Larin Lift?

Has anyone used/tried one of these? Or anything else possibly by the same company that they could comment on? Looking for comments on design, materials, construction, cust service, etc.

http://www.motorcyclejacks.com/MWS-1500.shtml

been looking at a Handy one, but I like the drop out for the rear tire on this one, and it has manual operation, wheel chock, and most of all Costco has it!:smile: and I love my Costco shopping...:biggrin:

 

If you don't mind a manual version you can save yourself some serious coin.
Especially for something you might not use often.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91764

 

Thanks, but I don't know, that one looks kind of cheap.

I learned a long time ago, that sometimes cheap tools aren't worth it in the long run. They don't work as well, or hold up as long, or you can't get parts, or..........

 

Of course it's cheap but unless you're going to run a bike shop, how many times are you going to use it anyway?

A quick Google search yielded these results concerning the Harbor Freight model:

From Yahoo Answers:

Subject: Question about motorcycle lift...?
Question: Has anyone bought or used one of the motorcycle repair lifts sold by Harbor Freight and Pep Boys? They're about 300 bucks and are rated at 1,000 lbs. Seems like a good deal, but I'd hate to buy one and find out they're junk. Thanks! K ;o)

Best Answer
yes I have one well have had it for about 5 years have used it several times on Goldwings for tire repair, exhaust repair. it holds the bikes very securely as long as you make sure you get the proper balance. am very happy with it.


Other Answers
For the most part, and compared to professional models used in shops, they are junk. But how good does it need to be? How often are you going to use the lift? Oil changes, and adjustments/tune-ups/repairs? Are you really going to use the lift more than 100 times in the life of the bike?

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Are you referring to the kind of lift that you roll the bike onto, or the kind of lift that just goes underneath the frame? I have the latter from Pep Boys and am otherwise pleased with it. However, you can NOT leave the bike on it indefinately. If you leave it overnight you can expect that the pressure will have leaked out and it will be resting back on the ground.

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My brother in law has one that he bought at Harbor Freight and he loves it. He uses it for more than just a motorcycle lift. He also uses it as a type of moveable scaffold/ rolling workbench.

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It's ok for light bikes. Dirt bikes mini bikes etc. too unstable for a heavy bike. They have a new one at Harbor Freight that is pneumatically operated for about $500.00. Its very stable.

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I worked at a few shops that had this model 94121-2VGA http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=motorcycle+lift&Submit=Go Very proffesional and reliable. I know a lot of mechanics that bought the same model for home use and are very satisfied.

 

I have the Harbor Freight lift and LOVE IT!!! It might not be as fancy, but for over $1000.00 savings, I'll take the Harbor anyday. It has lifted all my bikes without any problem and has the dropout for rear tire removal.

 

actually the savings is about $700, not chump change to be sure, but definately less than a grand

 

You can catch the Harbor Freight Lift on sale for $299.99!! That's gonna put it preety darn close to a G after the sales tax!! You can see by the pict, I'm no stranger to rebuilding a wrecked bike on my HF lift. It has never let me down (unless I step on the petal).

 

Yes, about $362 with shipping if I remember, but the other lift is $949.99 @ Costco. The pnumatic one at Harbor is about $500, or $599, plus shipping, I think, so getting closer all the time. Also the Larin has a higher weight limit, lifts higher, comes with two side podes if you wanted to work on an ATV, or sidecar rig, the wheel clamp is fully adjustable, instead of just 3 settings, is a thicker guage steel, ...

If Costco had the Handy lift, or Snap On one, I would be done with it, I just have never heard of Larin before. It looks well made and sturdy, but I am no expert.

 

Looks to me like you've already made up your mind :biggrin:

 

I guess the air operated lift would be nice, but I opted for the manual w/foot petals, so I wouldn't have to run the air compressor just to raise the lift.

 

I tend to like the nice stuff! Particuarly for something like this, I would rather buy one, and be done with it, than buy one, then in ten years have to buy another. Or to buy the cheap one, have something about it annoy me, but be unwilling to toss it and get the nicer one. Or just have it annoy me every time I used it for the next 30-40 years that I ride.

That said, I am also cheap, and don't want to over pay if I don't have to. I won't buy something just because it is more expensive, or a certain name(except if the name is synonomous wtih quality).

So I recognize that the Snap On unit is over kill for me. I had been thinking I would get one of the Handy lifts in the next few years. Since I see the Handy ones at local shops, and that was the brand we used at the Motorcycle Mechanics couse I took. So I know they are well made and will stand up to abuse. The Larin or the Harbor I don't know. But I know in the past I have seen Harbor Freight stuff and not been real impressed with the quality or feel of the tool.

The only reason I am thinking of the Larin, and of getting it now is that the Costco Price seems like a deal, since they have it for $950, and it is listed at $1200+ where I have found it on the web. And it seems well made, although I don't know the company at all. If I drop that cash, and it turns out to be crap, I'll be kicking myself for years over it -- afterall, it is a lot of money...

 

Did one of the reviews above say it was like 47 cranks to raise the thing though? That has to be a pain if you want work on the bike off and on, no?

 

Spike - regarding the Larin lift (my initial impressions...never heard/seen of that mfr before):
I like the integrated base, included side extensions and casters. Doesn't say what gauge metal is used but the unit is heavy which probably means its solid. Capacities are excellent (lift weight, table size). Find out more on the safety / holding mechanism. You want it to have a solid, positive lock; its what will hold the table once lift is raised (look at the Handy Industries models to see what i mean). The lift arms look a bit lightweight to me, but can't say for sure without seeing it in person. Can't tell what it has for tie-down locations, but you can always add eye-bolts.

I have the Handy B.O.B. 1500 (air operated, 1500lbs, tire drop out). I fully raise & lower just a few times a month on average, but theres always a project sitting on it. I searched around for cheaper options but always came back to the Handy due to its proven strength and use in shops. I only looked at one other in person and it was flimsy (sorry, forget the brand). I'm a tool nut and I believe you usually get what you pay for. I'm glad I have mine, I have 3 bikes and a quad and it comes in handy (no pun intended )...nothing like doing an oil change and other maintenance w/ the bike at chest level. And I do occasionally tear down bikes completely as well as do most major maintenance myself.

If *I* was buying I would've considered that Larin lift. Could be right up there w/ the Handy BOB. I'd definitely want to see it in person but if price & weight is a gauge, I can't imagine it being crap. I searched everywhere too...strange that I never came across the Larin. I found my Handy lift on Craigslist. It was in nearly new condition and I got it for much cheaper than retail. :wink:

While here I would also highly recommend staying away from manual-only models, but only due to the lift time. It does take LOT of time to raise and lower. You'll probably find that you want to tweak heights while doing different jobs on the bike...air or electric/hydro will take a second to move. Plus its way more funner.

 

Went and ordered the Larin today, will let everyone know in 2-3 weeks what it is like.
Looking at it more, noticed that the Larin weighs about 650lbs, and the Harbor Frieght is about 350 lbs. Heft doesn't equal quality, necessarilly, but it is an indicator, and that is a HUGE difference in weight!

 

different type of lift, not the under the headers scissor style lift, talking about the "table" style, that you roll the bike onto, and it lifts the whole bike.

But about the scissor style, I had my '98 on one for a few weeks while I did a bunch of mods, and I did not remove the headers. So yes the full weight of the bike, plus the pressure of the tie downs, were held up by the headers, and there was no preceptible damage.

 

Thanks

The lift arms look to me to be a simple box tube, definately not the ramped arm style of the Handy model.

You are right, I don't see the hlding/safety lock/arm; hadn't even thought of that to be honest, will have to look for that before I open it -- not something I am willing to be without. It does mention it in the description, so must be something we are not seeing. We'll see. Don't want one that only works at full lift either, but rather the stepped design that works at different heights like on the Handy.

for tie down locations, it looks to have about 7 holes along the side of the platform. As long as there is enough "meat" there for the tie down to grab, those should be enough for me. Not as nice as the eye bolts on the Handy though, but also not in the way if you use it for a tractor or ATV, etc.

"way more funner" is indeed the key! :biggrin:

 

Definitely post up your impressions of the lift. I'd love to see some detailed pictures - email them to me if you don't post them here.

 

first one sent back, was damaged in shipping...

 

That sucks. Hopefully next one arrives in good shape...'cause I'm still waiting for a review. :biggrin: