one thing i saw during your reveiw was while you were lowering the lift keep an eye on how the air bag just touches the zert fitting when close to being in down position should probably eliminate that fitting or just have it to the outside only !
Not sure where you are seeing that. The airbag isn't near any fitting so I assume it's the video depth of field illusion. I'm assuming you are talking about the 4:50 mark in the video, that pivot point zirK isn't close to the bag at all, even when all the way down.
My 10 yr old HF table lift once again has a leaking cylinder. Pneumatic option also no longer functioning. Have always known about and lusted after a Handy Lift. Currently on sale direct from IA and free shipping combined with your great info has helped me get one, finally.
my new Handy SAM 1200 just came in last week and it is just like this video said, easy to use and move around on furniture dolly which is easy to move around in the 820 square foot shop at my house / lifts the harleys i have easy / locks work great. my small pancake compressor i use for my nail gun powers the Handy SAM 1200 no problem... very happy with this review .... thank you so much. no longer have to work on my knees... or back... $1,190.00 for table lift & $198.00 shipping to San Diego, CA... $179.00 For wheel vice not free... tax $99.25 / $1,666.25 total, my knee damage and back pain i don't need so i paid the price for table i look at it as a investment. this is the same table that the Harley Dealership uses... if good enough for Dealership then i should be good and safe. harbor freight lift was to fimsy and weak for Harleys... just say`n
Just got my SAM 1200. Outstanding video. I waited 3 years to purchase then almost 70 extra days for delivery due to back order. Well worth the wait! Very pleased with mine from purchase, to delivery, to set up.
I bought one about 20 years ago and couldn’t live without one, I had 2 but sold one when I retired I didn’t want to work on motorcycles anymore just wanted to ride and travel, the one I sold had flush mount floor lights in the table, great lift
I have been researching a number of lift tables over the last several months and based on your review, very informative BTW, and other reviews and the fact that these are very common in most professional motorcycle shops I have decided to purchase the SAM 1200. I'm just a DIY guy and it might be a little overkill for my needs At 61 with back and neck issues this will be a great addition to my garage and will make servicing my sport tourer and my track day bike so much easier. The furniture dolly for easy of movement is brilliant hack! Take care and ride safe!
I own this exact lift. I also bought the removable lift side extensions. Adding the side extensions increases the width of the table to four feet wide. I can now service ATV's and riding lawn mowers. The side extensions come with everything you need to add width to your table in a couple of minutes. It also has a stabilizer bar that slides into the stationary part of the floor foot that prevents the table from being flipped on its side. My previous lift did not come with this safety feature. The side extensions also come with two more removable ramps that increases the width of the ramp to the same width of the table with the side extensions installed. I also bought the lift dolly that fits into the pin hanging down on the underside of the right rear of the ramp. I slip the dolly over the pin and I can easily move the lift around my shop, unloaded and fully lowered, of course. I also drilled two 1/2" holes in the lift table top and installed two industrial grade eye bolts, which are used for the motorcycle tie down straps. All this did not come cheap, but neither did my 2020 Ultra Limited, which cost me around $39,000. Handy Industries motorcycle lifts are 100% American made. No cheap ass parts or materials used. There's no way in the world I will trust a Chinese made lift, like the ones sold at Harbor Freight, to lift my $39,000 Harley. They look too flimsy and use lightweight materials. I'm afraid they'll collapse. Take my advice and buy a Handy Industries lift. They are MADE IN USA by Americans. Support American workers and manufacturers. Besides, when was the last time you were in a reputable motorcycle service shop and seen the mechanics using cheap Harbor Freight lifts. You haven't, and neither have I. They all use Handy lifts.
I’m partial to Handy myself, I inherited my first Handy lift from my grandpa and I must say, their quality is above all. I also own the lift from harbor freight, that’s what I had before I got the handy and it doesn’t even come close.
Nice table, can't go wrong with a Handy. My 1000 model Handy has been doing a great job for me for 26 years. It holds my Goldwing fine and I've learned to work around not having the drop out tail.
Been waiting for mine for 8 weeks now. Found out its sitting in wisconson waiting for a truck with a lift gate to deliver it to my house. Had to watch the video to calm my nerves lol.
Good informative review. Looks like a great table. I appreciate you including the so called negatives regarding the table to make everything fair. Built is USA is a plus!
Great video!!!! Clean clear and concise. I am sold! So refreshing to see someone other than "Boben Weaver" doing a home video with a head cam!!!! THANKS FOR POSTING!!!
This is the first I have seen of Handys new lift. I like the higher lift very much. I have used every generation of handy lift since 1969. They have all been great. Enjoy
I have this lift. I bought it about 25 years ago. Make sure you get the front wheel clamp/vice. Also, when the air hose blows out, it sounds like an M 80 going off, and the lift drops fast , so make sure you have the safety engaged and the air pressure reduced. And don’t ever have a chair or something partially under the lift when you have a heavy bike up on it if the air hose blows out, you will wish you hadn’t done that.. before you buy a lift, if you’re gonna put it in your garage at home, keep in mind, you can’t go all the way up if you have a tall windshield on your motorcycle without striking the ceiling, or the garage door, or if you put the lift up with your motorcycle on it and then you open the garage door, you have to make sure you’re not going to be striking the windshield with the garage door.. it saves a lot of work and actually makes working on your motorcycle a pleasure doing little things like changing the oil or changing the brake fluid/clutch fluid, changing the spark plugs, adjusting the valves. I would not be without a lift for my motorcycles. I also use the lift for other projects like woodworking, or whatever I need to work on . it’s great having a workbench you can change how high it is or how low it is..
Not the same old lift but most of what you say still applies. Safety is way better on this model but you should be sure it's auto-engaging. FWIW, my bike is very tall and it doesn't hit my garage ceiling. But my garage is ~9'. Agree, be careful when first using for any obstacles anywhere.
MechSavvy- Very well made video, just what I was looking for. I'm retired now and have the time to start working on my bikes again. I've been researching the available options and had it narrowed down to three choices, one being the Handy. After watching your video and speaking with the customer service folks at Mile-X Equip I just placed my order for the Handy. All USA made, at a reasonable price point for the quality, and by far the most reasonable shipping cost. Thanks!
I’ve had my Handy 1000 for over 27 years and had absolutely no problems. The best accessory for any lift is a Condor Chock. No pinching the rim no trying to hold the bike and crank the vice and no tie downs needed. It also works great for unloading heavy items from your pickup truck.
I tried the condor. And 3 others. I found that if you are going to use one of those type chucks, you will need to bolt this lift to the ground or it will slide when loading. And I had a hell of a time getting it to release when unloading. And, FWIW, of the 4 chocks I tested, the Baxley won and worked better than the Condor for table use.
I have had very little trouble with my lift sliding while putting it on the lift. As far as getting the bike out of the chalk once I have it in the chalk I put a piece of carpet under my center stand and lever the bike upon the stand. Then to get it out of the chalk just grab the frame and drag the front wheel out of the chalk. Next slide the bike as far rearward as you need to and push the bike off the center stand and off the lift. Hope this helps.
Great review I have been looking and studying the handy for a while now. Most of the Harley shops in my area use the handy . That to me says a lot about it also.As far as the floor height when down. You have to realize that a lot of places have these lifts recessed into the floor so that they are floor level . I know this isn’t feesable for a garage but just thought I’d throw that in.
Great review. I've been going back and forth on two different models. One is currently in stock, while the Handy is over a month out. Based off your view I have ordered the Handy and feel it will be worth the wait. Thanks for taking the time to make your review of this table.
Great video. Ordered mine last week. From Mile-x equipment. And just received an email stating back ordered. 6 week wait. Excited and patiently waiting. Pls do an update video showing any new tie down mounts that you’ve done. Thanks.
I bought the old 1000 series about 30 years ago so I didn't have to crawl around on the floor. I have never had a problem with it, I did have to drill new holes to accommodate skinny dirt bike tires.
This looks like a great lift. I picked up a used Handy 1000 when a local bike shop closed for $150.00 in January. I use it for my Goldwing and of course don't use it much. I sure like the features of the new model. Thanks for the review.
I have a 19 HD Street Glide Special and just cleaning it is a pain in the butt. I will be servicing it myself very soon , it just recently went for 1000 mile service at dealer. I think I need that lift. Myrtle Beach S.C.shout out to Mechsavvy Thank you brother!
Hi guys. Thanks for the positive feedback. Apologies, comments were marked to approve and I missed them. As of this writing (3/17/19), the place I found with the best deal was Mile-X. If you get via eBay they are $1190 to a commercial address, or direct from their website $975 + freight. If you can get delivered to about anyone's business address it's cheaper, or you can have it held at the terminal and go pick it up, which is what I did.
Watched the video a couple more times before my wallet finally cracked open! Then quickly booked in an order through one of their distributors up here in Canada!!! Dam can hardly wait... but I do have to wait... peerz they are busy and behind on their orders... a good sign. The distributor told me once they sell one of these they never see the customer again!!! Another good sign! Since I am now over sixty if I get sixty or eighty years use out of it I will be more than happy!!! : )
Where did you buy yours ? I'm in Vancouver and would like to order from a dealer up here but am so close to the border that a quick trip south isn't an issue. How was the lead time ?
I have the older version and have installed four wheels with roller bearings so I can easily move the lift with a large bike on it or empty. I think you'll find that much more useful than the dolly. Had this lift over 25 years and no problems! (knock on wood)
I understand. But the dolly requires no modification, and almost negligible cost to buy or make a furniture dolly if you don't already have one. I made a heavy duty dolly exclusively for my lift use. Adding (attaching) wheels and making them securely lockable is more of a project IMO. Just depends on your needs, and how crafty you are. While you can do it, and I have, I wouldn't recommend the dolly as a solution to move a bike on the lift, at least not regularly.
Wow thanks for a very clear and precise review!! I think I’ve found my first lift !! Thank you for the review and I’m also subscribing to your Chanel, can’t wait to learn more inner workings and how too’s
Well-made video with good points made. I have a SAM model bought 6 or 7 years ago. Totally delighted with it. Well worth the price. You get what you pay for. It looks just like the 1200SAM reviewed here but it doesn't have the rubber inflator bag. Mine has a good-ole, time-proven pneumatic cylinder. I am skeptical of the rubber bag for durability and operating characteristics. However, I know, it may be just fine. This new design is probably cheaper to make and provides more profit potential. The American way?Before I bought the Handy, I closely looked at many other tables. The cheapo, Chinese, Harbor freight type tables were a no-go for me. I tried one out and it seemed unstable even with me sitting on it at 200 lbs (before Christmas holiday season eating). The K&L was very interesting but I did not like the big steel frame that rests on the floor and carries the lifting wheels. I kept kicking my toe on this floor frame. The Handy tables are a much more up-to-date design that is time-proven. When the Handy is up, you have better foot room to get up close and personal with whatever you have on the table.My Handy is first-rate quality. I have no complaints about it. I even like the steel wheels. The plastic wheels of the new model strike me as another move to cheapen the table up, sorta like the rubber inflation bag. Most of these are installed on concrete floors and I have no evidence that my steel wheels are hurting my floor. The increased lift height of the reviewed table wouldn't work well for me. With a tall bike (R1200GS or HD Touring) on my table, the windshields or fairings would hit the ceiling joists of my work shop if I lifted higher than my current Handy Lift.Anyway, Handy is a good company and I am sure they back up this new model with a full warranty. In 10 years If that rubber bag dry rots and cracks or those plastic wheels crack, I am sure Handy will replace them.
Nothing wrong with the air bag, they are very tough and have been used on many applications and simply just work. Cylinders are good too but are prone to leaking, especially the cheap ones.
That rubber bag is borrowed from a semi truck air suspension and can withstand 130 psi and millions of cycles up and down as the truck rolls over 10's of thousand of bumps every day and last for several years and can be replaced for 100 to $150 Look up firestone air springs. In this application the air spring should never wear out and I have no Idea why Handy would mention they test it. Only thing I can think of is they don't want you to know it is a heavy truck parts so you come to them if you ever need a new one. But short of running a ice pick through it I don't know how you ever would. ! have seen 10 of these bags support 140000 Lb semi truck/trailer load day in a day out
i just bought one, SAM1200. i get it shipped 6/6/2019... can't wait... tried of working on my knees ... just tried of sitting on ground. need to stand up to do service/repair work... tired of back hurting the next day... i need this lift... great video. sold me on this... i saw a worn out shop lift for $700 but it got sold fast. so for $400 more i will take new one/ harbor freight $400 lift was junk...
Great. Yeah I felt the same way. Back problems keep me off the ground anymore. But with the lift I was able to do my Ducati's 15k service which would have been $$$ at the shop. I had someone offer to give me their Harbor Freight lift. I went to check one out and it was leaking, the other one I looked at was in good shape but I counted 63 pumps to get it to full height, which wasn't very high. The 1200 was the way to go for me. So far I'm really happy with mine. Order from Mile-X? I wonder if they know about this video.
@@mechsavvy9067 i just paid for a Handy SAM 1200 . ordered from The Carlson Company in Rancho Santa Margarira, Calif 92688 800-222-6199 they had it shipped to San Diego, Calif... can't wait to pick it up on 6/6/19 . that's the date i asked for.
Wow! Sorry I'm late to the party. I really appreciate the straightforward knowledgeable review from someone who has obviously done a lap or 2 around a lift table. I love the lift and the options, now I'm curious to find out at this point if Handy makes one of these bagged-out beauties that now plug into a wall outlet instead of an air compressor. I now have visions of quietly slippin' away, off to the garage for a lil' midnight scooter wrenchin' on the ole Side Peice.
Thanks for the GREAT review. Mine is on the way because of this review. Thank you for taking the time. I have been searching for a good lift for all of my motorcycles.
Thinking about the BOB 1500 or Gruntavore since I have UTV's and a commercial mower. Looks like the BOB is my best bet since it has the rear wheel dropout than I'm not seeing on the Gruntavore. More bucks but I need the side panels. Thx.
I’ve worked with these benches for over 30 years the wheel vice upfront is a piece of crap at Ben’s disc it gets in the way I always put a 2 x 4 bolted to the front as a wheel stop tied bike down with the tiedowns and you’re set to go as far as gold wing rear tires it’s a must it makes it a whole lot easier you can get down there and get the tire out and get it back up in there four wheelers you need the sideboards definite need it makes working on four wheelers a lot easier side-by-side she can get them pick easy well worth the money especially if you’re a professional
Good review. i have an older Harbor Freight lift I've used with bikes up to about 550lbs but now have a Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra that weighs in at around 900 gassed up, so I'm looking at replacing the Harbor Freight. One thing about this Handy table I'm not sure about is the wheel clamp. I'd go with a roll-on wheel chock only because I don't wish to balance the Harley by the handlebar while leaning over the crank the wheel clamp. Other than that, I like it! Thanks.
I tried all the major brand chocks. Had planned on putting one on. I didn't like them. Very difficult to get out once in and because the wheels are up front I found if I was putting the bike on by pushing, the table would slide when the bike went to go into the chock. Under power that's not as much of an issue but you'd want to put some anti slip on the ramp and table as the Handy paint is slippery smooth. I used the 3M branded anti slip stick on pads on mine. Bolting the table rear foot to the ground would cure all that too but I needed mine to be movable.
Great review! The subsection scissors lift with re-configured safety latching looks wonderful. Liked your inclusion of day-to-day operations, such as storage below your bench, a definite boon for DIY mechanics. The table top looks flawed, perhaps rushed to production? Specifically, the ramp seems to have an upper bend reversed, as the ramp connection to the table does not lay as flat as it should? Agree with you on eyebolts, for sure, wondering if any are made in a quick-connect configuration of some type? Last, the larger side holes in the table are located too close to an edge bend, resulting in weakening the table structure somewhat, but mainly just illustrating a disappointment with quality control. I would love to have one, so will keep an eye on the next production run and save up more egg money in the meantime! Thanks very much for your fine review.
The corners on my ramp were curved just a little out of the box (as shown in review). I'd say it was due to welding heat deforming the corner when they welded the underside channels. The ramp is heavy duty. A couple of hard whacks with a soft mallet cured that and they are flat on my table now. Agreed with your assessment, missed mentioning it in the review. But I did tell Handy about it. I do not know if they have implemented anything new or worked to resolve my minor complaints. One user here said her got one and they had but wasn't specific. The larger side holes are made to attach the side extensions and are reinforced with steel tubing on the inside. I have no worries about the strength of those holes, so that particular thing is OK. Cheers
Nice looking table. I wish I had the room for a Table. I have the PitBull Motorcycle Lift which I use for my Goldwing, however, it does not work with my CB1100. Great video review sir!
One of the best most informative product reviews I have ever seen! Clear fast and right to the point quickly!!! What a relief to watch compared to most. A big thanks to you for your time and effort and for doing such a great job. Since I have now boycotted China finding this was made in America made this even better. Being Canadian I am committed to buying only American because I honestly don't know who else can save us from our suicidal Canadian government!!! : ) I can't wait to buy one of these for my bikes.
I haven't ended up doing much to mine, not enough to video. Ended up happy with it as is mostly. I've got a quick-disconnect wheel vice I'm working on, I'll do a video of that when I finish. I also found the ramp quite slippery, not for my motoycycle but for my old feet. When walking around the lift if you step on it you might bust your ass. I added strips of 3M no-skid stair tread in longways stripes that fixed that.
what stops the table from falling over when the bike is lifted 36" off the ground? Where's the horizontal stabilizer bar? Lifts fall over... It CAN happen... and DOES happen.
I haven’t experienced any instability with my relatively tall, heavy bike. But I get your point. My understanding is they provide the stabilizer bar with the side wings kit. The rear “tube” is hollow and that is where the stabilizer bar goes. You can add on yourself or order with the lift if you want one. Personally, I’d probably make one myself from pipe at Home Depot cut you my desired length. But I’m any case it’s ready to accept one if you want one.
Did you find the table top very slippery? I have another brand of table with a smooth top and found the front tire would wash out when I was pushing the bike up on it (KTM 1090R). I ended up having to apply some grip strips to make it safe. Best thing I learned from your video was the tip about the mover's dolly to move the lift around the garage!!! I have been just dragging my lift around and it is a bear to move like that.
Short answer, No I haven’t. Details: Once when I was testing several brands of those roll in wheel chocks I put the bike on the table under power (walking beside it). The particular chock took a good bit of force to roll the front tire into it. Because of that the smooth surface on the lifts ramp did not give enough traction and the real wheel spun just a second. I instantly pulled in the clutch. So if you were loading under power that could be an issue. After going back to the vice finding none of the chocks suited me for differing reasons, I have never had the front wheel slip or slide on the table. And once the front is locked I’ve had occasion to want to push the rear wheel over because it wasn’t quite centered. I find it extremely difficult to slide the rear tire left or right. Impossible actually for me. Sticks like glue. That’s with my multistrada, about 500 lbs. Michelin PR5 tires.
Great review, thanks. Don’t shame me for asking…is the a way to lower on a dolly like you demonstrated with the bike still on the table? I’d like to mov the lift out of the way to pull my car back in. I’d obviously not leave it resting on the dolly. Perhaps dolly casters on each corner of the lift? I’m researching lifts to buy right now and have pretty much decided the extra money spent on a Handy will be worth it when I go to sell it 10-15 years from now when I stop riding. Make that 20 years from now!
Depends on the weight distribution of the loaded bike. Easy to try, just lower bike onto lift and see if the table wants to tilt or not. For your purpose I think it would be pretty easy to make a dolly that had the wheels located far enough fore or aft to handle it. I'd make them wide enough to not tip left-right too. If you garage if flat, shouldn't be a problem.
Scott, excellent review. I noticed you said you would include links for sites selling the lift...did you decide against it? I liked your mobility hack. Thanks for the review. (Update) I did find your info in the comments. Perhaps you could include the info in your video description.
I'd like to thank you for possibly THE best product review on RUclips. Seriously, you should be giving seminars!
one thing i saw during your reveiw was while you were lowering the lift keep an eye on how the air bag just touches the zert fitting when close to being in down position should probably eliminate that fitting or just have it to the outside only !
Not sure where you are seeing that. The airbag isn't near any fitting so I assume it's the video depth of field illusion. I'm assuming you are talking about the 4:50 mark in the video, that pivot point zirK isn't close to the bag at all, even when all the way down.
My 10 yr old HF table lift once again has a leaking cylinder. Pneumatic option also no longer functioning. Have always known about and lusted after a Handy Lift. Currently on sale direct from IA and free shipping combined with your great info has helped me get one, finally.
my new Handy SAM 1200 just came in last week and it is just like this video said, easy to use and move around on furniture dolly which is easy to move around in the 820 square foot shop at my house / lifts the harleys i have easy / locks work great. my small pancake compressor i use for my nail gun powers the Handy SAM 1200 no problem... very happy with this review .... thank you so much. no longer have to work on my knees... or back... $1,190.00 for table lift & $198.00 shipping to San Diego, CA... $179.00 For wheel vice not free... tax $99.25 / $1,666.25 total, my knee damage and back pain i don't need so i paid the price for table i look at it as a investment. this is the same table that the Harley Dealership uses... if good enough for Dealership then i should be good and safe. harbor freight lift was to fimsy and weak for Harleys... just say`n
Just got my SAM 1200. Outstanding video. I waited 3 years to purchase then almost 70 extra days for delivery due to back order. Well worth the wait! Very pleased with mine from purchase, to delivery, to set up.
I bought a Handy Lift 20 years ago. Best thing I ever bought!!!
I bought one about 20 years ago and couldn’t live without one, I had 2 but sold one when I retired I didn’t want to work on motorcycles anymore just wanted to ride and travel, the one I sold had flush mount floor lights in the table, great lift
I have been researching a number of lift tables over the last several months and based on your review, very informative BTW, and other reviews and the fact that these are very common in most professional motorcycle shops I have decided to purchase the SAM 1200. I'm just a DIY guy and it might be a little overkill for my needs At 61 with back and neck issues this will be a great addition to my garage and will make servicing my sport tourer and my track day bike so much easier. The furniture dolly for easy of movement is brilliant hack!
Take care and ride safe!
I own this exact lift. I also bought the removable lift side extensions. Adding the side extensions increases the width of the table to four feet wide. I can now service ATV's and riding lawn mowers. The side extensions come with everything you need to add width to your table in a couple of minutes. It also has a stabilizer bar that slides into the stationary part of the floor foot that prevents the table from being flipped on its side. My previous lift did not come with this safety feature. The side extensions also come with two more removable ramps that increases the width of the ramp to the same width of the table with the side extensions installed. I also bought the lift dolly that fits into the pin hanging down on the underside of the right rear of the ramp. I slip the dolly over the pin and I can easily move the lift around my shop, unloaded and fully lowered, of course. I also drilled two 1/2" holes in the lift table top and installed two industrial grade eye bolts, which are used for the motorcycle tie down straps. All this did not come cheap, but neither did my 2020 Ultra Limited, which cost me around $39,000. Handy Industries motorcycle lifts are 100% American made. No cheap ass parts or materials used. There's no way in the world I will trust a Chinese made lift, like the ones sold at Harbor Freight, to lift my $39,000 Harley. They look too flimsy and use lightweight materials. I'm afraid they'll collapse. Take my advice and buy a Handy Industries lift. They are MADE IN USA by Americans. Support American workers and manufacturers. Besides, when was the last time you were in a reputable motorcycle service shop and seen the mechanics using cheap Harbor Freight lifts. You haven't, and neither have I. They all use Handy lifts.
The furniture (lift?) dolly idea.. mind blown! Great review
Must say a very concise review and very practical and matter of fact with no appearance of bias.... thank you very much
I have a smaller shop and seeing how I can move this table around the shop, will definitely consider this table. Thanks for a great review.
I’m partial to Handy myself, I inherited my first Handy lift from my grandpa and I must say, their quality is above all. I also own the lift from harbor freight, that’s what I had before I got the handy and it doesn’t even come close.
Nice table, can't go wrong with a Handy. My 1000 model Handy has been doing a great job for me for 26 years. It holds my Goldwing fine and I've learned to work around not having the drop out tail.
Been waiting for mine for 8 weeks now. Found out its sitting in wisconson waiting for a truck with a lift gate to deliver it to my house. Had to watch the video to calm my nerves lol.
Good informative review. Looks like a great table. I appreciate you including the so called negatives regarding the table to make everything fair. Built is USA is a plus!
Great video!!!! Clean clear and concise. I am sold! So refreshing to see someone other than "Boben Weaver" doing a home video with a head cam!!!! THANKS FOR POSTING!!!
This is the first I have seen of Handys new lift. I like the higher lift very much. I have used every generation of handy lift since 1969. They have all been great. Enjoy
Buying this model because of your GREAT review and summery… THANK YOU!
I have this lift. I bought it about 25 years ago. Make sure you get the front wheel clamp/vice. Also, when the air hose blows out, it sounds like an M 80 going off, and the lift drops fast , so make sure you have the safety engaged and the air pressure reduced. And don’t ever have a chair or something partially under the lift when you have a heavy bike up on it if the air hose blows out, you will wish you hadn’t done that..
before you buy a lift, if you’re gonna put it in your garage at home, keep in mind, you can’t go all the way up if you have a tall windshield on your motorcycle without striking the ceiling, or the garage door, or if you put the lift up with your motorcycle on it and then you open the garage door, you have to make sure you’re not going to be striking the windshield with the garage door..
it saves a lot of work and actually makes working on your motorcycle a pleasure doing little things like changing the oil or changing the brake fluid/clutch fluid, changing the spark plugs, adjusting the valves. I would not be without a lift for my motorcycles. I also use the lift for other projects like woodworking, or whatever I need to work on . it’s great having a workbench you can change how high it is or how low it is..
Not the same old lift but most of what you say still applies. Safety is way better on this model but you should be sure it's auto-engaging. FWIW, my bike is very tall and it doesn't hit my garage ceiling. But my garage is ~9'. Agree, be careful when first using for any obstacles anywhere.
MechSavvy- Very well made video, just what I was looking for. I'm retired now and have the time to start working on my bikes again. I've been researching the available options and had it narrowed down to three choices, one being the Handy. After watching your video and speaking with the customer service folks at Mile-X Equip I just placed my order for the Handy. All USA made, at a reasonable price point for the quality, and by far the most reasonable shipping cost. Thanks!
This had to be the most comprehensive review I have ever seen. Appreciate your effort and Thank you.
Thanks. I cut some out to make it shorter ;)
I’ve had my Handy 1000 for over 27 years and had absolutely no problems. The best accessory for any lift is a Condor Chock. No pinching the rim no trying to hold the bike and crank the vice and no tie downs needed. It also works great for unloading heavy items from your pickup truck.
I tried the condor. And 3 others. I found that if you are going to use one of those type chucks, you will need to bolt this lift to the ground or it will slide when loading. And I had a hell of a time getting it to release when unloading. And, FWIW, of the 4 chocks I tested, the Baxley won and worked better than the Condor for table use.
I have had very little trouble with my lift sliding while putting it on the lift. As far as getting the bike out of the chalk once I have it in the chalk I put a piece of carpet under my center stand and lever the bike upon the stand. Then to get it out of the chalk just grab the frame and drag the front wheel out of the chalk. Next slide the bike as far rearward as you need to and push the bike off the center stand and off the lift. Hope this helps.
I think i twas the wheels in front on this model made it roll when I used the chock. That was pushing the bike, not under it' sown power.
Awesome straight forward review! Covered all relevant areas of concern! Looks like a great American made product. Thanks for the review.
Great review
I have been looking and studying the handy for a while now. Most of the Harley shops in my area use the handy . That to me says a lot about it also.As far as the floor height when down. You have to realize that a lot of places have these lifts recessed into the floor so that they are floor level . I know this isn’t feesable for a garage but just thought I’d throw that in.
Thanks for the assistance with my lift with what finally turned out to be a pinched air hose!
Great review. I've been going back and forth on two different models. One is currently in stock, while the Handy is over a month out. Based off your view I have ordered the Handy and feel it will be worth the wait. Thanks for taking the time to make your review of this table.
Sold !!!! I thank you , cannot wait for this table!!!
Great video. Ordered mine last week. From Mile-x equipment. And just received an email stating back ordered. 6 week wait. Excited and patiently waiting. Pls do an update video showing any new tie down mounts that you’ve done. Thanks.
Bought one back in January, lifts my limited with no problems, I have a very small compressor and it works great,
I bought the old 1000 series about 30 years ago so I didn't have to crawl around on the floor. I have never had a problem with it, I did have to drill new holes to accommodate skinny dirt bike tires.
This looks like a great lift. I picked up a used Handy 1000 when a local bike shop closed for $150.00 in January. I use it for my Goldwing and of course don't use it much. I sure like the features of the new model. Thanks for the review.
I have a 19 HD Street Glide Special and just cleaning it is a pain in the butt. I will be servicing it myself very soon , it just recently went for 1000 mile service at dealer. I think I need that lift. Myrtle Beach S.C.shout out to Mechsavvy Thank you brother!
This review is the best I've ever seen. Very thorough!
Edit, watched the entire video and saw you have the stack height measured. Thanks for the thorough review!
Handy should pay you for this incredible review.
Hi guys. Thanks for the positive feedback. Apologies, comments were marked to approve and I missed them. As of this writing (3/17/19), the place I found with the best deal was Mile-X. If you get via eBay they are $1190 to a commercial address, or direct from their website $975 + freight. If you can get delivered to about anyone's business address it's cheaper, or you can have it held at the terminal and go pick it up, which is what I did.
Watched the video a couple more times before my wallet finally cracked open! Then quickly booked in an order through one of their distributors up here in Canada!!! Dam can hardly wait... but I do have to wait... peerz they are busy and behind on their orders... a good sign. The distributor told me once they sell one of these they never see the customer again!!! Another good sign! Since I am now over sixty if I get sixty or eighty years use out of it I will be more than happy!!! : )
Where did you buy yours ? I'm in Vancouver and would like to order from a dealer up here but am so close to the border that a quick trip south isn't an issue. How was the lead time ?
Great review! That dolly trick is a deal maker for me...that was my biggest concern, moving it in my garage. Thanks!
I have the older version and have installed four wheels with roller bearings so I can easily move the lift with a large bike on it or empty. I think you'll find that much more useful than the dolly. Had this lift over 25 years and no problems! (knock on wood)
I understand. But the dolly requires no modification, and almost negligible cost to buy or make a furniture dolly if you don't already have one. I made a heavy duty dolly exclusively for my lift use. Adding (attaching) wheels and making them securely lockable is more of a project IMO. Just depends on your needs, and how crafty you are. While you can do it, and I have, I wouldn't recommend the dolly as a solution to move a bike on the lift, at least not regularly.
Thank you !!! Very well done n very informative !!! The furniture dolly was genius !!! I will be purchasing a Handy Lift !!
Thanks for putting this video together. We appreciate your efforts.
Jon Schmed my pleasure. Figure if I wanted to know others would, too.
Excellent, just no nonsense review. Thank you sir!
This is how a review should be done! Thank you sir!
Handy used the air spring set years ago. I used one for a few years. Liked it better than the ram.
Jamey Patterson Nice. Haven’t seen that model.
Wow thanks for a very clear and precise review!! I think I’ve found my first lift !! Thank you for the review and I’m also subscribing to your Chanel, can’t wait to learn more inner workings and how too’s
Good review. Informative , detailed and to the point! The thickness of the top seems more like 11 gauge (.120” nominal) though.
Well-made video with good points made. I have a SAM model bought 6 or 7 years ago. Totally delighted with it. Well worth the price. You get what you pay for. It looks just like the 1200SAM reviewed here but it doesn't have the rubber inflator bag. Mine has a good-ole, time-proven pneumatic cylinder. I am skeptical of the rubber bag for durability and operating characteristics. However, I know, it may be just fine. This new design is probably cheaper to make and provides more profit potential. The American way?Before I bought the Handy, I closely looked at many other tables. The cheapo, Chinese, Harbor freight type tables were a no-go for me. I tried one out and it seemed unstable even with me sitting on it at 200 lbs (before Christmas holiday season eating). The K&L was very interesting but I did not like the big steel frame that rests on the floor and carries the lifting wheels. I kept kicking my toe on this floor frame. The Handy tables are a much more up-to-date design that is time-proven. When the Handy is up, you have better foot room to get up close and personal with whatever you have on the table.My Handy is first-rate quality. I have no complaints about it. I even like the steel wheels. The plastic wheels of the new model strike me as another move to cheapen the table up, sorta like the rubber inflation bag. Most of these are installed on concrete floors and I have no evidence that my steel wheels are hurting my floor. The increased lift height of the reviewed table wouldn't work well for me. With a tall bike (R1200GS or HD Touring) on my table, the windshields or fairings would hit the ceiling joists of my work shop if I lifted higher than my current Handy Lift.Anyway, Handy is a good company and I am sure they back up this new model with a full warranty. In 10 years If that rubber bag dry rots and cracks or those plastic wheels crack, I am sure Handy will replace them.
Nothing wrong with the air bag, they are very tough and have been used on many applications and simply just work. Cylinders are good too but are prone to leaking, especially the cheap ones.
That rubber bag is borrowed from a semi truck air suspension and can withstand 130 psi and millions of cycles up and down as the truck rolls over 10's of thousand of bumps every day and last for several years and can be replaced for 100 to $150 Look up firestone air springs. In this application the air spring should never wear out and I have no Idea why Handy would mention they test it. Only thing I can think of is they don't want you to know it is a heavy truck parts so you come to them if you ever need a new one. But short of running a ice pick through it I don't know how you ever would. ! have seen 10 of these bags support 140000 Lb semi truck/trailer load day in a day out
Fantastic review… learned so much, and greatly informed my future lift purchase. Thanks!
Very informative...thanks. When you rolled it away on the cart....sold.
i just bought one, SAM1200. i get it shipped 6/6/2019... can't wait... tried of working on my knees ... just tried of sitting on ground. need to stand up to do service/repair work... tired of back hurting the next day... i need this lift... great video. sold me on this...
i saw a worn out shop lift for $700 but it got sold fast. so for $400 more i will take new one/ harbor freight $400 lift was junk...
Great. Yeah I felt the same way. Back problems keep me off the ground anymore. But with the lift I was able to do my Ducati's 15k service which would have been $$$ at the shop. I had someone offer to give me their Harbor Freight lift. I went to check one out and it was leaking, the other one I looked at was in good shape but I counted 63 pumps to get it to full height, which wasn't very high. The 1200 was the way to go for me. So far I'm really happy with mine. Order from Mile-X? I wonder if they know about this video.
@@mechsavvy9067 i just paid for a Handy SAM 1200 . ordered from The Carlson Company in Rancho Santa Margarira, Calif 92688 800-222-6199 they had it shipped to San Diego, Calif... can't wait to pick it up on 6/6/19 . that's the date i asked for.
Great review. Just what I needed to make my decision. I'm ordering one today.
I bought one new in 2006 and prefer the hydraulic version. Never had any problems with it.
EXCELLENT REVIEW!!! Love how you are able to move it around!
Very thorough video, I will be buying my own, thanks for the info!
Welcome, glad it was helpful
TY ! Great review ! I appreciated your meticulous and detailed approach
Great review, thanks. I plan on purchasing this next week, with a little bit of help from your review.
Great review. Thank you for your great attention to detail and for sharing your knowledge.
Excellent review, well thought out and executed.
Excellent review sir! You are easy to follow and understand!
Great review. I'm about to buy a lift table and you provided a ton of great information for me to ponder. Thanks again!
Wow! Sorry I'm late to the party. I really appreciate the straightforward knowledgeable review from someone who has obviously done a lap or 2 around a lift table. I love the lift and the options, now I'm curious to find out at this point if Handy makes one of these bagged-out beauties that now plug into a wall outlet instead of an air compressor. I now have visions of quietly slippin' away, off to the garage for a lil' midnight scooter wrenchin' on the ole Side Peice.
Not sure about their other models. I think there is a hydraulic version, it's pump runs on 110, check their website.
Thanks for the GREAT review. Mine is on the way because of this review. Thank you for taking the time. I have been searching for a good lift for all of my motorcycles.
Killer review. I'm sold. I like the idea of the bags.
Great review! Ecstatic to learn that it's made in the USA1
Thank you for the review! I got mine ordered!
Thinking about the BOB 1500 or Gruntavore since I have UTV's and a commercial mower. Looks like the BOB is my best bet since it has the rear wheel dropout than I'm not seeing on the Gruntavore. More bucks but I need the side panels. Thx.
Great video, very thorough!
Thanks for posting
Great looking lift!!! Good review..
my handy Sam arrives tomorrow this is a great review thank you ps i hope i can get it out of my truck
It come today so excited it’s very nice
Good review! Thank you! I think I need one! USA!
Outstanding Review. Sold!
I’ve worked with these benches for over 30 years the wheel vice upfront is a piece of crap at Ben’s disc it gets in the way I always put a 2 x 4 bolted to the front as a wheel stop tied bike down with the tiedowns and you’re set to go as far as gold wing rear tires it’s a must it makes it a whole lot easier you can get down there and get the tire out and get it back up in there four wheelers you need the sideboards definite need it makes working on four wheelers a lot easier side-by-side she can get them pick easy well worth the money especially if you’re a professional
loved the video. you do a great job. will look for more
Excellent review - thank you very much for making and posting!
Good review. i have an older Harbor Freight lift I've used with bikes up to about 550lbs but now have a Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra that weighs in at around 900 gassed up, so I'm looking at replacing the Harbor Freight. One thing about this Handy table I'm not sure about is the wheel clamp. I'd go with a roll-on wheel chock only because I don't wish to balance the Harley by the handlebar while leaning over the crank the wheel clamp. Other than that, I like it! Thanks.
I tried all the major brand chocks. Had planned on putting one on. I didn't like them. Very difficult to get out once in and because the wheels are up front I found if I was putting the bike on by pushing, the table would slide when the bike went to go into the chock. Under power that's not as much of an issue but you'd want to put some anti slip on the ramp and table as the Handy paint is slippery smooth. I used the 3M branded anti slip stick on pads on mine. Bolting the table rear foot to the ground would cure all that too but I needed mine to be movable.
Great review! The subsection scissors lift with re-configured safety latching looks wonderful. Liked your inclusion of day-to-day operations, such as storage below your bench, a definite boon for DIY mechanics. The table top looks flawed, perhaps rushed to production? Specifically, the ramp seems to have an upper bend reversed, as the ramp connection to the table does not lay as flat as it should? Agree with you on eyebolts, for sure, wondering if any are made in a quick-connect configuration of some type? Last, the larger side holes in the table are located too close to an edge bend, resulting in weakening the table structure somewhat, but mainly just illustrating a disappointment with quality control. I would love to have one, so will keep an eye on the next production run and save up more egg money in the meantime! Thanks very much for your fine review.
The corners on my ramp were curved just a little out of the box (as shown in review). I'd say it was due to welding heat deforming the corner when they welded the underside channels. The ramp is heavy duty. A couple of hard whacks with a soft mallet cured that and they are flat on my table now. Agreed with your assessment, missed mentioning it in the review. But I did tell Handy about it. I do not know if they have implemented anything new or worked to resolve my minor complaints. One user here said her got one and they had but wasn't specific. The larger side holes are made to attach the side extensions and are reinforced with steel tubing on the inside. I have no worries about the strength of those holes, so that particular thing is OK. Cheers
Great review. Quick & to the point.
I think we've found our winner for my new garage
Nice looking table. I wish I had the room for a Table. I have the PitBull Motorcycle Lift which I use for my Goldwing, however, it does not work with my CB1100.
Great video review sir!
Got mine delivered today!!!! Excellent quality
One of the best most informative product reviews I have ever seen! Clear fast and right to the point quickly!!! What a relief to watch compared to most. A big thanks to you for your time and effort and for doing such a great job. Since I have now boycotted China finding this was made in America made this even better. Being Canadian I am committed to buying only American because I honestly don't know who else can save us from our suicidal Canadian government!!! : ) I can't wait to buy one of these for my bikes.
This review is brilliant! thank you.
Thank you for your sage advice!
Very well done, I think I'll get me one of these.
Can you post a follow-up video on the accessories you have added/ made since when you first bought your lift. Thank you.
I haven't ended up doing much to mine, not enough to video. Ended up happy with it as is mostly. I've got a quick-disconnect wheel vice I'm working on, I'll do a video of that when I finish. I also found the ramp quite slippery, not for my motoycycle but for my old feet. When walking around the lift if you step on it you might bust your ass. I added strips of 3M no-skid stair tread in longways stripes that fixed that.
I have the older version and now I wished for newer version... really kwel!! Furniture dolly?? YEAH!!
Nice, my harbor freight hydraulic sprung a leak after a year, looking for ideas to fix or convert it
Very professional review. Thanks!
I love your reviews thanks!
Very nice! Good job on the review.
what stops the table from falling over when the bike is lifted 36" off the ground? Where's the horizontal stabilizer bar? Lifts fall over... It CAN happen... and DOES happen.
I haven’t experienced any instability with my relatively tall, heavy bike. But I get your point. My understanding is they provide the stabilizer bar with the side wings kit. The rear “tube” is hollow and that is where the stabilizer bar goes. You can add on yourself or order with the lift if you want one. Personally, I’d probably make one myself from pipe at Home Depot cut you my desired length. But I’m any case it’s ready to accept one if you want one.
@@mechsavvy9067 DEFINITELY get that bar installed. You'll trip over it a couple of times but then you'll get used to it.
Ride safe.
Your a Genius!!! Love your review!!!!
Did you find the table top very slippery? I have another brand of table with a smooth top and found the front tire would wash out when I was pushing the bike up on it (KTM 1090R). I ended up having to apply some grip strips to make it safe. Best thing I learned from your video was the tip about the mover's dolly to move the lift around the garage!!! I have been just dragging my lift around and it is a bear to move like that.
Short answer, No I haven’t. Details: Once when I was testing several brands of those roll in wheel chocks I put the bike on the table under power (walking beside it). The particular chock took a good bit of force to roll the front tire into it. Because of that the smooth surface on the lifts ramp did not give enough traction and the real wheel spun just a second. I instantly pulled in the clutch. So if you were loading under power that could be an issue. After going back to the vice finding none of the chocks suited me for differing reasons, I have never had the front wheel slip or slide on the table. And once the front is locked I’ve had occasion to want to push the rear wheel over because it wasn’t quite centered. I find it extremely difficult to slide the rear tire left or right. Impossible actually for me. Sticks like glue. That’s with my multistrada, about 500 lbs. Michelin PR5 tires.
Great review, thanks. Don’t shame me for asking…is the a way to lower on a dolly like you demonstrated with the bike still on the table? I’d like to mov the lift out of the way to pull my car back in. I’d obviously not leave it resting on the dolly. Perhaps dolly casters on each corner of the lift? I’m researching lifts to buy right now and have pretty much decided the extra money spent on a Handy will be worth it when I go to sell it 10-15 years from now when I stop riding. Make that 20 years from now!
Depends on the weight distribution of the loaded bike. Easy to try, just lower bike onto lift and see if the table wants to tilt or not. For your purpose I think it would be pretty easy to make a dolly that had the wheels located far enough fore or aft to handle it. I'd make them wide enough to not tip left-right too. If you garage if flat, shouldn't be a problem.
Thank you for a great review. I have a cheap one and would love to upgrade to this someday.
Excellent review, thank you for taking your time (Y)
Fantastic review. Thanks for that.
Good professional review thanks MechSavvy
Scott, excellent review. I noticed you said you would include links for sites selling the lift...did you decide against it? I liked your mobility hack. Thanks for the review.
(Update) I did find your info in the comments. Perhaps you could include the info in your video description.
Exactly what I just said! Aggravating scrolling through comments to look for it. Made an otherwise good review crappy!
Good Job. Thank you.
How’s the build quality of the new one compared to the older model?
As good or better from the old one sitting next to it.