Many bike owners struggle with having limited storage space for their bikes. This is true, especially in garages occupied by other things. Since bikes aren’t easy to store, you may end up cluttering your garage more or, worse, damaging your bike. Fortunately, you can now take advantage of your unused overhead garage space using bike lifts.
Bike lifts are one of the best ways to open up more space in your garage for your bikes. In this article, you’ll learn what bike lifts are. Moreover, listed below are the best bike lifts that suit your space and needs. This way, you’ll better understand how one works and get the best options.
What Is a Bike Lift?
A bike lift is a ceiling-mounted hoist system that uses the commonly unused space near the ceiling to store bicycles. It’s a simple device that can be raised or lowered using a pulley system to provide easy access to your bike.
It’s made with durable materials that can support the weight of common bicycles and even some other equipment like kayaks. It also has an assembly fixed to the ceiling to ensure safety and space management in the garage.
7 Best Bike Lifts For Garage Storage
Since there are many lifts on the market, gathered below are the best ones to help you narrow down your choices:
1. Best Overall: RAD Cycle Products 100-lb Capacity Overhead Bike Lift
RAD Cycle Products’ Overhead Bike Lift is a top pick for a simple yet extremely durable bike lift. This bike lift is known for its 100 lbs weight capacity that can support most sizes and weights of bikes. It has rubber-coated hooks that also protect your bike's finish from scratches. You can also customize its assembly according to your needs, specifically to suit the size of your bike.
In terms of installation, this lift system is easy to install and can be done with a few tools. You can install it straight into joists or rafters in the garage. It’s a strong hoist with a safe locking mechanism to prevent any accidental release of the bike when it’s in the air.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 1
- Weight/Load Capacity: 100 lbs
- Material: Polypropylene, Alloy Steel
What We Like About It
- Easy to install and use
- Good locking mechanism
- Strong and can hold up to 100 lbs
- Can accommodate different bike sizes
2. Best for Lightweight Bikes: Racor PBH-1R Garage Bike Pulley Lift
This Racor bike lift would be a good option for lighter bikes. It’s made of high-quality parts made of steel with an epoxy finish. This makes it durable and made to last. It’s suitable for ceilings up to 14 feet high. To ensure safety, it has a locking system that keeps the rope in place, especially when it’s not being used.
One of the best things about this lift is its ease of installation. Installation can only take 10 to 15 minutes since it has easy-to-follow instructions and only needs a few tools.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 1
- Weight/Load Capacity: 50 lbs
- Material: Steel
What We Like About It
- Easy to install
- Can be installed on up to 14 ft high ceilings
- Has epoxy-coated parts
3. Best Budget Option: RAD Cycle Products Rail Mount Bike Lift
This RAD Cycle Products bike lift is a good option for a budget-friendly lift. It’s one of the most popular bike lifts in the market mainly because of its price and high-quality manufacturing. It can be easily installed directly into the joists and is designed for up to 12-foot-high ceilings.
It’s made from heavy-gauge aluminum. This material is chemical- and rust-proof. It also has rubber-coated hooks that are adjustable to cater to any bike size.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 1
- Weight/Load Capacity: 75 lbs
- Material: Aluminum
What We Like About It
- Cheap
- Robust design
- Safe locking mechanism
- Uses a thick rope that’s resistant to fraying
4. Best Smart Option: Garage Smart Single Bike Lifter
If you want a more advanced or modern option, you can go for the Garage Smart Single-Bike Lifter. It’s a heavy-duty bike lift supporting up to 100 lbs of weight. However, it’s greatly favored for its smart app control and automatic locking mechanism.
It offers a smart app control for wireless operation with advanced weight-sensing technology for real-time monitoring of your bike. It’s also easy to install and has adjustable lifting straps for your specific bike needs.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 1
- Weight/Load Capacity: 100 lbs
- Material: Powder-coated Steel
What We Like About It
- Easy smart app control
- Smooth and precise operation and positioning
- Durable steel frame
- Easy to install
5. Best for Bikes and Kayaks: Delta El Greco Single Bike Ceiling Hoist
For an all-around hoist system, you can get a Delta El Greco Single Bike Ceiling lift. You can use it for storing roads, commuters, mountain bikes, and even kayaks. It has an easy-to-use and efficient pulley system that can hold up to 100 lbs of weight.
Each of its hooks has a rubber sleeve to ensure that your bike is held securely and without scratch. It also features an auto-lock mechanism that prevents accidental release.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 1
- Weight/Load Capacity: 100 lbs
- Material: Powder-coated Steel
What We Like About It
- Durable nylon cord rope
- Auto-lock mechanism for safety
- Easy to install
- Can hold all kinds of bikes and even kayaks
6. Best Horizontal Lift: Flat-Bike-Lift
The Flat-Bike-Lift is one of the most unique lifts available in the market. It has a unique design compared to the other systems in the list. Unlike others, this lift has a hydro-pneumatic lifting system that holds the bike horizontally. It’s designed to go up and down for easy use and access.
This is a good option for space-saving properties since you’ll store the bike horizontally, saving more vertical overhead space in the garage. This also means this system doesn’t use a rope, unlike the other lifts.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 1
- Weight/Load Capacity: 47 lbs
What We Like About It
- Unique holding or storage design
- Saves more vertical space
- Easy to use
- Perfect for low ceilings
7. Best 2-Pack Lift: CARTMAN Bicycle Hoists
If you have a partner or spouse that you bike with, a set of two CARTMAN Bike Hoists is the ideal option for you. Each hoist can support up to 50 lbs and has a standard locking mechanism that prevents the bike from falling. The lifts are made with durable steel parts and nylon ropes. It’s an economical set for your bike garage storage needs.
Key Features
- No. of Bikes Capacity: 2
- Weight/Load Capacity: 50 lbs each lift
- Material: Steel
What We Like About It
- Set of sturdy hoists
- Can hold many common types of bikes
- Low-priced for two bikes
- Made with durable materials
- Ideal for ceilings up to 14 ft high
Conclusion
Bikes can take up a huge amount of space in the garage, which can be a problem if you’re trying to organize the space. Since proper storage is required to keep your bike secured and protected, using bike lifts for garage organization is your best solution. You can check the list above again for the best options available in the market.
If you want to look into more hoist options, you can check our overhead bike storage collection. We have different lifts to accommodate different types of bikes and storage needs.