Motorcycle Lifts

For full-dress Harley-Davidsons (Road Glide, Street Glide, Ultra Limited, Road King), you need a 1,200 lb capacity lift. These bikes curb at 800-950 lb depending on options and gear, and you want 15-20% safety margin. The AMGO MC-1200 or MC-1200P are the right picks.

For lighter Harleys (Sportster, Iron 883, Softail Standard at 550-650 lb), a 1,000 lb lift like the Tuxedo M-1000C is sufficient. But if you might upgrade to a touring Harley later, save the trouble and go straight to a 1,200 lb lift now.

Hydraulic (foot pump) motorcycle lifts work without shop air. Foot-operated hydraulic pump raises the platform with 10-20 pumps. Cheaper, simpler, works anywhere there's a flat slab. Best for home garages without compressed air.

Pneumatic (air-operated) motorcycle lifts connect to your shop air compressor (80-120 PSI) and lift in 5-10 seconds with one trigger pull. Faster cycles, less physical effort. Best for shops doing multiple lifts per day or owners with bikes who want quick setup.

For most home garages: hydraulic. For commercial shops: pneumatic.

A drop panel is a removable rear section of the lift platform that lets the rear wheel drop down for full access. Without a drop panel, the rear wheel is blocked by the platform itself — you can reach it from the side but the bottom and rear of the wheel are obstructed.

For chain maintenance, sprocket changes, rear tire service, or rear brake work — drop panel makes the job 3x faster. The Tuxedo M-1000C has a drop panel standard. The AMGO MC-1200 series has a removable rear section that serves the same function.

Yes, you want one. Every serious motorcycle lift has one.

Both hold the front wheel in place to keep the bike upright on the lift. The difference is grip strength.

Front wheel chock: The front wheel rolls into a V-shaped slot that cradles the wheel. Works for most service work but the bike can shift if heavily leaned on.

Front wheel vise: Mechanical clamping mechanism that grips both sides of the front tire and locks. Holds the bike rigid even when you climb on top to torque something hard. The Tuxedo M-1000C includes a vise standard.

For occasional home use, a chock is fine. For shop use or aggressive service, a vise is worth the upgrade.

Motorcycle lifts typically have an 84-90 in (~7 ft) long platform and 24-30 in wide platform. Plus a 30-40 in approach ramp at the end. Total floor footprint roughly 10-11 ft long x 30 in wide when the ramp is deployed.

You'll also want side clearance to walk around the bike when it's lifted — minimum 24 in on each side, ideally 36 in. So a 7 ft long lift fits comfortably in a 14 ft long x 8 ft wide bay.

Ceiling height is not an issue with motorcycle lifts — the lifted bike only rises 30-35 in off the ground. Any garage with 7+ ft ceilings works.

The AMGO MC-1200 and MC-1200P include ATV/UTV extensions standard that widen the platform to accept four-wheel powersports vehicles up to 1,200 lb. The extensions snap onto the main platform and provide wheel cradles on each corner.

The Tuxedo M-1000C does not include ATV extensions standard but extensions are available as an add-on accessory.

For dedicated ATV/UTV use without compromising motorcycle support, see our ATV Lifts collection for higher-capacity dedicated ATV lifts.

Every motorcycle lift in our catalog includes a front-wheel chock or vise standard. You don't need to buy this separately. The Tuxedo M-1000C includes a heavy-duty front-wheel vise. The AMGO MC-1200 and MC-1200P include a front-wheel chock with a flip-up clamp.

If you want to upgrade from a chock to a more robust vise, after-market vises are available. Call (470) 208-2754 if you need a specific compatibility check.

Motorcycle lifts typically raise the platform 30-35 in (about 3 ft) off the floor. The bike's wheels are at that height; the seat is at chest height for the average rider, the handlebars at face height. Standing-height working position for chain, oil change, exhaust, fuel tank, electronics, and most service tasks.

For service tasks that need the bike higher (like swing-arm or rear-shock work where you need under-frame access), additional lift accessories are sometimes used to elevate further.

Yes — motorcycle lifts are the simplest type of lift to install. Most ship fully assembled and ready to use. The lift sits on the floor (no anchoring required), the foot pump or air line connects, and you're ready to load a bike.

For pneumatic lifts, you need a 1/4 in NPT shop air line nearby (most garages with compressors already have this). For hydraulic lifts, no infrastructure required — just a flat concrete or asphalt surface.

Plan for ~30 minutes to unpack, position, and verify operation before loading your first bike.

Hydraulic motorcycle lifts (Tuxedo M-1000C, AMGO MC-1200) work indoors or outdoors on any flat, hard surface — concrete slab, asphalt driveway, even hard-packed gravel in a pinch. No electrical hookup, no air line, no anchoring.

Pneumatic lifts (AMGO MC-1200P) need a shop air compressor nearby — typically only practical indoors where the compressor is set up.

For occasional driveway use: hydraulic is the right choice. For dedicated shop use: either works.

No. A motorcycle jack is a small wheeled jack that lifts one end of the bike (like a small floor jack for cars). Useful for tire changes or chain maintenance but doesn't lift the whole bike.

A motorcycle lift is a full-platform scissor lift that raises the entire bike to standing height. You ride or roll the bike onto the lift, lock the front wheel, and lift. Completely different category.

For occasional tire or chain work: a motorcycle jack ($150-300) is enough. For full service work or storage: a motorcycle lift ($1,200-1,500) is the right tool.

Most in-stock motorcycle lifts ship within 2-5 business days from our Georgia warehouses or one of 42 pickup locations. Freight transit time depends on distance, usually 3-7 business days to the contiguous US. Total order-to-doorstep is typically 1-2 weeks.

Motorcycle lifts ship lighter than car lifts (200-400 lb instead of 1,500+ lb) so freight is cheaper. Pickup at our warehouses is available if you want to grab the lift the same week.

Warranties vary by brand. Tuxedo M-1000C: 1 year parts and labor on hydraulic and structural components. AMGO MC-1200 series: 5 years structural, 2 years hydraulic, 1 year wear — the longest warranty on a motorcycle lift in our catalog.

All warranties are direct from manufacturer. Pitstop Pro handles claims as the authorized dealer.