Every motorcycle lift gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Lifts are grouped by kind (scissor jacks, hydraulic jacks, dirt bike lifts and lift tables), and each group has its own reference points, since a $60 scissor jack and a $1,500 lift table do very different jobs.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per 100 lb of rated capacity | 30% |
| Lift height | maximum lift height | 25% |
| Low clearance | lowest collapsed or loading height | 10% |
| Capacity | rated capacity | 15% |
| Features | safety lock, casters, straps or tie-downs, wheel clamp and drop-out panel | 15% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 5% |
Where the numbers come from
Capacity, heights, platform size, weight, features and warranty come from the maker’s product copy, either on the maker’s own store or in the maker’s copy on a retail listing. Where a maker’s figures disagree with each other, the product page notes which one is used. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the rated capacity, in dollars per 100 lb, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. Zero and full marks are $12 and $5 for scissor jacks, $35 and $8 for hydraulic jacks, $100 and $30 for dirt bike lifts, and $200 and $50 for lift tables.
Lift height is the highest the jack or table lifts. Zero and full marks are 12 and 17 in for scissor jacks, 14 and 17 in for hydraulic jacks, 28 and 36 in for dirt bike lifts, and 28 and 42 in for lift tables.
Low clearance is the lowest height: how far a jack collapses, so it fits under the bike, or how low a table sits, so loading is easy. Zero and full marks are 5 and 3.5 in for scissor and hydraulic jacks, 14 and 10 in for dirt bike lifts, and 9.5 and 6.5 in for lift tables.
Capacity is the rated capacity. Zero and full marks are 1,000 and 1,500 lb for scissor and hydraulic jacks, 250 and 450 lb for dirt bike lifts, and 800 and 1,500 lb for lift tables.
Features is 30% for a locking pin, latch or bar that holds the height, 20% for casters or built-in wheels, 20% for straps or tie-down points, 15% for a front wheel clamp or chock and 15% for a rear drop-out panel.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Platform size, weight, power type (crank, foot pump, air or electric), lift range and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
Lift height is the figure that most separates one lift from another, so a lift whose maximum height isn’t published scores zero for that factor, and the product page marks it as estimated. A missing lowest height, capacity or price gets the neutral middle score (50), also marked estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. A maker that doesn’t publish a warranty gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.