If you’re the type of motorcycle owner who prefers to do your own maintenance, chances are that at some point you wished you had a lift. Besides representing a significant investment, typical motorcycle lifts exceed the real estate available in most garages. To address this issue, since the early nineties Kendon LLC has been producing trailers and lifts capable of tilting 90 degrees to minimize footprint. Out of the three lifts in their lineup, I chose the largest, the “Cruiser Lift,” which weighs 185 pounds, has a price tag of $945 and a capacity of 1,000 pounds - more than adequate for my R 1200 RT, the heaviest inhabitant of my garage.

The lift arrived in a neatly packaged crate. The uncrating and assembly required less than an hour. The first item I looked at, once the crate was unpacked, was the owner’s manual. Among other items, the manual provides instructions on how to unpack the crate. I got a chuckle out of the circular logic. The manual I received needed updating as it kept referring to bolts not included in the hardware. Once I realized the bolts had been replaced with pins, the assembly process became straightforward, although a list of hardware would have been a welcome addition.

When fully lowered, the lift rail is still a few inches off the ground, so a detachable ramp is included. Mine was scratched in several places, leaving some unsightly bare metal. While it was nothing that a bit of primer and black spray paint couldn’t fix, I called Kendon to give them the opportunity to stand behind their products. In an age when customer service is typically associated with the words “listen carefully because our menu options have changed,” Kendon earned my praise. Not only was it easy to reach a human, but once I provided a picture of the damage, they sent me a new ramp at no cost.

The lift itself is a scissor design powered by a hydraulic jack. The jack can be operated via either a hand or air pump. To actuate the air pump, Kendon recommends a compressor capable of 150 psi with at least a six-gallon tank. My tiny Rolair, which doesn’t come close to those specifications, can do the job as long as I stop the lifting process frequently to let it catch up. If you aren’t so patient, just crank on the hand pump.

Similar to other scissor designs, the lift includes a bar (referred to as “safety lock”) that automatically engages in a series of mechanical stops as the bike is raised. Once the bike reaches the desired height, the lift no longer relies on hydraulic pressure to maintain its position as long as the safety lock is engaged in one of the stops. The bar needs to be manually released and kept from re-engaging to lower the lift. Kendon provides a handy extension that allows accomplishing this without endangering any body parts. The manual is quite adamant that failure to use the extension will result in a crushed hand, but I wouldn’t have minded a conspicuous sign on the bar itself as a reminder.

When in service, the lift is quite stable as long as the bike’s weight is centered on the rail. The points of contact with the ground are two rubber feet secured to the ends of the inside scissor, and two caster wheels located on the end of the outside scissor. When not in service, the lift can be stood up, thanks to a combination of light weight and the ability to fold the rear section of the rail. Once the lift is tilted upright for storage, the casters allow for a modicum of mobility. The rubber feet provide friction to keep the lift in place while the bike is raised and lowered.

The front chock can be easily repositioned to accommodate the size of the bike’s front wheel. This operation took a little trial and error, but once I got it right, the chock did a good job at holding the bike upright until it was securely tied down. To alleviate the problem of finding convenient anchor points to tie down to the forward end of the bike, I purchased a Canyon Dancer Bar Harness 2 from Revzilla. This device attaches to the grips and ensures the tie-downs are kept well away from any painted surfaces. It worked for me, and at less than $33, it’s well worth it for the peace of mind. There are four tie-down anchor points on the lift, and all four should be used to maximize the bike’s stability while it’s raised or lowered.

The instructions for positioning, lifting, securing and lowering the bike are easy to follow. Even though the Kendon commercials show that it is possible for a single person to operate the lift, the manual recommends using a helper. I wholeheartedly agree. There are several critical points from the time the bike is rolled onto the rail until it’s completely secured, when a second set of hands and eyes can make a difference. Also, the combination of tall windscreen and low ceiling can make for close encounters of the expensive type, so having a spotter while raising the bike can save a lot of grief.

Getting the bike off the lift requires compressing and releasing the front springs to rotate the chock. Timing the squeezing and releasing the front brake lever is one of the keys to accomplish this correctly, and don’t be surprised if it takes more than one try. Again, having an assistant on hand to keep the bike in balance during the transition is very helpful.

While there is a provision to remove parts of the rail to facilitate either front or rear wheel removal, this operation requires supporting the bike by the frame. Unfortunately, the rail is only 10.5 inches wide, which saves weight and space, but precludes the use of a paddock stand, or even a center stand. For $165, Kendon will sell you a center jack that solves the problem. Or, you can use your imagination to solve it on your own. Personally, I found that this drawback is minor and didn’t experience any problems when removing the rear wheel of an Airhead to install new brake shoes.

On the upside, the lift greatly facilitates accessing critical areas of the bike without having to assume painful or undignified positions such as bending, kneeling or tying yourself into a pretzel. Best of all, when the work is done, it tucks nicely into a corner of the garage that would otherwise be dead space.

All in all, I’m quite satisfied with the Kendon Stand-up Cruiser Lift. If you enjoy turning a few wrenches but your garage space is at a premium, you should definitely consider purchasing one for yourself.

About the author: Marc de Angelis was born in Rome, Italy, to U.S. parents and resides in Arlington, VA. He recently retired from the Naval Sea Systems Command, where he worked as a civilian. He is also a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran. He enjoys riding the Grey Ghost, a 1995 R 100 RT, and the Scarlet Swirl, a 2018 Mars Red R 1200 RT.