My Bike Lift: a 36″ Single RAM Pedestal Deck
Over the years, starting 25 years ago, I used a simple box system, a flat-deck lift, and a ramp for motor removals, and a regular hydraulic motorcycle deck lift for usual work. I still use the boxes for motor replacements or removals. A very versatile system for total dismantle.
At 65 years my knees started really bothering me. At 68 my back started in to join my knees in annoying me. At 69 I realized the 900lb bike was starting to worry me, when I could be handling $30,000+ of someone else’s equipment. When it is in my hands, I’m responsible. Time to build a better widget: a 36” extension floor-level pedestal lift.
Summer of 2022 I sat down, and with my little drafting program I spent four days designing, drafting, refining, re-drafting, doing take-offs, getting the thoughts reviewed with a couple of downright excellent fabricators. Then set the take-offs to finals on a spread-sheet: to calculate exactly what was needed for every little bit. With a few really novel additions to the typical install.
Bought the metal, wood and concrete, re-bar,concrete blade and ready-rod, plumbing, ABS pipe, controller and pump, added some wiring to handle a good size welder: and went to work. 3 hours cutting the metal to take-off specs. Started the floor-work.
Measured 4 times, with all potential required offsets plugged into the equations: and cut the hole for the concrete-framing to drop in and onto, including the offset from the framing to the dirt around the framing: then dug a nice square hole 33” square down to 55” from ground level with a short handle spade.
Another day to hand-mix and place the concrete, while embedding the RAM base into it.
One day for my welder-buddy to weld it all up and get it installed (over two days, ½ day each).
Then get the concrete laid in around the frame and the piping run-out finished off. Another 3 hours to mount the pump, feed the plumbing, attach the piping to the ram and get the plumbing into the controls, then mount the controls to the pump. Wire an electrical feed in for the pump.
It was one of the best things I’ve ever done around my shop area. I’m still kicking myself for not having done it 20 years or more ago. It is the cat’s meow.
I drive a “Wing” in centred over the plate, lift it until the deck-plate is securing the bike. I then typically use two shorted racket-ties from spring-snap bolt hooks and eye-bolts on the base to over the top driver foot pegs, snugged down. (I have a variety of tie-downs ready for pretty much any bike, but it is always a Goldwing, Std, A, B BD or Valkyrie of some year that sitting on the pedestal.)
From driving on to having the bike secured is about 4 minutes. And it IS secure. Drive it in, spin it on the ram, drive it out. One large lazy-Susan. No more leaning, kneeling, back-breaking: lift the bike to where you want it.
I then designed a centre-stand plate that drop-hooks into the deck, and a rest for the engine so that I can lift it and access all of the undercarriage.
It cost about $2k to do from start to finish, including hiring the fabricator. The end result is way better than the typical 7-8 foot flat-deck that takes up SO much space, is awkward, dangerous, and can’t be easily moved or stored.
This just drops into the floor, level with it. And I can change the tires on my Camry with it if I want to!
Here’s some pictures of that endeavour: as it was in fabrication, and after the fact. If you are interested in building one of these, or are building a new garage and would like to have one like it installed, I have the drawings and the take-offs which include all material requirements to have this built and put into use.
There is no way on earth I would ever again build a garage without installing one of these as a prerequisite. The architects would love this one.
Mar 5, 2025 — Yesterday morning I drove a GL1800 on to the deck, started at the fairing and front fender. Late afternoon, this was the result. Efficiency. The engine didn’t move. Everything including the frame was removed, leaving the motor sitting there.
