While planning the right way to present this Honda CRF450R bike build to the visitors of Trail Pro, I thought it was necessary to use a hydraulic motorcycle scissor lift to get the right camera angle and help get the bike up off the ground and into the lights so it was easier to see our work.
After looking at a dozen different options of MX bike lifts I decided to go with a Pit Posse motorcycle lift. Pit Posse specializes in motocross tools and accessories and I figured their hydraulic lift had already been put through the paces with their riders and staff so it would be a safe choice.
Pit Posse offers two versions of their scissor lift, one without casters (wheels) and one with casters. Since I’m working in a shop and I need to be able to move this project around I went with the model with casters. If I were looking for a lift that I would be using out at the track where the majority of the time your pits are on a gravel parking lot or in the grass I would save the money and get the model without the casters. The wheels wouldn’t help in that scenario any how.
The lift weighs 68 lbs. and I can lift it and move it around with one hand pretty easily. They have the center of the lift pad cut out so you can get to the bottom of the motor, but it also serves as a way to grab a bar underneath the pad which makes it easy to pick-up on the lift and move it.
The casters are more heavy duty then I thought they would be and I was really happy to see that they didn’t cheap out on that aspect…cheap casters really annoy me and when they break I lose it (go crazy) for sure.
The thing I’m most excited about is I no longer have to crouch on my knees, bend over or sit on a stool I have to constantly get up from while working on the bike. I can lift the bike, move it close to my work bench and easily transition from the motorcycle to my work bench and to the tool box. It kills my knees to stay in the squat position, so to stay standing will remove a lot of the aches and pain I get from wrenching on bikes.
The reason I didn’t get a regular motorcycle jack lift is because they just don’t get the bike high enough and then you have to worry about working around the handle while you move around the bike.
Overall, this is going to probably be one of the best tools I ever bought. I can really see using this on other projects besides working on bikes. With its 300 lb weight capacity and the casters I can lift and move a wide array of stuff around the shop or even clean off the wheels and use it to help me move something in the house. I’d just have to be cautious to keep it level, because I could see this thing tipping over if you’re not paying attention. All the hardware is heavy duty and when I was testing it out I never once said, “Well, this is cheap” or “This won’t last long”.
Lastly, it also got the buddy approval. My friend came over and I showed him the new bike lift and he thought it was slick. After playing with it for a few minutes he said, “Well, I know what I’m getting next for my garage”. He’s got four bikes and he’s constantly wrenching on all of them, so this lift should be a game changer for his knees and back.
Pit Posse Hydraulic Scissor Lift
Product Description:
Pit Posse Hydraulic Scissor Lift Designed for MX Dirt Bikes and Quads
- Lifts your Motorcycle or Quad to comfortable Work Height
- Foot Pedal Jack to lift stand – On/Off knob for lowering
- Adjustable Height, from 13 thru 36 inches Off the Ground
- Safety loops to Stabilize the Bike
- Safety Pin for Extra Insurance
- Heavy-Duty Steel Frame Construction
- Large Oil Drain Hole
- Oil & Gas Resistant Rubber Top
- 300 lbs Weight Capacity
- 1 Year Warranty