like to some day have a Handy but need to save for that. I think all brands of lift tables will have a percentage of failures. Its how companies handle those failures that says a lot about those companies. I think it comes down to what are your expectations of the lift table vs what one is willing to spend their hard earned dollars on. Thanks for another great video and really enjoy when you do videos on shop equipment and tooling.
Thankn you nick..sorry you have so many issues with the Direct lift. I could have spent the extra money on the handy but man these first lift only having the one issue with the foot pedal and the price is spot on too...so I just went with what I knew I guess. Hope for the best on this new one lol
I have the exact same lift and have had it for 10+ years. The first thing I did was got rid of that stupid crank up front and put a condor on the front. This allows me to ride it up and drop it right in The Condor and get off the bike with no issues at all. I run the table all the way up do my oil changes or need to do work on it. It locks in so well that i don't even strap it down. It is so solid I can shake the living heck out of it and it will not let that bike go. I love my table, I wouldn't be without it. My bike is lowered so I had to buy the extended ramp for a better angle. My table sets on the spare side of the garage and I just drive up and back it off with ease anytime I want the bike. BUY THIS TABLE.... YOU WON'T REGRET IT!
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes the extended ramp will be being ordered soon for my cholo build. I wasn't aware that condor made a smaller flipper for the wrapper front fenders til a previous comment so thats a very viable option for me now
I have one of these lifts. Got it about a year ago. Really like it. I bought extra side rails because I have a TriGlide Ultra Classic, along with three other Harleys. When you get another set of side rails, you get a longer set of pipes to hold them on. Haven't had any problems with them bending so far. It does make the lift 72 inches wide with two sets of side rails. I don't have the problem with the lift pedal that you are having. I just lift it up, put the safety bar in place, then let the air pressure off. Thanks for the video. Ride Safe!
sorry for the late reply...some of these slipped by me...but yes im loving the lift outside of the small annoyances lol nothing to serious but thats what I do to...just set the safety bar and release the air hose and it works great.
Hello Steve. Great review! I have an old electric Handy lift table. It's never had any negative issues. I just move the raise selector, enjoy my coffee while the bike raises to good working height. Take care and remember it's just another day in paradise!
Have a Tri Glide and a softail all most pulled the trigger on this lift! Man you have saved me a lot of swear jar money. Going to look at something els. Thank you
yeah id go with something a little heavier on the sides if you plan on lifting that trike...My buddies at HD recommend the Handy lift for trikes...that will probably be my next one.
I have the exact lift. Game changer for working on the bike. I hated that crank vise so i got a condor chock which i need to install. Mine came with a trike ramp extension which i’ll never use. So if you want it, it’s yours. You’re right about the shipping and weight. It’s heavy as heck. The truck driver dollyed mine into the garage so it was easy to unbox and put together.
sorry for the late reply...yeah the driver here dumped it in front of my wifes garage as my shop is way behind my house ...so we di have to get it back there...was tough but we got it...I cant use the condor style chocks because of having fat tire bikes and also working on a lot of them I cant switch out the chock all the time..I did have to move the handle side out one inch and re drill the base for it to accommodate the fat tires.
Looks like these were rebranded to what is now called Black Widow. Looks exactly the same. I like to put one side of my side extension upside down so it serves as a tray for my tools. I do not like the 'hard to find neutral' position on the foot pedal, and non padded wheel vise. I also got the extended ramp so I don't risk bottoming out my slammed softail showbike. Other than those minor issue, I absolutely love my motorcycle lift.
sorry for the late reply...I think a lot of these lifts now are all made at the same place and white labeled to companies and re branded. Several of them looked identical while I was researching. I will need to get the extended ramps for sure for my softail also...those 39" fishtails are coming mighty close and I havent installed the air ride yet
Thanks for the honest review on this table. It's the one I have been looking at buying. I thought yeah maybe harbor freight but my brother in law has one and said he wouldn't put his road Glide on that table because he was concerned it would fall over with the bike raised up while wrenching on the bike. I have a road Glide and a Convertible CVO so nice to hear you say the same.
yeah good call not getting a HF lift for your bagger...this one is solid and a great price...minor complaints that doesnt stop me from using it evrey single day
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and glad you are enjoying your lift..its much better than crawling around on concrete for sure!
I’ve got a tuxedo lift, which looks exactly like your lift other than its grey with a blue drop out plate. I believe both of these are loose copies of an older model handy lifts. I believe your wheel clamp is a better design than the one that came with mine, but I prefer the condor chock over a wheel clamp as I park my bike on mine. Condor makes a lower profile flipper for extended fenders (it’s an added cost fyi), and I added some grip tape on my outer tables to aid in getting the bike out of the chock. If you do your own maintenance, or upgrades but your getting a little to long in the tooth do be doing garage floor yoga, a lift is a game changer! You’ll also find yourself becoming rather popular with your riding buddies when they have projects or maintenance to complete.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...and I agree...the lifts are a must have, specially at my age..I cant take getting on the concrete floor anymore lol and yes my buddies love them too haha. I didnt know condor made a shorter flipper...thank you for letting me know...I can add that in future videos about fenders. Much appreciated!
Cool man - your channel is so awesome! Gave me the confidence to start doing stuff with my bike and I couldn't be more grateful. Your no nonsense, practical advice has been outstanding so thank you!! Can't afford a lift and no room for one so I'm stuck using the Harbor Freight motorcycle jack. That thing has been awesome so far and now in my 50s, I'm actually feeling like I can take on some mechanic's tasks. Fun stuff!
Hey John thats what its all about man...learning some new things and being able to save some money working on your bike but also being confident you did everything correctly. I appreciate your comment and glad the videos help. I worked a lot of years on bikes on jacks...I still have one of my old jacks from 16 years ago only because its a beast compared to the jacks being built these days...and I also have the grey harbor freight one too...they still come in handy on quick jobs and also moving the bikes around.
I have this same lift and love it. Going on a year now and no issues. You may have gotten a bad pedal as mine stays sealed and doesn't pivot the fitting. Also to note the 1500 pound rating states that it's at the center of the lift. I ordered mine on amazon and delivered to my driveway by freight truck. The side extensions can be put upside down to hold your tools from rolling out while you work on the bike. I also went with a condor wheel chock and love how easy it is to just step off the bike and not worry about tightening the clamp. I use it with my 21 Road Glide Special.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes it definitely in the middle..i wasnt aware til a previous comment that condor made a smaller flipper for stretched front fenders so thats a very viable option now.
I have the titan xl 1500 with all the accessories. Me and my neighbor went in together got it used off spacebook market place. Have a lot of bikes in the neighborhood and we use it.
very nice! I looked forever for a used one to put in here but never could find one local enough to me to go get...you definitely make more friends when they know you have a lift lol
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes I think for the price its a good lift...just wished the sides would have held up better with the trike but its all good..I dont work on trikes very often
Good video. I have a J&S Jack that I picked up for next to nothing compared to the new price. I love it. I’ve done all kinds of work on it, but it’s still not a lift table. I’m gonna pull the trigger on this table soon enough
Nice video. I too have seen plenty of Harbour freight videos with guys raving over it. However like you if I have to spend hundreds more "fixing" it is money really being saved? No! Plus altering products generally voids warranties. As for delivery I live in the suburbs and also have no dock on my house or forklift in the back yard. What I do is back my pickup up butt to butt with the delivery truck. The item is lowered to my bed height and transferred. I shake hands and back my truck up to my garage and unload. If possible I break down the item in the bed. This has worked for a Pretor elliptical, large air compressor, 110 lb tower speakers, 617 lb tool bench etc. I also have a 1000 lb winch which worked great for unloading the tool bench.
yeah....no way im putting my bike on HF list...maybe a sportser or something small but not a bagger...same thing here with the lift delivery...I actually unboxed it and put it on a dolly and stood it up, strapped it off and hauled it back here to the shop...it sucked..it was heavy but it worked lol
I love my lift. Best investment. The only issue I have with it is that it does leak a little oil. The lift not the bike. I have heard from a buddy that has the same lift that he replaced the seals in his once and never had the issue again.
mine developed one last year but only after 5 years of use...i havent changed the seals in it yet though...its a small leak..so ill have to do it eventually.
Good vid on the lift and yeah I am with you, the Harbour Freight lift has a place it's just not under my Electra Glide Ultra Classic. As for other lifts. I got the Redline 1500 ELE. The few upsides I see with this one is it's electric over hydraulic instead of air and no issues with putting the father in law 2020 tri glide on it. With the side extensions I am 51 inches. But overall the best lift is the one that will get you working on you own bike. Keep up the good work bud
I wish I saw this video two months ago. Did the exact same thing. Got a HF lift because it was cheap. Did all the UA-cam mods to it. Second time my street glide was on it I heard the frame make that creek sound. NOPE! Lowered it. Took the bike off. Posted it on marketplace the same day. Luckily it sold right away. Ordered a Black widow 1500 XL wide pro lift. Pretty sure it is the exact same thing as the APlus 1500XL.
Yeah those Harbor Freight lifts aren't meant to hold that much weight. Im the same way, listed it the next day and sold it..there was no way my bike was going up on that thing. And yes im fairly certain thats the same lift. You will be happy with it.
I live on a country road, gravel drive and a truck can't get into my driveway. I typically back the Pickup up to the tommy lift, put the freight in the back of the truck and I can get it most anywhere on the property. Get my son to help me unload from the P/U at the garage. Pro tip: :) Thanks for the review. I have been thinking about a lift since I got this Road Glide.
for some reason it out your comment in "review" so im just seeing this...we have a pretty long drive but the trucks can get in here but only drop it in the front of the house...as we were puling it to the back to the shop it slipped and smashed my sons toe...im pretty sure its till black and that was months ago lol my truck has an 8" lift so its virtually impossible to anything heavy out of it lol
Thanks for the vid. Damn I'm having a hard time deciding what lift to go with. Putting My Victory Vision and Vulcan 1600.... And probably the neighbors Road Glide.
youre very welcome..ive been pretty happy with the couple of lifts I have had from them so far...minor gripes...if you read many reviews on all lifts you are considering it seems to be that way across the board..all of them have some minor gripes and some have major issues..these 2 have been very minor gripes for me
LA enjoying your channel but I wanted to mention you off to check out handy lifts a much higher quality product than the one you review I feel and American made with free delivery. Someone else may have already mentioned this in the comment as I don’t read all the people comments cause I just ain’t got that much time left, appreciate what you do you produce. Have a great day.
Hey Steve! Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation but yes the handy lifts are super nice and if I do upgrade it will be to one of those for sure.
I had a HF lift for a short period of time. Had my 2013 RG on it and it tipped over. 😮 Luckily I had a large cabinet on the side it tipped to. It went to the ground but slowly. I had to replace the R brake lever on the handlebar and straighten the R highway peg, and a few scuffs on the saddle bag and rear foot peg. Minimal damage, compared to what could have happened. Sold it that week to a guy who repaired minibikes and scooters. Never again.
man im sorry that happened..I bet that was a shock to walk in on....i sold that HF lift the day i got it...after drilling holes in it and not being able to return it..I threw it on FB marketplace and a guy with a much smaller bike got it.
Have a harbor freight lift, works good enough to do maintenance on but won't leave a bagger on it very long. Own a ultra limited and a lowrider s and its definitely better suited for a smaller bike
No sir it wasn't your freewheeler. it was a full on trike ..your freewheeler did great on there but the Trikes weigh quite a bit more. It shouldn't have done it though with a trike as it's rated at 1500 lbs.
Looks a lot like my black widow lift it’s probably the same lift, but I had no issues with my black widow, although I haven’t had a trike on it yet, but I do like it about the same price what black widow lift cost to
sorry for the late reply...I think a lot of these lifts now are all made at the same place and white labeled to companies and re branded. Several of them looked identical while I was researching.
I’ve been using the same lift for 3 or 4 years. Only issue is the cylinder started leaking a few years in but heals itself after a few up and down cycles. Now the scissor jack it broke the screw twice one time with the front in the air and the axle out
the old lift is far out of warranty and with the new one the front stop being drilled wrong would have been but its just faster for me to drill it out than wait on another part.
I got a pro point from princess auto 1200lb and works mint with my bagger. It has a foot pump or air options for lift. I agree it could do without the checker plate tho...
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...neve heard of that lift before but im glad its working out for you....its nice to not have to be on concrete working on these things
@sikbaggers yup I do my own services and have done the majority of the mods myself. This lift has paid for itself with the money I saved from taking it to the dealership. They told me 600 bucks for an oil change so I went out a bought the lift right away 👍🏽
Excellent! i purchased a used Handy Lift this spring, it has the same wheel chalk, and side tables, however it doesn't have the rear drop out which is kinda a bummer. I do use it quite often and now my foot control valve is not working properly, not letting air into the cylinder so I'm trying to find parts to rebuild the valve, or purchase a new valve. Any suggestions on types of valves you are familiar with that aren't super expensive?
I havnt been able to find replacement parts for the foot controls ...there are so many different ones..Ive just been searching for a new foot control all together.
Do you not think it's good quality. Listening to what he's saying it sounds like he's alright with it. Maybe the price is high for what you get ? I seen a handy lift for $1500 the other day. I messed up not grabbing it up.
Sorry for the late reply and yeah im good with the lift for the price...if I worked on more tri glides I would definitely explore other options. But after 6 years of using the first one I was comfortable buying another one.
@@sikbaggers any chance you can post the link to where you get your downloads for the service manuals, you mentioned it not long ago in a video and said you linked it but I went back through to find it and couldn't remember what video it was
I bought a harbor freight lift used about 10 years ago. It works great but, if i worked on bikes for a living i def would upgrade. Def a case of you pay for what you get
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply, been on vacation....and yeah I might use one for smaller bikes but i would definitely not walk away from the bike on that lift....was scary lol
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...and no I dont have one of those...road on one once..love how it felt hated how it looked lol but it was super comfortable
Good info Steve. Would it be possible to change that fitting to a straight fitting? I know you shouldn't have to, but may be a solution. On ebay they show the air lines coming in from the other side. Compressor in the middle and cylinder in the spot up from it closest to the word up. Maybe that will give you more options as well.
sorry for the late reply...and yes I am going to try moving one side to the other and add a straight connector. My other one is like that even though its a definitely pedal i think it will work.
Yes...ive had that first one for a few years and it still a good lift and used everyday...the second one seems to be the same outside of the foot pedal but it still works good. Just different.
If you can’t get the right amount of Teflon tape on that 45 degree fitting where it will stop in the right location, run a 1/4” pipe tap in the hole or try another fitting?
Didn't your's come with a dolly to roll the lift out of the way if needed ? My Direct-lift came with everything you have accept the chopper ext, if you keep the wheels clean of debris the whole table rolls around with ease. Mine gets moved every day so I can put vehicles in the shop, price in '08 was $650 plus $200 shipping, already paid for itself many times over, especially Dr bill's 💪💪
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and no it didnt come with a dolly unfortunately. I can shove mine from side to side if I want but its not easy
hahaha! Man I read that and was like what is he talking about!??! Its been a few months since I shot this video and I forgot LOL..thanks for checking it out!
I Bought one few days ago based on this review. I put it together and when I lift the bike up and push on the bike the table flex which moves the bike a bit . Is that normal ?
yeah man that bike aint going anywhere...its a solid table..been using them for years and zero issues and I have slammed, banged and pushed on these bikes..youre good.
I bought a handy bob 1500. Made in America stickers all over it. Wouldn’t work properly out the crate. It would start dropping as soon as you lifted it. Didn’t give you time to lock it before it would drop. The main o ring around the cylinder piston was installed backwards. The cylinder interior was full of metal shavings. Cylinder walls were gouged as a result. Handys fix was to send me a seal kit so I could fix it myself. $2,700.00. Will never buy another thing from them.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply....it sounds like you definitely got a bad one. this old lift in this video started to develop a leak after 6 years of using it so I will have to change that soon as well.
Yeah obviously quality control went out the window when handy sold to I believe janco is the parent company now. I should have followed my first mind and got a k&l.
yes...you pull a pin on one end of all three pipes...slide the panel off the pipes, do it to the other side and then you can remove the pipes if you want
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...and yeah even more scary with a bagger on it,...im sure its great for smaller bikes for the price point.
I liked your video Sir, and you're absolutely correct about Harbor Freight lifts. They're unsteady and unsafe. I have a Handy lift and love mine. I was thinking about APlus Lift, but decided against it because where it was made. I would rather spend my money for a U.S. made product than this product made in China. Just my opinion.
🌟 Huge thanks to each one of you for taking the time to watch our latest video! Your support makes all the difference. If you enjoyed the content, please consider hitting that subscribe button, sharing the video with your friends, and giving it a thumbs up. Your support fuels our passion to create more content for you. Let's grow this community together! 🚀 Don't forget to spread the word - the more, the merrier! Thanks again, and stay tuned for more exciting stuff! 🎥👍 #ThankYou #SubscribeNow #ShareTheLove"
I bought a Handy Lift, American made, best quality made lift out there. It’s a game changer if you’re a garage mechanic and older. 🤣. I saved $400 in labor in 1 tire change alone. Awesome channel, love the content.
Me too. I’ve the Handy S.A.M. 1200.
Handy best lift out there
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply..been on vacation...i couldnt work on bikes without one again..and yes my next lift will be a handy for sure.
I’ve got a Handy S.A.M. 1200. I got the side extensions, rear wheel drop out & wheel chock. It uses air billows and is super heavy duty. The foot pedal for raising & lowering work’s flawless. Way better quality than the APlus 1500XL in my opinion. Better craftsmanship, heavier duty metal, better finish just much better all around. There’s a reason why most HD dealerships have them in their service department. Yes, it’s more expensive. I paid about $3K out the door. Free shipping. Arrived in 3-4 days from time of order. Great shippers. Backed the truck right down to my garage. Great warranty. And best thing yet…100% entirely made in the USA!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes I agree the handy is a very nice lift. If I upgrade again the future it will be a handy for sure.
The value of my lift was directly tied to my age, at 30 I never would have bought one, at 60 I wouldn't want to live without it! I use it for my Harley, the Bicycles, the Lawn mower service, hell we even wrap Christmas presents on the thing!
sorry for the late reply..its funny I did the same thing this year...wrapped all my Christmas gifts on it haha that worked out awesome. Its definitely saved whats left of my back.
I have got the A plus 1500 XL motorcycle lift it has served me well for the last three years, I just recently went to a trike the first time up on the lift I had a concern about bending the rear support for the tables. I solved this by sliding the Jack under the trike near the back and Jack It up enough to Put the weight to the middle of the lift. It works well for me.
thats a great idea john...mine did bend it just sitting there over night...I came back in the morning and about shit when I saw them bent.
First I enjoy your content! Live northern Illinois and when I retired I purchased the same 1500XL as my gift to my knees and back. My wife never sees me since I am in garage all the time!
When I bought this lift it was just prior to Pandemic and they dropped prices due to shipping delays! Placed order and delivered by freight within a week. I have a Electric glide, Fatboy and BMW. All get serviced on my lift and my leisure. First thing I noticed was the table surface needed more anti skid material. So off to Amazon and buy a roll. And did both side panels and along the center of table. Then I bought a new foot control to replace the supplied foot control. (Have to find where I ordered the new one from.) It locks off in center position when released and no air is released cost about $100 from some lift company out of Indiana?
No one that I know liked the first style foot controller? My first controller is in box! And those who have the more recent model with updated foot controller are having warranty replacements? Time will tell?
Beside the baggers, my snow blowers and heavy zero turn mower fits on table great but have noticed the side panels bow out? The Hollow pipe on these side panels has to be upgraded? Was thinking of straightening support pipe in press and installing a inner pipe welded in to stiffen it to help? I also fabricated up some Harbor Freight moving dolly’s to move the lift table when floor space is needed for other projects.
Keep up the content! Thanks for the video!
if you are unfamiliar with the harley davidson service manuals and it tells you to do something with the jiffy stand at least you know what it is. side stand, kick stand, drop stand, crutch...call it what you want
i've had my XL for 3+ years and i love it. i have 3 bikes so there's always something that needs to be done. at 70, i'm not into working on the floor any more. get one of these and you'll be surprised how many new friends you'll have. mine has hardly had any time when someone's bike isn't on it.
hahha so true Steve! I have two now and same thing..always a bike on them and man my back cant take working on the floor anymore....kills me.
I have a HF lift for all my light items (dirt bike, sporties, push mower, etc.) I purchased it for a very good price about 10 years ago. My main lift is a Direct-Lift that I purchased in late 2019. Nothing but problems and it requires consistent maintenance or it blows seals like crazy. I would like to some day have a Handy but need to save for that.
I think all brands of lift tables will have a percentage of failures. Its how companies handle those failures that says a lot about those companies. I think it comes down to what are your expectations of the lift table vs what one is willing to spend their hard earned dollars on.
Thanks for another great video and really enjoy when you do videos on shop equipment and tooling.
Thankn you nick..sorry you have so many issues with the Direct lift. I could have spent the extra money on the handy but man these first lift only having the one issue with the foot pedal and the price is spot on too...so I just went with what I knew I guess. Hope for the best on this new one lol
I have the exact same lift and have had it for 10+ years. The first thing I did was got rid of that stupid crank up front and put a condor on the front. This allows me to ride it up and drop it right in The Condor and get off the bike with no issues at all. I run the table all the way up do my oil changes or need to do work on it. It locks in so well that i don't even strap it down. It is so solid I can shake the living heck out of it and it will not let that bike go. I love my table, I wouldn't be without it. My bike is lowered so I had to buy the extended ramp for a better angle. My table sets on the spare side of the garage and I just drive up and back it off with ease anytime I want the bike. BUY THIS TABLE.... YOU WON'T REGRET IT!
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes the extended ramp will be being ordered soon for my cholo build. I wasn't aware that condor made a smaller flipper for the wrapper front fenders til a previous comment so thats a very viable option for me now
I have one of these lifts. Got it about a year ago. Really like it. I bought extra side rails because I have a TriGlide Ultra Classic, along with three other Harleys. When you get another set of side rails, you get a longer set of pipes to hold them on. Haven't had any problems with them bending so far. It does make the lift 72 inches wide with two sets of side rails. I don't have the problem with the lift pedal that you are having. I just lift it up, put the safety bar in place, then let the air pressure off. Thanks for the video. Ride Safe!
sorry for the late reply...some of these slipped by me...but yes im loving the lift outside of the small annoyances lol nothing to serious but thats what I do to...just set the safety bar and release the air hose and it works great.
Have the exact same lift and love it! Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it at all.
Yes the first one has been a good one! Hoping for the best on this one!
Hello Steve. Great review! I have an old electric Handy lift table. It's never had any negative issues. I just move the raise selector, enjoy my coffee while the bike raises to good working height. Take care and remember it's just another day in paradise!
Thanks for checking it and yeah I had an older electric lift years ago and it worked great...never had issues with it but I needed a bigger one.
Have a Tri Glide and a softail all most pulled the trigger on this lift! Man you have saved me a lot of swear jar money. Going to look at something els. Thank you
yeah id go with something a little heavier on the sides if you plan on lifting that trike...My buddies at HD recommend the Handy lift for trikes...that will probably be my next one.
Got the direct lift with same air cylinder,,, used:( a river of rust on bottom and its an $800+ part!!!! Great video
Sorry for the late reply...been at Tail Of The Dragon for a week. Man yeah those shafts are pricey
I have the exact lift. Game changer for working on the bike. I hated that crank vise so i got a condor chock which i need to install. Mine came with a trike ramp extension which i’ll never use. So if you want it, it’s yours. You’re right about the shipping and weight. It’s heavy as heck. The truck driver dollyed mine into the garage so it was easy to unbox and put together.
sorry for the late reply...yeah the driver here dumped it in front of my wifes garage as my shop is way behind my house ...so we di have to get it back there...was tough but we got it...I cant use the condor style chocks because of having fat tire bikes and also working on a lot of them I cant switch out the chock all the time..I did have to move the handle side out one inch and re drill the base for it to accommodate the fat tires.
Thanks. Mental note- NO HARBOR FREIGHT LIFTS. Good information.
Yeah lift a $30,000 motorcycle on a $400 lift.
they are probably great for smaller bikes..id say under 500 pounds but yeah it was scary with a bagger on it
Looks like these were rebranded to what is now called Black Widow. Looks exactly the same. I like to put one side of my side extension upside down so it serves as a tray for my tools. I do not like the 'hard to find neutral' position on the foot pedal, and non padded wheel vise. I also got the extended ramp so I don't risk bottoming out my slammed softail showbike. Other than those minor issue, I absolutely love my motorcycle lift.
sorry for the late reply...I think a lot of these lifts now are all made at the same place and white labeled to companies and re branded. Several of them looked identical while I was researching. I will need to get the extended ramps for sure for my softail also...those 39" fishtails are coming mighty close and I havent installed the air ride yet
Thanks for the honest review on this table. It's the one I have been looking at buying. I thought yeah maybe harbor freight but my brother in law has one and said he wouldn't put his road Glide on that table because he was concerned it would fall over with the bike raised up while wrenching on the bike. I have a road Glide and a Convertible CVO so nice to hear you say the same.
yeah good call not getting a HF lift for your bagger...this one is solid and a great price...minor complaints that doesnt stop me from using it evrey single day
I bought one a month ago works great. Love it.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and glad you are enjoying your lift..its much better than crawling around on concrete for sure!
I’ve got a tuxedo lift, which looks exactly like your lift other than its grey with a blue drop out plate. I believe both of these are loose copies of an older model handy lifts.
I believe your wheel clamp is a better design than the one that came with mine, but I prefer the condor chock over a wheel clamp as I park my bike on mine. Condor makes a lower profile flipper for extended fenders (it’s an added cost fyi), and I added some grip tape on my outer tables to aid in getting the bike out of the chock.
If you do your own maintenance, or upgrades but your getting a little to long in the tooth do be doing garage floor yoga, a lift is a game changer! You’ll also find yourself becoming rather popular with your riding buddies when they have projects or maintenance to complete.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...and I agree...the lifts are a must have, specially at my age..I cant take getting on the concrete floor anymore lol and yes my buddies love them too haha. I didnt know condor made a shorter flipper...thank you for letting me know...I can add that in future videos about fenders. Much appreciated!
Cool man - your channel is so awesome! Gave me the confidence to start doing stuff with my bike and I couldn't be more grateful. Your no nonsense, practical advice has been outstanding so thank you!!
Can't afford a lift and no room for one so I'm stuck using the Harbor Freight motorcycle jack. That thing has been awesome so far and now in my 50s, I'm actually feeling like I can take on some mechanic's tasks. Fun stuff!
Hey John thats what its all about man...learning some new things and being able to save some money working on your bike but also being confident you did everything correctly. I appreciate your comment and glad the videos help. I worked a lot of years on bikes on jacks...I still have one of my old jacks from 16 years ago only because its a beast compared to the jacks being built these days...and I also have the grey harbor freight one too...they still come in handy on quick jobs and also moving the bikes around.
I have this same lift and love it. Going on a year now and no issues. You may have gotten a bad pedal as mine stays sealed and doesn't pivot the fitting. Also to note the 1500 pound rating states that it's at the center of the lift. I ordered mine on amazon and delivered to my driveway by freight truck. The side extensions can be put upside down to hold your tools from rolling out while you work on the bike. I also went with a condor wheel chock and love how easy it is to just step off the bike and not worry about tightening the clamp. I use it with my 21 Road Glide Special.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes it definitely in the middle..i wasnt aware til a previous comment that condor made a smaller flipper for stretched front fenders so thats a very viable option now.
I have the titan xl 1500 with all the accessories. Me and my neighbor went in together got it used off spacebook market place. Have a lot of bikes in the neighborhood and we use it.
very nice! I looked forever for a used one to put in here but never could find one local enough to me to go get...you definitely make more friends when they know you have a lift lol
I bought a Aplus 1500 XL. works great so far
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes I think for the price its a good lift...just wished the sides would have held up better with the trike but its all good..I dont work on trikes very often
Good video. I have a J&S Jack that I picked up for next to nothing compared to the new price. I love it. I’ve done all kinds of work on it, but it’s still not a lift table. I’m gonna pull the trigger on this table soon enough
We keep two jacks here along with the lifts and J&S makes really good jacks. I try to do everything on the lift but I cant always use it.
Nice video. I too have seen plenty of Harbour freight videos with guys raving over it. However like you if I have to spend hundreds more "fixing" it is money really being saved? No! Plus altering products generally voids warranties.
As for delivery I live in the suburbs and also have no dock on my house or forklift in the back yard. What I do is back my pickup up butt to butt with the delivery truck. The item is lowered to my bed height and transferred. I shake hands and back my truck up to my garage and unload. If possible I break down the item in the bed. This has worked for a Pretor elliptical, large air compressor, 110 lb tower speakers, 617 lb tool bench etc. I also have a 1000 lb winch which worked great for
unloading the tool bench.
yeah....no way im putting my bike on HF list...maybe a sportser or something small but not a bagger...same thing here with the lift delivery...I actually unboxed it and put it on a dolly and stood it up, strapped it off and hauled it back here to the shop...it sucked..it was heavy but it worked lol
I love my lift. Best investment. The only issue I have with it is that it does leak a little oil. The lift not the bike. I have heard from a buddy that has the same lift that he replaced the seals in his once and never had the issue again.
mine developed one last year but only after 5 years of use...i havent changed the seals in it yet though...its a small leak..so ill have to do it eventually.
Good vid on the lift and yeah I am with you, the Harbour Freight lift has a place it's just not under my Electra Glide Ultra Classic. As for other lifts. I got the Redline 1500 ELE. The few upsides I see with this one is it's electric over hydraulic instead of air and no issues with putting the father in law 2020 tri glide on it. With the side extensions I am 51 inches. But overall the best lift is the one that will get you working on you own bike. Keep up the good work bud
Yeah man that redline is nice lift! And absolutely agree...if it helps get you wrenching then its a great lift...well except the HF one lol
I wish I saw this video two months ago. Did the exact same thing. Got a HF lift because it was cheap. Did all the UA-cam mods to it. Second time my street glide was on it I heard the frame make that creek sound. NOPE! Lowered it. Took the bike off. Posted it on marketplace the same day. Luckily it sold right away. Ordered a Black widow 1500 XL wide pro lift. Pretty sure it is the exact same thing as the APlus 1500XL.
Yeah those Harbor Freight lifts aren't meant to hold that much weight. Im the same way, listed it the next day and sold it..there was no way my bike was going up on that thing. And yes im fairly certain thats the same lift. You will be happy with it.
I live on a country road, gravel drive and a truck can't get into my driveway. I typically back the Pickup up to the tommy lift, put the freight in the back of the truck and I can get it most anywhere on the property. Get my son to help me unload from the P/U at the garage. Pro tip: :) Thanks for the review. I have been thinking about a lift since I got this Road Glide.
for some reason it out your comment in "review" so im just seeing this...we have a pretty long drive but the trucks can get in here but only drop it in the front of the house...as we were puling it to the back to the shop it slipped and smashed my sons toe...im pretty sure its till black and that was months ago lol my truck has an 8" lift so its virtually impossible to anything heavy out of it lol
Its a great lift! I have one and haven't had any problems yet.
thanks for checking it out tom! Loving this lift for years and hoping for the best on the new one.
Thanks for the vid. Damn I'm having a hard time deciding what lift to go with. Putting My Victory Vision and Vulcan 1600.... And probably the neighbors Road Glide.
youre very welcome..ive been pretty happy with the couple of lifts I have had from them so far...minor gripes...if you read many reviews on all lifts you are considering it seems to be that way across the board..all of them have some minor gripes and some have major issues..these 2 have been very minor gripes for me
LA enjoying your channel but I wanted to mention you off to check out handy lifts a much higher quality product than the one you review I feel and American made with free delivery. Someone else may have already mentioned this in the comment as I don’t read all the people comments cause I just ain’t got that much time left, appreciate what you do you produce. Have a great day.
Hey Steve! Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation but yes the handy lifts are super nice and if I do upgrade it will be to one of those for sure.
I had a HF lift for a short period of time. Had my 2013 RG on it and it tipped over. 😮
Luckily I had a large cabinet on the side it tipped to. It went to the ground but slowly.
I had to replace the R brake lever on the handlebar and straighten the R highway peg, and a few scuffs on the saddle bag and rear foot peg. Minimal damage, compared to what could have happened.
Sold it that week to a guy who repaired minibikes and scooters.
Never again.
man im sorry that happened..I bet that was a shock to walk in on....i sold that HF lift the day i got it...after drilling holes in it and not being able to return it..I threw it on FB marketplace and a guy with a much smaller bike got it.
Have a harbor freight lift, works good enough to do maintenance on but won't leave a bagger on it very long. Own a ultra limited and a lowrider s and its definitely better suited for a smaller bike
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply and yes I agree...there was no way I was walking away from the lift with a bagger on it lol
I’m looking into buying a table . My apologies if my bike did that to your table … I will repair that for you. good video!
No sir it wasn't your freewheeler. it was a full on trike ..your freewheeler did great on there but the Trikes weigh quite a bit more. It shouldn't have done it though with a trike as it's rated at 1500 lbs.
Looks a lot like my black widow lift it’s probably the same lift, but I had no issues with my black widow, although I haven’t had a trike on it yet, but I do like it about the same price what black widow lift cost to
sorry for the late reply...I think a lot of these lifts now are all made at the same place and white labeled to companies and re branded. Several of them looked identical while I was researching.
Hey Steve harbor freight sells those rubber diamond plate things too that you stuck on the pancake jack
ah man I didnt know that...I orderd it from amazon...ill check them out because I could use a few more..thank you Steve!
You definitely get what you pay for with lifts. I have a Titan brand and love it.
I agree 100% thank you for checking it out!
U know u can flip those sides and use those for trays for parts and tools, works great
i just leave them like this and still use them for parts and tools...not saying that every now and then a socket might roll off though lol
If it does the job is it really a bad product?. Y’all get what ya pay for. Love the channel bro
Thanks man...appreciate it!
Use my Habor Freight lift for lawn mowers and handy worktable. Don't have to pick them up.
yeah they are excellent for that...not really for baggers though lol...scared the crap outa me
I’ve been using the same lift for 3 or 4 years. Only issue is the cylinder started leaking a few years in but heals itself after a few up and down cycles. Now the scissor jack it broke the screw twice one time with the front in the air and the axle out
ah man I better check that then...my cylinder started leaking last year but its small..ive eventually have to change it though
Great video!!!
Thank you!! Glad to help!
Hey Steve and thanks again for all the great info. Is none of this warranty?
the old lift is far out of warranty and with the new one the front stop being drilled wrong would have been but its just faster for me to drill it out than wait on another part.
I got a pro point from princess auto 1200lb and works mint with my bagger. It has a foot pump or air options for lift. I agree it could do without the checker plate tho...
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...neve heard of that lift before but im glad its working out for you....its nice to not have to be on concrete working on these things
@sikbaggers yup I do my own services and have done the majority of the mods myself. This lift has paid for itself with the money I saved from taking it to the dealership. They told me 600 bucks for an oil change so I went out a bought the lift right away 👍🏽
Excellent! i purchased a used Handy Lift this spring, it has the same wheel chalk, and side tables, however it doesn't have the rear drop out which is kinda a bummer. I do use it quite often and now my foot control valve is not working properly, not letting air into the cylinder so I'm trying to find parts to rebuild the valve, or purchase a new valve. Any suggestions on types of valves you are familiar with that aren't super expensive?
I havnt been able to find replacement parts for the foot controls ...there are so many different ones..Ive just been searching for a new foot control all together.
You do great work Steve, but this lift ??????
Do you not think it's good quality. Listening to what he's saying it sounds like he's alright with it. Maybe the price is high for what you get ? I seen a handy lift for $1500 the other day. I messed up not grabbing it up.
Sorry for the late reply and yeah im good with the lift for the price...if I worked on more tri glides I would definitely explore other options. But after 6 years of using the first one I was comfortable buying another one.
I bought a Titan lift, and love it, all but the diamond plate floor 😂, wish I would have known.
yeah man...the diamond looks good til it doesnt lol thanks for checking it out!
@@sikbaggers any chance you can post the link to where you get your downloads for the service manuals, you mentioned it not long ago in a video and said you linked it but I went back through to find it and couldn't remember what video it was
I bought a harbor freight lift used about 10 years ago. It works great but, if i worked on bikes for a living i def would upgrade. Def a case of you pay for what you get
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply, been on vacation....and yeah I might use one for smaller bikes but i would definitely not walk away from the bike on that lift....was scary lol
You got a saddlemen road sofa seat up there with those seats
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation...and no I dont have one of those...road on one once..love how it felt hated how it looked lol but it was super comfortable
Good info Steve. Would it be possible to change that fitting to a straight fitting? I know you shouldn't have to, but may be a solution. On ebay they show the air lines coming in from the other side. Compressor in the middle and cylinder in the spot up from it closest to the word up. Maybe that will give you more options as well.
sorry for the late reply...and yes I am going to try moving one side to the other and add a straight connector. My other one is like that even though its a definitely pedal i think it will work.
You need to put an extra steel plate across the table for the rear end
yeah..i think I need to on the front and rear just to be safe with trikes
Great Video Thanks..
thank you frank!
great video on this lift Sir. thinking about pulling the trigger but still hesitant. you still happy with it?
Yes...ive had that first one for a few years and it still a good lift and used everyday...the second one seems to be the same outside of the foot pedal but it still works good. Just different.
@@sikbaggers right on. appreciate you getting back. love that channel fam keep killing it!!
TY Steve solid
Youre very welcome sir! thank you for checking it out!
Have you done a clutch adjustment video on a 2020 M8?
im sorry I have not done one yet,
If you can’t get the right amount of Teflon tape on that 45 degree fitting where it will stop in the right location, run a 1/4” pipe tap in the hole or try another fitting?
Sorry for the late reply but yes I tried the tape methos but that didnt do it...im going to try to tap it a little deeper
Didn't your's come with a dolly to roll the lift out of the way if needed ? My Direct-lift came with everything you have accept the chopper ext, if you keep the wheels clean of debris the whole table rolls around with ease. Mine gets moved every day so I can put vehicles in the shop, price in '08 was $650 plus $200 shipping, already paid for itself many times over, especially Dr bill's 💪💪
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and no it didnt come with a dolly unfortunately. I can shove mine from side to side if I want but its not easy
I didn't see the link for the cob webs? Were they a custom item? thanks for the info
hahaha! Man I read that and was like what is he talking about!??! Its been a few months since I shot this video and I forgot LOL..thanks for checking it out!
I Bought one few days ago based on this review. I put it together and when I lift the bike up and push on the bike the table flex which moves the bike a bit . Is that normal ?
yeah man that bike aint going anywhere...its a solid table..been using them for years and zero issues and I have slammed, banged and pushed on these bikes..youre good.
Do you have a link for the jack rubber pad you mentioned?
ah shoot..I forgot to add it but here they are amzn.to/3IRfdPS
I bought a handy bob 1500. Made in America stickers all over it. Wouldn’t work properly out the crate. It would start dropping as soon as you lifted it. Didn’t give you time to lock it before it would drop. The main o ring around the cylinder piston was installed backwards. The cylinder interior was full of metal shavings. Cylinder walls were gouged as a result. Handys fix was to send me a seal kit so I could fix it myself. $2,700.00. Will never buy another thing from them.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply....it sounds like you definitely got a bad one. this old lift in this video started to develop a leak after 6 years of using it so I will have to change that soon as well.
Yeah obviously quality control went out the window when handy sold to I believe janco is the parent company now. I should have followed my first mind and got a k&l.
Can the side extensions be removed to be closer to the bike to work on it?
yes...you pull a pin on one end of all three pipes...slide the panel off the pipes, do it to the other side and then you can remove the pipes if you want
I have a harbor freight lift and I can put a sportster on it but not my heritage it’s scarry with the heritage on it
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...and yeah even more scary with a bagger on it,...im sure its great for smaller bikes for the price point.
I do not see a link to the center jack you mention and prefer. Am I missing it?
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and here is the link to the center jack amzn.to/43Bf8ZW
I bought one a month ago without the side extensions. Love it so far
Beside breaking my toe on the support bar (my fault wearing no shoes in the garage and didn't see the bar, lol)
sorry for the late reply and ahh man i bet that hurt
ty
sorry for the late reply and youre very welcome.
ABSOFUCKINLUTELY LOVE my XL!!!
sorry for the late reply and yes its been well worth the money just saving whats left of my back lol
love my Handy
yes they are well built lifts for sure.
Price when bought?
sorry for the late reply...it was $1,871.37 USD final cost
harbor freight sucks for jacks I got the motorcycle jack an it folded to the one side once i jacked up my SG
yeah ill never put anything on a HF lift table
Order: placed 8)
Youll be happy with it! Thank you for checking it out! Its a back saver for sure!
Harbor Freight lifts are terrible. I looked at 1. There's no way I'd put more than 200lbs on 1 of them😂
yeah the HF is out of the question...30l bike on a 400 dollar lift...ill pass
Well, since I have a trike, I won’t be purchasing that lift…
yeah unfortunately the side rails didnt hold up like I thought they would.
This lift is junk...so i bought another one
weird,...been using it every single day for 6 years..im not sure its junk lol but thanks for checking it out.
I liked your video Sir, and you're absolutely correct about Harbor Freight lifts. They're unsteady and unsafe. I have a Handy lift and love mine. I was thinking about APlus Lift, but decided against it because where it was made. I would rather spend my money for a U.S. made product than this product made in China. Just my opinion.
Thanks for checking it out and sorry for the late reply...been on vacation and yes if I upgrade in the future it will be a handy lift for sure.