Modern Vespa

Last week I had ordered an mc/scooter scissors jack on Amazon, and it arrived today.

I had seen one similar to this being used in Vespa maintenance videos to hoist up the bike and position the Vespa engine so that the spark plug and valves were more readily accessible for service, so I had to have one.

I have a scissors jack, but it's an automotive type that has a single contact lift point rather than a platform like this one does to stabilize the bike when lifted up.

It's rated for 1100 pounds.

They range in price from around $60, on up to several hundred, and I chose to go on the cheap end and take a chance on it.

My new jack was $54, plus another $10 to ship it.

After getting it out of the carton, I put it on a scale and it weighed a hefty 29 pounds, which is a lot heftier than I thought it would be. This thing obviously has a LOT of Chinese steel in lt, and may actually be overbuilt.

I use one very similar to this. The table lift gets the PTW where I can work on it without killing my back. The scissor platform gets the PTW up off the table. I've had this for about 15 years.

I have a couple of these , they work well.

I bought one too, haven't had occasion to use it yet, but mine has a hefty wheeled tray into which the jack gets put before you raise the scooter.

I use mine weekly.

J - Plz consider this because I know you have a bunch of toys like I do:

On some of my bikes, like my GTS and Bonneville, the flat area of the jack works just fine.

BUT on other bikes, like some of my Harleys I've had in the past, the exhaust pipes come below the frame, so you can't use your style of jack.

Instead I use one similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/ZENY-Motorcycle-Center-Scissor-Scooter/dp/B01860HLCU/ref=sr_1_17?crid=QA2LKFW6A9AH&keywords=motorcycle+jack&qid=1707453947&sprefix=black+widow+motorcycle+jack%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-17



First, it's cheaper than the one you got, so if you want to return yours and get this you'll save some money.

Second, those little arms, you can perfectly line them up to fit the clearance of your motorcycle.

My work bench gets a lot of action between my bikes and my friends, this works with basically everything (that doesn't have spools for a traditional sport bike lift).

Considering you have a wide variety of bikes in the garage, this might be a better fit for you as your fleet seems to always be changing like mine... plus, cheaper.

I have a couple of those in the workshop as well, of varying sizes. Very handy up on the "main" lift table to position the frame when the engine is out, etc.

I have a 3 1/2 ton floor jack, a 1/2 ton trolley jack, a few bottle jacks and a scissors jack. They all have their purposes, but I will say I use the scissor jack the most when working on bikes and scoots. I will also say that if the other end of the machine you are using this on is not secured by straps or a wheel chock, it can tip over real quick like and ruin your day. I attached a removable wide base to the bottom plate of the scissors jack which helped the stability a lot.

Hmmmmmm.

The 'flatbed' scissors jack I bought will come in handy for various uses besides just servicing the Vespa, so I will keep it....but perhaps also add another to the tool arsenal similar to the type you suggest. They're inexpensive enough that accumulating several types of these small jacks isn't much of an issue.

I'll have to take a peek beneath my Rocket 3 and see if the flat scissors jack will accommodate that bike, though (unlike my GTS300) I've yet to have a reason to lift it to a level position for its routine service procedures..pretty much just oil & filter changes and rear end lube changes.

It'll probably work ok on Trixie's 1200 Triumph Speedmaster but I'll need to verify that assumption.

Those, and my Vespa are the only bikes we currently have...though that may well change later in the year.

I have a 3500 pound (?) floor jack and four jack stands just to perform oil and filter changes on our '16 Miata.

It's true. Women come over, we get it all oily and messy. Then you start hearing the screams growing louder...




... because we spilled DOT4 all over.

To be totally clear, the little black "arm" things (I really wish I knew wtf they were called lol...) are completely detachable, so when you take them off, what's left is exactly what you have.

In other words, you're getting exactly what you already have, plus more, rather than something similar but different.

Hope that's clear.

They certainly serve the purpose JB, a bit of grease on the screw every now and that keeps it good as new, like Tierney says you need to strap the front wheel down to stabilise it, I have a block and tackle now on a rail and pop the rear indicators out and able to lift the scooter right up.

Except the platform looks much smaller.

That might effect other uses of the jack, but for lifting the Vespa, I wouldn't think that would make any practical difference.

Fair point. J's product details page says "Platform Dimensions: 16" x 10"

The one I mentioned is 18" x 6" roughly.

Bring on the 6' is plenty' and I've never found myself wishing for another 2" talk

Seriously though... with all the catalytic converters and stuff under modern motorcycles these days, I don't know if the extra surface any is going to help or hinder. The little arms will definitely help those with bikes that need them. All depends on the bike going up at the end of the day.

Well, this being 'Mercuh' and all that, why not TWO little motorcycle scissors jacks, eh?

"As it is written....so it shall be"

On the way!

Honest, Dr. Now.... it's adri's fault!

I found another use for my platform sissor jack today. Installing a microwave above the cooktop

Great thinking 😂👍

I might put that on a t-shirt!


caschnd1 - that second pic

Yes siree bob!

Cabinet installers I know use them all the time. Saves on your back.

This is exactly my dilemma. The last time I installed one of these over-range microwaves, I just heaved it up there. I'd wreck my back if I tried that today.

Maximum extension + a 2x4. 😂

Yup. Excellent cabinet lifter. One edge of our kitchen cabinet slipped a bit on the bolt holding it to the wall and I needed to adjust it.

(Photo is about 12 years old, kind of fuzzy).

And a few years later, in 2014. Precision unistrut positioner!