Hi, It seems I have reached an age where fully functioning knees and shoulders are sadly a distant memory (my memory is still functioning ok - at the moment - I think!). I am finding it difficult to work on my bikes. Raising them off the ground would be very helpful so I have been looking at the abba skylift and hydraulic bike table/stand. Please can any forum members who own either share their thoughts on the pro’s and con’s of either approach? Thank you
Have abba sky lift - second one I have owned (long story), I think they are superb, occasionally precarious getting in and out, depending on bike. If you need to break it down to save space (as I do) they can be a bit of a ballache to set up and sometimes you end up just doing jobs and you’re no better off. It is nicer to have a proper lift you can just wheel your bike onto and hike it up, but these are the tops of you can’t fit a full lift in the space you have.
Lots of room=bike ramp restricted room=Abba Skylift I have the skylift and sometimes wish I had a a full platform to lift the bike up with which can double up as a shelf for tools whilst spannering.
I have a fairly small garage, and the Skylift not only saves space, but gives me the capability to move the bike around while suspended.
Thanks for the replies. I like the idea of the skylift from a potential space saving perspective but, despite the photos and comments I am uneasy about them. I would be lifting a multi and monster on it - it just looks scary. It sounds like the tricky bit is getting the bike on and off it safely. As you say the table option is easier to use but where to put it when not in use. I guess I could park the bike on it when not in use?!
I am not sure my floor would be smooth enough to move it easily on the castors but tbeing able to do so is a very useful feature. Is it as precarious as it looks?
Not precarious - I can move my big ole adventure bike easily without concern. Multi shouldn't be an issue.
I use mine with multi enduro - sometimes with a full tank as well and it’s no bother at all once it’s in the air, easy to move around and swing on for the tough bolts lol. I had a hydraulic lift and parked my bike on it for a few years, the problem for me was it isn’t as flat as you think so rolling it in and off the big lift isn’t hazard free with the top heavy multis either. If money and space were no object I would have both, if space is restricted skylift every time.
I have a high capacity hydraulic platform, an Eazyrizer (hate the spelling) and a few Abba stands with lift bars and rollers. I never felt confident with the Abba Skylift when moving the bike lifted, but it’s clear others like them. I won’t sell the platform lift unless bikes go permanently out of my life for some reason, or I have to downsize the garage. I would put any bike fully elevated on the Eazyrizer and be 100% certain it would still be where I left it even if it got knocked heavily by something. It isn’t mobile*, and it isn’t a 2 min job to get the bike on it, but it isn’t going anywhere once it’s on. * It has no wheels but I once dragged a 996 round the garage fully elevated when I needed to and gravity never troubled it.
I went from cold floors to this table lift, I haven’t tried the abba type lifts but this is very stable even with a lump of streetfighter now on it. Makes life so simple having the bike level and at your height. Being a private garage and not used anywhere near as much as a business, the foot operated pump was enough for me and a lot cheaper than the hydraulic power version.
Hi, please can you tell me the make model of your table lift, approx how high is it when it is fully lowered?
