The choice of motorbike vehicle lift for your repair shop or even for hobby use is a very important one.
Indeed, the success of the repair work performed on the vehicle, the speed with which it is carried out and the safety of the worker(s) can depend on it.
In this article, we will provide detailed responses to some questions you need to ask yourself when making this choice, analysing all the key factors which go to make up a high-quality lift.
Keep reading to find out more!
The importance of a motorbike vehicle lift
Whether it is a professional motorbike repair shop or an enthusiast's garage, the motorbike vehicle lift is the foundation of any work performed on the vehicle.
Ensuring you have a high-quality lift is therefore key in guaranteeing that work is performed to the highest levels of efficiency, in full compliance with safety standards and as effectively as possible.
For this reason, before choosing your new vehicle lift, it is important to answer some key questions about it.
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Motorbike vehicle lift: which needs must it meet?
The first question to answer when choosing a new motorbike vehicle lift is what needs it has to meet.
These needs will be different for an enthusiast looking for a lift for their personal garage and a mechanic or owner of a repair shop looking for a new tool which is one of the key parts of their work.
In the first case, the focus will be on all safety aspects, as well as the ability to find a good product at a reasonable price.
If it is made in Italy, this represents an advantage.
In the second case, however, still bearing in mind the safety aspects, the features which can have a direct impact on the efficiency and improvement of work operations undoubtedly hold a key position.
For a professional, it must be possible for the motorbike vehicle lift to take the central position in the workshop, and it must be a strategic aid to carrying out all tasks in a fast, efficient and safe manner.
Motorbike vehicle lift: where will it be installed?
To answer this second question, we can identify three key points to take into consideration when choosing the lift and where to install it.
Talking about a workshop context, the following should be taken into account when choosing the position of a lift:
- The workflows
- Whether or not recessed installation is possible
- Vicinity to workbenches
The workflows determine the efficiency of a workshop.
A space optimised to function according to a precise scheme, which starts the moment a vehicle enters the workshop, can achieve significant gains in efficiency and productivity, bringing the value of the workshop and the brand’s reputation to a higher level.
Locating the lifting platforms in a strategic manner, to ensure that they support those flows, is key for the good internal operation of the workshop and to allow the mechanics to carry out their work with the highest levels of performance.
In the same manner, understanding whether or not the structural characteristics of a space allow recessed installation of the vehicle lifts can have an effect on the shop's margins.
A recessed vehicle lift offers space savings and makes the process of loading the vehicle onto the lift and then unloading it safer and more efficient, as the difference in level between the lifting platform and the workshop floor is eliminated.
If it is not possible to modify the floor, a very similar result can be obtained by purchasing a lift with a very low minimum height which is equipped with a retractable ramp.
Another key factor in achieving the highest levels of efficiency when working on a motorbike on a vehicle lift is the vicinity of the workbenches.
If the workbenches are close at hand, this allows the mechanics to be more agile, improving the precision of their performance, with a direct result on the work performed, on customer satisfaction and on the ROI.
In particular, there are some specific work processes for which it is essential to have the workbench close to the vehicle lift: suspension work is one example, which you can read about in this dedicated article.
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with your own eyes?
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Motorbike vehicle lift: which characteristics are essential?
The last question to ask yourself when choosing a motorbike lift involves the technical specifications of the lift.
The main ones to take into consideration concern its:
- Solidity
- Height
- Controls and safety
- Ramp and hatches
Let’s take a closer look!
Solidity
For a motorbike lift to carry out its task in the most efficient manner, it must be built from solid materials.
This also contributes to ensuring that the purchase of the device is a long-term investment, seeing as high-quality materials are less subject to damage due to wear and tear and the passage of time.
In this area, like many others, being made in Italy is a good guarantee of quality.
Heights
When looking at the heights which can be reached by the lift, you need to consider:
- The minimum height above the ground
- The maximum height which the lift can reach
A very low minimum height ensures greater stability when loading and unloading the vehicle onto/from the lift, preventing loss of control which can lead to the bike falling over with consequent damage and/or injuries.
The greater the maximum height the lift can reach, on the other hand, the easier it will be for the mechanic to carry out their work; working from a standing position also helps prevent postural and back problems.
In this video you can see a KIRO model BK-SL0018 raising, with movement provided by an electrohydraulic power unit, an aspect we will cover in greater depth in the next section.
Controls and Safety Systems
Both the movement and safety systems of a lift can either be manual or controlled by electrical systems.
When it comes to generating the movement, this can be provided by:
- Pedal pump
- Electrohydraulic power unit
The latter is undoubtedly more functional in a modern workshop, as it requires less user effort and guarantees greater safety.
In terms of the safety systems, these can be:
- Mechanical
- Automatic
The former are engaged manually every time the lift needs to be raised or lowered; the latter are always active, and ensure the vehicle lifting platform is safe at all times.
Ramp and Hatches
Another pair of very important factors in terms of the efficiency and effectiveness of a lift are the presence of front or rear hatches and a ramp – retractable or fixed.
The hatches facilitate the work, preventing the need to load and unload the vehicle from the lift frequently. Keeping the bike fastened to the lift prevents incidents due to falls or loss of control, making the operations faster and more agile.
The presence of a ramp also helps improve the safety aspects, as well as facilitating the loading and unloading operations.
What's more, if the ramp is retractable, this further decreases the footprint of the lifting platform, leaving more space for the mechanic to carry out their work.
We have answered the three main questions you need to ask when choosing a new motorbike vehicle lift.
If you feel you need further support, don't hesitate to contact our experts, who are always on hand to offer free, no-obligation consultancy.
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