The Advantage of Using a Lift for Motorcycle Repair

Many people presume that the small size and light weight of motorcycles means that they can be repaired without any complex equipment. While it is true that the efficient design and light weight of motorcycles means that they are much easier to repair than cars, there are certain kinds of repairs that just require a lift. Flipping a bike over onto its handlebars to access the underside of the bike can be hazardous or damage the bike, especially if it is a heavy or three-wheeled model. Therefore, it is best to use a bike lift, or to hire a mechanic who has one, for certain kinds of complex maintenance.

Bike lifts, much like their auto equivalents, are designed to make certain key parts of the bike much easier to service. The difference is that, since bikes are more commonly serviced from the side than below, they are intended to bring the bike up to eye level as much as allow easier access from underneath. While such access is certainly possible if one inverts the bike or lays down on the floor, this is dirty, dangerous, and does not ensure that the bike is properly secured and braced, leading to slippage and loose nuts and bolts during the repair.

As such, bike lifts are most ideal when servicing the engine, transmission and chain. The transmission and chain in particular tend to necessitate a lift, because of the complexity and delicacy of such repairs. A damaged or mis-shifting transmission may need to be wholly dismantled in order for specific gears to be replaced, and doing so from a seated or floor position is excessively dangerous and time consuming. A bike lift not only makes accessing and serving the transmission easier, it makes it safer, and also allows for better grip and securing in order to better brace the bike when tightening nuts and bolts. This is a must-have for transmission repair, in order to prevent the transmission from slipping or giving under stress because the nuts and bolts aren't holding it securely.

The advantages of bike lifts also extend to more basic repairs such as repairing or replacing a chain, checking the alignment of the wheels, and repairing minor frame damage. As such, motorcycle lifts are omnipresent in bike repair and customization shops, and are increasingly becoming available for the home market as well. Motorcycle enthusiasts who routinely repair or improve their bikes find that such lifts make the bikes easier and safer to work on, especially when dealing with the engine, transmission and back wheel.

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