Handy Lift

[Danger4u2]

I've looked at many motorcycle lifts in my time and there are not many that beat the Handy Lift brand.  They are well built and you pay for what you get.  I've been to cheap to drop the real cash for one.  I've been wanting a Handy for 20 years and I've been watching Craigslist for a long time to find one.  Most of the lifts are China copies or Handy's from a closing motorcycle shop that have many years of use/abuse.  I finely found a good one at more than a fair price.  I e- mailed the guy and it took him 2 days to get back to me. 
We made arrangements to look at the unit, gave me the directions and code for the gated community.  I told him I would call after work to confirm I was headed his way.  When I called and said this was David he acted like he had no clue.  It turned out he ran the ad for the owner/friend that wasn't very computer savvy.  Now I think this might be some kind of a scam.  The price in the ad was $795.  I don't think the guy knew what price was posted because when I said does cash save me any money?  He said "I can go $650 that's less than half of what I paid for it.  Score!  To buy the unit today runs about $1650 with freight.  He said he bought it 3 years ago to build a bike.  Built the bike and never used it again, been in the way ever since.
After using it this weekend I should have dropped the cash 20 years ago.

[93KX5Rider]

Wow that thing looks awesome for building bikes on. I'm glad it didn't turn out to be a scam!

[DoldGuy]

Danger,

VERY Nice, I have been wanting a Nice Lift for years now, and can not seem to part with the $$$ . The more the days go by, I am constantly reminded that I need to invest in one as I am not as flexible as in the past and any time spent in a crouched position I spend more effort getting up than performed on the bike. I have tried searching the locals for an affordable stand but no luck. One of the shops here has a Snap On stand (I believe MFG by Dominator?) and it is Electric Hyraulic to any Height, and he is trying to get me to invest in one of them. Wished I could run across a Jewel like you did. ENJOY!!!

[Motorrad]

Think this one is similar?

Should I be driving up there now to get it??

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/mcy/1151320760.html

[Danger4u2]

Think this one is similar?

Should I be driving up there now to get it??

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/mcy/1151320760.html

Mine is electric, the air operated goes up and down faster.
I would have them send pictures.  I cruised over to look at my lift with my street bike.  I looked at many lifts and most were worn out or worn more than I wanted to deal with.  Bike gets 38 mpg and the truck gets 16 mpg.  If I go look at something and it's a waste of time because they did not disclose a problem, I would rather waste gas at 38 mpg instead of 16 mpg.  If it's worth getting it's not a problem to buzz home and get the truck.  You could use that as a bargaining chip,  "I know you want $900 if you'll go $850 I'll buzz home and get my truck and come back."  I asked for the model number and did a comparison on the web site.  People will inflate the "new price" to make their "used price" look better.  Just keep in mind you have the power (money).  Be prepared to walk away.  It's a buyers market.  They need to sell more than you need to buy.  Be sure they have your phone number.  They may think it's worth X many dollars and you give a counter offer that they don't accept.  After a week or 2 with no calls on their item they may change their mind.

http://www.handyindustries.com/shop/subdepartment_view.asp?D=1&S=21

[Danger4u2]

Danger,

VERY Nice, I have been wanting a Nice Lift for years now, and can not seem to part with the $$$ . The more the days go by, I am constantly reminded that I need to invest in one as I am not as flexible as in the past and any time spent in a crouched position I spend more effort getting up than performed on the bike. I have tried searching the locals for an affordable stand but no luck. One of the shops here has a Snap On stand (I believe MFG by Dominator?) and it is Electric Hyraulic to any Height, and he is trying to get me to invest in one of them. Wished I could run across a Jewel like you did. ENJOY!!!

I watched Craigslist every day, early in the morning and lunch time.  With my messed up knee it's gotten hard for me to work on items on the ground.  Over the past few years I called on 9 lifts that were high on the price.  2 others were near what I would be willing to pay so I went to look at them, one was kind of banged up and the other was real worn.  So, of the 12 lifts I was interested in, one turned out to be a keeper.

[Good]

anyone ever build one?  I built a rack for my KX5 for the back of my Jeep that using a small winch raises and lowers.  I'd like to try my hand at a full scale lift.  Maybe I will soon.

[fluffy]

i bought my lift from direct lift. i think it cost 600.00. lifts everything from my pw50 to my police special. check out the web site direct lift.

[barryadam]

Congratulations, Danger on your purchase.
I bought one of those closing-the-shop units back in the mid-90's.  It was scraped and rusted.  Took it all apart and had it blasted and coated with an offshore platform epoxy coating that we were using for some North Sea equipment at the time.  Dead ringer for the original Handy "machinery grey", but REALLY tough.  Bought a bunch of new seals, bearings, and parts from Handy (including all the original stickers) and made it like a new unit.
I would recommend one to every bike owner out there.  It's the best.  You will wonder how you ever did stuff without it.  It's so sturdy and stable, you can sit on a street bike when it is raised up on the table, but I would NOT recommend that.

[maddoggy]

i just got a new "northern tool" catalog. they have handy lifts in the catalog, 1000 lb. air lift -$899.99 and 1500 lb. air lift -$1469.99 they have side extensions available too. they do look handy indeed!

[barryadam]

I use it for EVERYTHING.

This year, I replaced the hot water tank in my garage.  It is mounted up about 18" off the garage floor on a stand that also holds the furnace.
Yep.
I shimmied that old beast tank staight across the stand onto the Handy Lift (at the same height as the heater stand).  Lowered it down and put the new tank up using the same lift method.
Men Very Easily Make All Jobs Simple.....or something planetary like that.

It doesn't take up any space in the garage, because there is always a bike parked on it.  It takes up little more space than the bike alone would.

Everyone should have one.