Motorcycle Ramps vs Motorcycle Lift: Which One Should You Buy?

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Ramps or lift: what each one does

A ramp is an inclined track the bike rolls up under its own power or a push, from the ground to a truck bed, a trailer or a shed floor. The ramp listings here state folding designs, grip surfaces and straps, and capacities from 440 lbs to 1,500 lbs. A lift is a platform that raises the whole bike off the ground so wheels, brakes and oil work happen at standing height instead of on the floor. Ramps solve loading; lifts solve working height. A shop that does both needs both, but a buyer who only loads a bike for transport needs ramps alone.

The gear: four ramps, ranked

1. Arejonner folding ramp pair

The Arejonner pair leads this set because it is the only pair here, with a total capacity of 1,500 lbs at 750 lbs per ramp. Each ramp weighs 17 lbs, folds for carrying, and the set includes four safety straps and protective gloves. The dense perforated surface with a sandblasted finish adds friction to stop wheel slip, and integrated tailplates give stable ground contact. The pair suits loading motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, lawn mowers and golf carts into sheds, barns, garages or trailers.

2. Ruedamann aluminum ramp

The Ruedamann ramp is a single aluminum ramp with a 600 lb capacity, at 13 pounds. It measures 71 inches long, folds to 36 inches long, and fits tire widths up to 7.5 inches with ground clearance over 2 inches. Anti-skid pads and a non-slip surface add grip, side warning bars help in low light, and extended plates at both ends ease the crossing. It needs no assembly: unfold it and load. It suits motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, lawn mowers and snow blowers into trucks, garages or sheds.

3. Generic folding ramp

The Generic ramp is the longest single ramp here, at 78 inches in its title and spec table against 73.11 inches in its bullets, in alloy steel with a hollowed-out surface that stops water pooling and adds friction. The title and spec table state 750 pounds capacity, while the bullets state a 550 pound maximum; treat the lower figure as the working limit. It folds to 37.6 inches for garage or trailer storage, and the listing gives two precautions: wear gloves before use, and keep one end on the ground when unfolding and folding to avoid pinched fingers. Recommended height of use is no more than 31 inches off the ground.

4. gardhom aluminum ramp

The gardhom ramp is the lowest-weight single ramp here at 8.03 lbs each, in aluminum, with a 440 lb capacity. It measures 72.4 inches by 6.4 inches, folds for carrying and storage, and has nonslip holes, a rubber pad and raised edges to guide the tire. The listing warns never to exceed the maximum load capacity, since overload may damage the product or injure the user. It suits dirt bikes and motorcycles into pickup trucks, with a safety strap included. Its spec table states 76 inches by 6.6 inches and 8.8 pounds, against the bullets figures used here.

How to choose between ramps and a lift: motorcycle ramps vs motorcycle lift

Choose by the job first: loading a bike into a truck or trailer calls for ramps, while service work at standing height calls for a lift. Choose by capacity second: weigh the bike with fuel and gear, then match it to the stated capacity, using the lower figure where a listing gives two. The Arejonner pair states 1,500 lbs total, the Ruedamann ramp 600 lbs, the Generic ramp 750 pounds in its title against 550 pounds in its bullets, and the gardhom ramp 440 lbs. Choose by length third: a longer ramp gives a gentler slope to the same height, and the Generic ramp states a recommended height of use of no more than 31 inches. See our electric vs hydraulic motorcycle lift guide for the lift side of the choice.

Safety notes

Fasten every ramp with straps before loading: the Arejonner set includes four safety straps, and the gardhom ramp includes a safety strap. Wear gloves, per the Arejonner set and the Generic precautions, and keep one end of a folding ramp on the ground while unfolding or folding it. Never exceed the stated capacity, and check the tire width against the ramp: the Ruedamann ramp fits tire widths up to 7.5 inches. Load on level ground, and never stand downhill of a bike on a ramp.

FAQ: garage tools

Do I need a lift to load a motorcycle?

No. Ramps load a bike into a truck bed, a trailer or a shed. A lift raises a bike for service work, not for loading.

Which ramp holds the heaviest load?

The Arejonner pair, at 1,500 lbs total and 750 lbs per ramp. The next single ramp figures are 600 lbs on the Ruedamann ramp, 550 lbs as the working limit on the Generic ramp, and 440 lbs on the gardhom ramp.

Can one ramp load a bike?

Yes. The Ruedamann, Generic and gardhom listings are single ramps for one bike. The Arejonner listing is a pair of ramps.

What height can these ramps reach?

The Generic ramp states a recommended height of use of no more than 31 inches off the ground, and the Arejonner pair states a maximum incline height of 31.5 inches. The Ruedamann and gardhom listings state no height figure.

More garage guides

See our motorcycle ramps vs car ramps and car lift vs motorcycle lift guides.