J
JT_R1200RT
Guest
I thought I would post my first thoughts on using a Kendon Cruiser Lift. After researching options I ordered one of these mainly due to its smaller size and the ability to stand it up and move it out of the way when not in use. I got the best deal on this from www.bestbuyautoequipment.com.
I had my 2009 R1200RT up on it tonight replacing the front and rear brake pads. I went through a trial run with the lift on my KTM enduro before loading the bigger street bike to get used to the controls and operation.
1) Kendon takes shipping this thing seriously, it comes in a special metal reenforced crate by semi truck and is moved with a pallet jack. It was a superior packaging and shipping job. They take every precaution to wrap it and protect it for truck shipping, this was one of the best protected packaging jobs I have ever seen for something like this.
2) As I have read, loading and unloading a big bike on this lift is not recommended as a one person job. You need someone just to give a light hand holding the bike while you attach the rear tie downs after you roll it into the front wheel holder. The wife felt comfortable steadying the bike, and it did not take much effort on her part to hold it while I attached the rear tie downs. You do have to give it a little bit of a run up to get it up the ramp. I pushed it up and into the front wheel holder myself with about a 4 foot lead before I hit the ramp. You are not going to ride it up the ramp.
3) As stated in the manual you first attach rear tie downs, lift the bike, and then attach the front tie downs for additional safety. I found the front tie downs were really not needed. With the rear tie down straps attached to the RT's rear grab handles it was rock solid on the lift, I had some very loose front tie downs attached using a canyon dancer bar attachment, but I will probably not worry about it in the future.
4) You do need to play with the air lift a little to get used to it, and play with the release knob, it will drop really fast when you get it down to the last bit, so just take it slow at first to get a feel for things.
5) The bike up on the lift is very solid and I had no worries about having the RT up on this lift.
6) The biggest pain is rolling the bike out out the front wheel holder, this is where you really need some help. I had the front wheel holder in the front most attaching position, it was pretty tight, I may move the holder back one position next time. It took a pretty good tug to get it out, the wife was helping on the front to push it out of the wheel holder.
I am happy with my first use of the lift, it performs as advertized, and stores nicely out of the way against a wall with a security strap on it just to make sure no one can knock it over.
-Jim
I had my 2009 R1200RT up on it tonight replacing the front and rear brake pads. I went through a trial run with the lift on my KTM enduro before loading the bigger street bike to get used to the controls and operation.
1) Kendon takes shipping this thing seriously, it comes in a special metal reenforced crate by semi truck and is moved with a pallet jack. It was a superior packaging and shipping job. They take every precaution to wrap it and protect it for truck shipping, this was one of the best protected packaging jobs I have ever seen for something like this.
2) As I have read, loading and unloading a big bike on this lift is not recommended as a one person job. You need someone just to give a light hand holding the bike while you attach the rear tie downs after you roll it into the front wheel holder. The wife felt comfortable steadying the bike, and it did not take much effort on her part to hold it while I attached the rear tie downs. You do have to give it a little bit of a run up to get it up the ramp. I pushed it up and into the front wheel holder myself with about a 4 foot lead before I hit the ramp. You are not going to ride it up the ramp.
3) As stated in the manual you first attach rear tie downs, lift the bike, and then attach the front tie downs for additional safety. I found the front tie downs were really not needed. With the rear tie down straps attached to the RT's rear grab handles it was rock solid on the lift, I had some very loose front tie downs attached using a canyon dancer bar attachment, but I will probably not worry about it in the future.
4) You do need to play with the air lift a little to get used to it, and play with the release knob, it will drop really fast when you get it down to the last bit, so just take it slow at first to get a feel for things.
5) The bike up on the lift is very solid and I had no worries about having the RT up on this lift.
6) The biggest pain is rolling the bike out out the front wheel holder, this is where you really need some help. I had the front wheel holder in the front most attaching position, it was pretty tight, I may move the holder back one position next time. It took a pretty good tug to get it out, the wife was helping on the front to push it out of the wheel holder.
I am happy with my first use of the lift, it performs as advertized, and stores nicely out of the way against a wall with a security strap on it just to make sure no one can knock it over.
-Jim