Rick del Monte
Member
Eastbound Motorcycle Hoist
MotoBikeJack
I thought I would offer a review of two motorcycle jacks: the Eastbound Motorcycle Hoist, and the MotorBikeJack. I offer this as a bit of a connoisseur of motorcycle jacks given my gift for dropping my R1250GS. Let me describe these:
-The Eastbound Motorcycle Hoist is made in the Netherlands. It is a beautiful bit of kit. Nicely machined aluminum tubes, held together with aluminum spacers that incorporate thin O rings. The tolerances are very tight, sometimes making it tough to get the tubes together with the internal air pressure pushing them apart. Assembled it is a tall unit with a pivot at the top. You attach the strap to the handlebar grip to lift the bike. It comes in a compact canvas case.
-The MotorBikeJack is U.S. made, heavy steel tubes which fit together somewhat loosely. It has a broad steel base and comes in what can only be described as a canvas shopping bag. It has a larger ratchet and a strap with a plastic coated hook on the end which you attach to a tube or footpeg. It is a little over a pound heavier than the Eastbound.
So if you are deciding based on quality, weight, and compactness, then the Eastbound wins. However the goal is to pick up fallen bikes. I have used each three times, and for me the MotoBikeJack has been the clear winner. When you are in the dirt on the side of the road the loose tolerances and broad base of the MotoBikeJack work better. The tight tolerances of the Eastbound don’t work so well covered with dirt. Hooking into the footpegs is a stronger and more consistent way to lift the bike. The last time I lifted my bike using the strap around a grip with the Eastbound, I damaged my heated grip and had to spend over $200 to get it fixed. It might be a different story with a lighter bike, but not with a GS.
Today after failing to lift my bike which was lying downhill on a gravel road I replaced the Eastbound in my pannier with the MotoBikeJack.
MotoBikeJack
I thought I would offer a review of two motorcycle jacks: the Eastbound Motorcycle Hoist, and the MotorBikeJack. I offer this as a bit of a connoisseur of motorcycle jacks given my gift for dropping my R1250GS. Let me describe these:
-The Eastbound Motorcycle Hoist is made in the Netherlands. It is a beautiful bit of kit. Nicely machined aluminum tubes, held together with aluminum spacers that incorporate thin O rings. The tolerances are very tight, sometimes making it tough to get the tubes together with the internal air pressure pushing them apart. Assembled it is a tall unit with a pivot at the top. You attach the strap to the handlebar grip to lift the bike. It comes in a compact canvas case.
-The MotorBikeJack is U.S. made, heavy steel tubes which fit together somewhat loosely. It has a broad steel base and comes in what can only be described as a canvas shopping bag. It has a larger ratchet and a strap with a plastic coated hook on the end which you attach to a tube or footpeg. It is a little over a pound heavier than the Eastbound.
So if you are deciding based on quality, weight, and compactness, then the Eastbound wins. However the goal is to pick up fallen bikes. I have used each three times, and for me the MotoBikeJack has been the clear winner. When you are in the dirt on the side of the road the loose tolerances and broad base of the MotoBikeJack work better. The tight tolerances of the Eastbound don’t work so well covered with dirt. Hooking into the footpegs is a stronger and more consistent way to lift the bike. The last time I lifted my bike using the strap around a grip with the Eastbound, I damaged my heated grip and had to spend over $200 to get it fixed. It might be a different story with a lighter bike, but not with a GS.
Today after failing to lift my bike which was lying downhill on a gravel road I replaced the Eastbound in my pannier with the MotoBikeJack.
