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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
Hello, all. I broke down and purchased a Titan lift table (with extensions) - it looks awesome in the shop and I plan to spend many hours using it. But - I am 5'5" and weigh 145 pounds. The screw vise does not look like something I want to use (solo) with my Heritage. Have narrowed down my search for either the Condor "trailer" chock or the Titan bulldog (expensive!!).
Any remarks, advice, substitutions, will be appreciated. They both look like they perform as advertised but there isn't much info on how easy it is to back out of them.
I don't have a lift table, but have a scissor jack when I need to get the bike off the ground. Gets me by on almost everything. When my bike is on the jack, I almost always use some ratchet straps to keep it stable. See the red one below.
I also have a Wheeldock chock for times when I only want to secure the bike from tipping or hauling on my trailer. This is really easy to get the bike on-off. I, too, and small-ish (5'9" 155lbs) and nearly 68 years old so many wheel chocks are a bitch to roll back from.
I lift would be nice, but I don't want to spend the $ or take up the space.
Which Titan model did you get? Sounds like you got the SMDL-1000D-XL:
Okay....Before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, Lets take a look at the screw vise. it comes with the table lift, and all the hole are already drilled for it when you install it. I have always used it, and never actually heard of anybody not using it until I read about it on this forum. The screw vice (I call it a wheel clamp) works. It has heavy rubber on it's walls to not mar your wheel. The rubber on rubber (Tire) seems to deter your tire from slipping out. Once your bike is in, it is enough to get off of your bike and put the straps on. There is also no difficulty in backing out of it when you take your bike off the lift. I loosen the wheel clamp enough to back out the bike, and it is ready to pull in again when I want to use the lift. Only when I use the lift for someone else's bike do I have to adjust the width of the wheel clamp. Both of my bikes have the 21" Narrow wheel. Wheel chocks just seem to fit too loose.
You just bought a $1000+ plus lift table. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel here. The wheel clamp exists because it works. I have never been in a motorcycle shop where the clamp wasn't used. I haven't been in them all, so I cant be sure. It seems awful early in the life of your table to be throwing out a well engineered system. Again, it's your choice, and if you have the money to spend, go for it.
Just my .02
Last edited by SirHarley; Jan 22, 2020 at 10:24 AM.
Reason: Addendum
I thought I might hear from you SirHarley, and I appreciate your input. I do need to try the vise out before tossing it aside. I will be able to get it all together next week and give it a try. I sure watched a lot of reviews and the vise looked risky - but - you make sense and I will try your method.
Thanks Steve Sportster, also. I had not even seen that chock - it is expensive.
I don't have a lift table, but have a scissor jack when I need to get the bike off the ground. Gets me by on almost everything. When my bike is on the jack, I almost always use some ratchet straps to keep it stable. See the red one below.
I also have a Wheeldock chock for times when I only want to secure the bike from tipping or hauling on my trailer. This is really easy to get the bike on-off. I, too, and small-ish (5'9" 155lbs) and nearly 68 years old so many wheel chocks are a bitch to roll back from.
I lift would be nice, but I don't want to spend the $ or take up the space.
Which Titan model did you get? Sounds like you got the SMDL-1000D-XL:
Looks pretty nice, but the vice for the front wheel looks not-so-good. The Wheeldock would be much better, but it is also expensive at $225.
Hey, Steve Sportster - just re-read my posts and saw that I did not answer you about the lift. I did get the Titan 1000D XLT. I think I got a “good” price - $1060 (I saved on freight by picking it up) - has side extensions, table extension, vise, extended 40 inch ramp, and dolly. I shopped around for a used table and found nothing. I think a table lift is an expensive splurge for me but I do enjoy working on any vehicle that needs a wrench now and then. My wheels come off next week for tires so I get to enjoy the benefit of buying the table soon. I realize a table is not necessary for wheel removal but I am sure to find some things to do while the bike is at eye level and I am not bending over or laying on the floor (getting too old for that).
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Condor Chock or Titan Bulldog
