06-02-2016, 06:04 PM
I've never thought about riding my bikes up on to the lift. If I were to do so, I"m sure that I would have visions of Evel Knievel running through my mind — you know how he would ride up to the very top of the ramp and then stop to look down over whatever he was going to be jumping over.
Of course in my case, I'd be staring at a bunch of oil containers, cans of chain lube, and assorted bike parts on the shelves lining the garage wall. Not quite such a glamorous image as a bunch of cars or the fountains at Caesers Palace, but then I usually manage to survive my wrenching episodes without breaking half of the bones in my body, so it's a good trade-off.
In all seriousness, I've only ever pushed the bike up on to the lift. I simply walk alongside the bike and get up enough speed to easily coast up the little ramp onto the lift table itself. Then I roll it right into the wheel vise. I think the key for me is having the wheel vise. While my lift isn't from Harbor Freight, I believe that some HF units come with a vice. If not, you can purchase them separately and install them yourself. I leave the vise open just enough to easily fit the width of the front tire. Once I've rolled the bike into the vise, I can easily balance it with one hand while I tighten the vise up with the other hand. This has worked out well for me.
Of course in my case, I'd be staring at a bunch of oil containers, cans of chain lube, and assorted bike parts on the shelves lining the garage wall. Not quite such a glamorous image as a bunch of cars or the fountains at Caesers Palace, but then I usually manage to survive my wrenching episodes without breaking half of the bones in my body, so it's a good trade-off.
In all seriousness, I've only ever pushed the bike up on to the lift. I simply walk alongside the bike and get up enough speed to easily coast up the little ramp onto the lift table itself. Then I roll it right into the wheel vise. I think the key for me is having the wheel vise. While my lift isn't from Harbor Freight, I believe that some HF units come with a vice. If not, you can purchase them separately and install them yourself. I leave the vise open just enough to easily fit the width of the front tire. Once I've rolled the bike into the vise, I can easily balance it with one hand while I tighten the vise up with the other hand. This has worked out well for me.