If you ask 100 motorcycle riders as to why they choose to ride a bike over a car; most of the rider would use words like liberating, independence and perhaps the feeling of self-sufficiency. Not the least of advantages of riding a motorcycle is how you can tend to your bike’s health and performance without having to rush to a mechanic all the time.
The sheer ease of maintenance and the manual connect that you can have with your bike is bound to build a strong bond between you and your ride, and most riders would agree that it’s is where experience of owning and riding a bike wins over that of a car.
Almost all avid riders would agree that of all the important tools you must have in your garage to be able to tune up or down your bike, a motorcycle jack is an absolute necessity. If you are unacquainted or less familiar as to what makes a bike jack an indispensable article in your garage and how to go about looking for the right one for your bike, this article will give you a head start and make recommendations of the best motorcycle jacks available in the market today.
Quick Comparison: Top 4 Best Motorcycle Jacks
Motorcycle Jacks | Platform Dimensions | Maximum Height | Stability Assurance | Price | Quality | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 inch x 2.5 Inch | 13.25 inches | Elastic Cushioned platform | $$ | |||
16 inch x 10 inch | 13.25 inches | An elastic mat | $$ | |||
15 inch x 9 inch | 13.5 inches | Rubber Padding | $$ | |||
16 inch x 10 inch | 13.25 inches | Elastic Tangle with wings | $ |
**Below, you'll find my more detailed reviews about the best motorcycle jacks, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
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What is Motorcycle Jack?
A bike jack is typically a lift to elevate the motorcycle from its resting position, to help you or the mechanic look into the vital parts of your bike for repair or maintenance. The bike jacks usually use an either mechanical screw thread or hydraulic power to lift the bike off the ground. There are various specific types of Jacks that are designed for particular weight ranges and for specific types of bikes; and while some are stationary, most are movable with the help of wheels underneath the platform.
It is very helpful for a motorcycle mechanic to be able to look at and work on all the important parts of the motorbike without having screw his back and slide on his back on the floor. A jack ensures that you can raise the bike at convenient height for it to be worked on, be it by yourself or a maintenance expert.
How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Jack for Your Bike
So if you have never bought a jack before, it’s okay. Some of the tips below will help you decide as to which jack will be better for your bike.
Weightlifting Capacity
It is of exceeding importance that you ensure that the Jack you are buying has adequate capacity of weightlifting for your motorcycle’s weight. You should bear in mind that there certain traditional jacks that only lifts a part of the vehicle, and then there are certain motorcycle jacks which can support all of a bike’s weight, and that the functional capacity of a jack is usually less than its max rated weight capacity.
Platform Width
The width of the platform is the space between the outside edges of the motorcycle jack support base. One should know just how much of width is the minimum requirement to accommodate his bike on the platform with adequate stability.
Lifting Range
Every bike jack will have a different range for minimum to maximum lifting height. An important thing to consider is the ideal elevation you need considering the size of your tires, and choose the appropriate jack as per your need.
Frame Rigidity
May not be something that everyone thinks about, but the strength of the frame of your jack is the ultimate factor to make you trust the jack. A heavy and sturdy jack is much more reliable than a squeaky and jointed one. An important point here is also the material with which it is built. Steel is the sturdier choice over aluminium but is heavier. Based on your needs you will have to identify if sturdier is more important to you or portability.
Watch this video to make clear how to jack up your motorbike:
Here are Best Motorcycle Jacks for You to Choose
Below are some of the best Motorcycle Jacks in the market today for a smallish dirt bike or a cruiser bike weighing around 1100 lbs:
Features
Can lift a touring motorcycle form 3.75 inches to 16.25 inches
Single side lift
Manually operated
Heavy duty steel construction to lift about an 1100 lbs bike
It has an elastic cushioned platform 12 inch wide for a steadier hold
Comes with an additional removable frame adopters to add 2 inches to 3.25 inches to maximum height
Pros
Very Sturdy and stable
Easy and straight forward in use
The heights and width are great
Great price
Cons
A little unstable at the time of jacking u until all of the bike’s weight is on the jack
The welds are sloppy
The seemingly simple Black Widow Cruiser Touring Bike stand is a high utility tool to lift your touring bike from one side; front or rear. This motorcycle jack has an all steel frame, capable of lifting a touring or cruiser bike (weighing up to 1100 lbs), to up to 16.25 inches high. This bike jack has pressure driven foot pedal with removable 27 inch jack handle operation, along with 3 bolt components to ensure secured hold of the of the bike.
The Black Widow Cruiser has a classic design and is recognized as one of the sturdiest, most durable and reliable motorcycle jacks available in the market today. With a weight capacity to handle from a small 250cc dirt bike to a fully loaded touring bike, this tool is set to take the load.
You can see how this jack works here:
Features
Can lift a motorcycle up to 13.25 inches
Meant for a single side lift
Manually operated
Can lift about an 1100 lbs bike
Has the platform dimensions of 16 inch x 10 inch with an elastic mat
Furnished with wellbeing locks for better security
Pros
Heavy and Sturdy
Easy to store and portable
The wellbeing locks ensure there is no possibility of sliding
Cons
Complaints of pin shearing at the time of jacking up and down
Does not come with a wrench or tool to crank it up
This Dragway jack features in most lists of the best jacks available in the market. Powered to support motorcycles of weight up to 1100 lbs this jack has a wide deck with an elastic mat to hold the bike steady and will prevent the possibilities of scratching. Designed to fit most number of model cruiser motorcycles, this Dragway jack is ideal for those who have more than one models of bike.
Using a classic scissor technique for lifting this Dragway jack will help you power your lifting needs in a convenient and safe manner. Furnished with a wellbeing locks system for enhanced security, this jack has been known to satisfy most users.
For a better understanding of the Dragway jack and its functioning, watch this video.
Features
Can lift a motorcycle up to 14.25 inches
Has the weight capacity of 1100 lbs
Comes with a Dolly Tray for better mobility
Has the platform dimensions of 16 inch x 10 inch with an elastic mat
Furnished with wellbeing locks for better security
Pros
Has a great worm gear to make it easier to crank up and down
Very heavy duty build with a heavy plate
Compact enough to be stored without much hassle
Great value for the price
Cons
The Bike can tip over while jacking up, if not centered on a stand
The Extreme Max Wide Motorcycle Scissor jack has a center-lift design suiting the design of the most motorcycle for lifting. This wide platform of the Extreme Max jack has rubber padding for stability and to prevent scratching. Equipped with a wide Dolly Tray helps this jack to be easily mobile without taking away any of its stability. Performance wise, the Extreme Max can lift up bikes weighing up to 1100 lbs, up to 14.25 inches high, with assured stability and portability.
Features
Can lift a motorcycle up to 13.25 inches
Has the weight capacity of 1100 lbs
Features an Elastic Tangle on the platform
Wide platform base of 16 Inch x 10 inch
A wrench operated jack with 2 screw connectors
Pros
Lightweight and easy to use
The bike holds upright and the wings on the sides help stability
Sturdy build
A great buy for the price
Cons
The platform surface may not be perfectly slip-proof
This Xtremepower US jack, is a sturdy little gadget which could handle up to 1,100 lbs without much hassle. Designed to be compatible for most bike models, this scissor lift jack features an elastic tangle on the platform to hold the belly of your bike steady, and further has a bicycle expanding soundness to prevent slipping.
The Xtremepower US jack comes with an easy to use wrench and features 2 high limit screw connectors for secure higher lifting and an additional 3 in-wings on both the sides which ensure that even at the elevation of over 15 inches, the chances of the bike toppling over are very low.
My Pick For The Best
Okay, so all the Jacks considered above can handle the same weight bracket and have the same scissor screw technique of lifting. So what could be the most decisive factor to help you choose the best Motorcycle Jack? The answer is simple, the best criteria is your Motorcycle. You should take a look at your bikes and identify the jack which, judging by dimensions alone, would fit your bike the best. We have tried to put dimensions and a couple other factors together below to help you choose which jack will serve your needs the best.
As you can see, despite the varying numbers of dimensions, my trust is most with the Extreme Max Jack for its sturdy and heavy duty base. After all, it will have to be trusted on which you would mount your favourite ride on to.
Motorcycle Jacks | Platform Dimensions | Maximum Height | Stability Assurance | Price | Quality | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 inch x 2.5 Inch | 13.25 inches | Elastic Cushioned platform | $$ | |||
16 inch x 10 inch | 13.25 inches | An elastic mat | $$ | |||
15 inch x 9 inch | 13.5 inches | Rubber Padding | $$ | |||
16 inch x 10 inch | 13.25 inches | Elastic Tangle with wings | $ |
Conclusion
All the four Jacks we looked at today are well worth your money, so think in terms of the best suitability and fit. The bike jack is an indispensable equipment to own for someone who loves to take care of his bike along with just riding it. Go ahead, pick out the best motorcycle jack and let us know how it went in the comments below.
