How to Build a Motorcycle Lift [4 Best Ways Out of Many]
Do you have a motorcycle lift table?
If not, wouldn’t it be great if you could make one on your own?
And when you’re on a budget, saving a few hundred dollars isn’t a bad idea at all.
Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to build your own motorcycle lift. Then you can pick the one that works best for you.
How to Build a Motorcycle Lift Table
The thing is, making a wooden or a metal table for the bike is the easiest part of the process. But, when you want to fit the mechanical components together to lift the table safely, things get a bit more complicated.
Even so, you don’t need to undergo brain surgery to build a DYI motorcycle lift table. All you need are some tools, the right measurements, and enough clear space in your garage.
If you want to build a metal stand, you will need to weld some parts together. If you aren’t confident about welding, stick to wooden tables.
I suggest you start by making a basic sketch of the structure and marking the dimensions. That will help in connecting the pieces together.
There are plenty of online guides that outline the processes used by different users.
Here are some of the best ways to do it.
Warning: If you are not used to working with tools, get help from an expert, or buy a lift table. Even after making a DIY motorcycle lift table, test it thoroughly before use. The safety aspects of lifting a bike aren’t negotiable.
Method 1: Building A Wooden Lift Table
Combining a motorcycle table made from wood and a hydraulic jack sound like a great idea. Adding rollers to the bottom makes it easy to move around.
Some of the equipment that you will need for this are an electric power saw, a power drill, and hardware like hex bolts, washers, and locking nuts. The complete parts list is mentioned in the video below.
Overall, this is a great setup that you can use if you aren’t comfortable working with metal parts.
If you want to use an existing hydraulic jack that you have, you can use a completely wooden structure as well. But since this is supported at one end only, I wouldn’t use it for lifting heavier models.
Method 2: Combining Steel and Wood
Another ingenious way to build a stand is by combining a structure of wood and metal the way it’s shown here. It combines an ATV/motorcycle lift and a wooden deck to build a durable lift table.
To make the lift work for a longer platform, the hinge points are cut and then extended by using some additional metal tubing. It takes a bit of hard work but the end results are impressive.
The next stage is to set the top platform and attach the wheel chock for securing the bike. Based on the concept, you can modify the unit as per your own ideas.
Method 3: Using Steel Pipes
This is a brilliant way of lifting a bike by connecting steel pipes with some elbows and T connectors. The process is simple and it doesn’t take much time either. Moreover, you don’t need a lifting jack either.
You can make the structure even more stable by adding two additional feet at right angles to the existing ones on each side.
Granted, it will lift only one end of the bike at a time. But this is one of the cheapest DIY options you can try out. Also, the arrangement is easy to store and works great for users with small garage spaces.
Method 4: Using a Winch Mechanism
This unit has a full metal structure and is powered by a small motor. It can lift 200 kgs (440 lbs.) which should be good for smaller bikes.
The motor is used to rotate the winch and the steel wire rope connected through the pulleys lifts up the structure. (Pretty inventive, eh).
Using a checkered plate at the top would obviously be a better idea. But the amount of load you can use will depend on the strength of the rope and the pulley.
Note: The user makes the winch system from scratch. Even if you buy an external motor, there are a few other technical aspects you need to take care of.
So, this method is best for Tony Stark-level DIYers who know their staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a motorcycle lift?
There are various ways of making a DIY motorcycle lift by using wood or metal. But if you aren’t an experienced DIYer, it’s best to buy one.
How to build a motorcycle lift table out of wood?
To build a motorcycle lift table out of wood, you need to connect a wooden framework that will support the top platform. The lifting can be done by adding a hydraulic jack to the unit.
How to build a hydraulic motorcycle lift?
For building a hydraulic motorcycle lift you can buy a hydraulic lift and attach it to a wooden or metallic structure. We have listed a few great ways of doing that.
