Motocross and dirt bikes require a lot of maintenance. All it takes is a few circuits around the track and your bike might look like you dredged it out of a lake! A quick hose-down might make it look like new again, but there’s still more you can and should do to maintain it. Whether it’s changing the oil, replacing the air filter, changing coolant or working on the mechanics of the bike, maintenance is critical for performance.

What to look for in a dirt bike lift table

To perform maintenance properly, you need the right equipment. It starts with a dirt bike lift table. A lift table with get your bike up to a workable height and give you access to all the critical areas that need service. As you look to invest in this critical piece of maintenance equipment, get familiar with some of the common features that make it worth your while to own one:

• Loading ramp: Some dirt bikes might be light enough for two people to lift right onto a table… but why exert the effort if you don’t have to? A loading ramp is a simple solution to getting the bike on the table. Throw down a small 6-12” ramp, roll the bike onto the table, then remove the ramp. It takes seconds and zero effort!
• Drop-out panel: Whether you’re planning on doing brake work or need to change your bike’s tires, a drop-out panel is a convenient feature that makes working on and under your dirt bike a breeze. These panels generally lift out (or drop out, as-named), allowing you to remove tires or tinker with suspension components in an obstruction-free way.
• Wheel chock: Wheel chocks aren’t just a convenient feature—they’re a safety standard worth having on your motocross lift table. Chocks are the key to keeping your bike stable. They’ll not only keep the bike upright and stationary, they also help anchor it against the jostling that comes when physically working on its mechanical systems.
• Tie-downs: Use in conjunction with wheel chocks, tie downs are the second component to keeping your bike stable on a lift table. Tie downs not only improve stability, they work to keep the center of gravity low so the bike doesn’t wobble or sway while you raise and lower it. Tie-downs often come in the form of cam buckles.
• Hydraulic/Pneumatic pump: Like a loading ramp, a hydraulic or pneumatic pump is a convenience that takes extra effort out of the equation. Can you use a hand crank to turn a screw jack to raise and lower your bike? Sure. Is it just easier to step on a foot pedal and have the system do it automatically? Of course. Most premium lift tables include pumps that make raising and lowering your bike a breeze.
• Dolly wheels: Motocross and dirt bike lift tables tend to weight a couple hundred pounds and have a low center of gravity to ensure stability. You can’t expect to bend at the knees and pick one up to move it! Look for lift tables that feature dolly wheels on the front. This is your answer to safe and easy maneuverability: just tip and push your dolly to and from work and storage spaces.
• Locking positions: When you lift your motocross or dirt bike to the right level, you want it to stay there while you work. Good lift tables will have a locking mechanism that keeps the table at your desired height for as long as you need it there. Think of this as both a safety feature and a convenience.

There are even more features to consider beyond these prominent ones—features like diamond-plated tables that improve bike traction and powder-coated construction to prevent abrasions. There are also plenty of measurement specs to consider, such as table length and width, maximum lift height, weight capacity, table extension pieces and more. All these different features add up to a lift table that’s versatile enough to accommodate your bike and anything you want to do to it.

Nothing beats a good lift table

We said it above and we’ll say it again: motocross and dirt bikes require a lot of maintenance! As you get more serious with your hobby and start to perform this maintenance yourself, a dirt bike lift table becomes essential. After you get one, you’ll wonder why you spent so long crawling around on the ground tinkering with your bike!