Moto Stacker is an Australian designed and built motorcycle storage solution that gets your bike off the ground, out of harms way and makes space for more bikes. We check it out...
Some of the best innovations are born not in sterile workshops or flashy boardrooms, but in suburban garages, sometimes with the smell of petrol in the air and a frustrated rider shaking their head at a lack of space. The Moto Stacker is one of those inventions.
That’s exactly where Danny Horvat found himself more than a decade ago, surrounded by his beloved collection of Ducatis, with a garage full to bursting and a wife laying down a firm ultimatum. But instead of accepting defeat, he did what any inventive rider might do, he looked to the ceiling and decided to lift his problems off the ground. The result? Moto Stacker: an Australian-designed, Australian-made motorcycle storage solution that’s transforming how riders store, maintain, and admire their bikes.
Danny’s story isn’t just about clever engineering, it’s a personal tale of a lifelong obsession with motorcycles. Like many of us, he got his start on a trail bike when he was just seven years old, and the spark was instant. “All I could think about was motorcycles,” he recalls. That passion quickly grew into a way of life. By the time he was in his 20s, he was already riding, collecting, and planning long-distance rides with mates, bonds that still hold strong today.
Danny’s story isn’t just about clever engineering, it’s a personal tale of a lifelong obsession with motorcycles.
His first road bike was a Yamaha SR500, purchased with the help of his mum, and followed by a Kawasaki Z500 that opened up a world of friendship and adventure. But it was Italian motorcycles that really stole Danny’s heart. “I developed a passion for Moto Guzzis, and then moved onto Ducatis, 916s, 996s, and plenty more. I loved touring with friends, heading to the Island or up the Oxley. Those rides are still a yearly tradition.”
As Danny’s love for bikes intensified, so too did his collection. And with a successful career as a marine captain and superyacht manager under his belt, he had the means to indulge. But with five rare Ducatis crammed into a garage, something had to give. “My wife had had enough, her car was parked on the street, and the bikes had taken over. She said no more bikes. But we struck a deal, if I could find a way to fit more in, I could keep collecting!”
Danny looked up and realised the one part of his garage he wasn’t using was the air above his head.
That’s when the lightbulb moment happened. Danny looked up and realised the one part of his garage he wasn’t using was the air above his head. “So, I built a pallet lifter and bolted on a timber plank. It was rough, but it worked, I got one bike off the ground. Then I built another version that could lift two bikes, and suddenly I had space for three more on the floor. It was a complete game-changer.”
That rough prototype evolved over the years into a commercial-grade, fully engineered product. Moto Stacker was officially launched in 2021, backed by patents in Australia, the US, UK, EU and Japan, and years of research and development. What began as a personal workaround has now become a professional-grade solution for motorcyclists all over the world.
The flagship product is a hydraulic lift system capable of raising a motorcycle or even two trail bikes up to 1.6 metres in the air. The Moto Stacker is shown here on the showroom floor at Ducati Parramatta.
At its core, Moto Stacker is about reclaiming garage space by going vertical. The flagship product is a hydraulic lift system capable of raising a motorcycle or even two trail bikes up to 1.6 metres in the air, creating usable space underneath for another bike, a workbench, or even a car. The system uses stainless steel construction, high-tensile bolts, and an array of built-in safety systems, including a patented self-locking mechanism that secures the lift at 25mm intervals during operation. There are also tie-down points, hand protection cages, and optional anchors to ensure absolute safety.
“It’s overengineered on purpose,” Danny says. “When you’re lifting a bike that’s worth twenty or thirty grand, or maybe even fifty, there’s no room for compromise.”
To see the system for ourselves, we visited Danny at the Moto Stacker warehouse in Rozelle, NSW. What stood out straight away was the level of detail and quality in every part of the setup. Danny gave us a full rundown on the evolution of the design from early prototypes to the final production units and we even got to handle some of the original components.
What impressed us most wasn’t just the lift itself, but the fact that virtually everything is made right here in Australia using local fabricators. It’s rare to see that level of commitment to local manufacturing these days, and it shows in the finish. The welds, the machining, the stainless components, they’re all top notch. This isn’t some lightweight bit of gear that’ll rust or fail after a few years. It’s made to last.
Danny (pictured) showed us how easy it is to roll the Moto Stacker around with a bike on it, we had a go ourselves.
Better still, we had a go using it, lifting and shifting bikes with ease. We moved a few bikes around in the warehouse just to test it out. The operation is intuitive, smooth, and quick. No drama, no awkward wrestling, and no worrying about whether something’s going to topple over. If you’re serious about storage, run a workshop, or you’re a collector with limited space, this is a genuinely excellent solution.
The product line includes the Standard Docker, a versatile wheel chock for most bikes, the X.L. Docker for larger and heavier machines, and the Universal Lifter itself, which is compatible with all sorts of bikes from small scooters to full-dress tourers. And there’s more on the way: an electric 12V hydraulic lifter for effortless use, a clear-sided motorcycle cover for dust-free display, a trailer-ready T-Mount, and even a “Skyhook” system for workshop-style lifting, letting you get underneath a bike while it’s suspended securely in the air.
The Skyhook system is in development and will be fantastic for changing wheels and working on bikes.
Unlike some imported storage systems, Moto Stacker is made right here in Australia with most of its 32 components fabricated in Sydney using local suppliers. Some parts, like the planks and lifter assemblies, are made overseas but to Moto Stacker’s strict specifications, including precise thickness tolerances to avoid flexing or failures.
And for those wondering about value, Danny makes the case with conviction. “The Standard Docker is $1,399, the X.L. Docker is $1,599, and the Universal Lifter is $2,499 all GST inclusive. Sure, it’s not the cheapest, but what’s your peace of mind worth? You’re protecting your pride and joy, freeing up space, and making your garage more functional. We’re not aiming to be the cheapest we’re aiming to be the best.”
A Universal Lifter will raise two dirt bikes off the ground, this is super handy for garage space and getting your car inside.
The lifters are already being used by collectors, mechanics, and dealerships, with the plan to expand into more stores and workshops across Australia and overseas. Bulk pricing is available for shops and fleet customers, and Moto Stacker is currently seeking agents and distributors in key markets like the US, Japan, and Europe. “We want to make the product more accessible internationally, but the most economical way to do that is through container-loads and authorised distributors,” Danny explains.
There’s also a growing buzz among collectors and showbike owners, who love the idea of lifting a bike into view like a mechanical sculpture. “We’re not just solving a problem we’re helping people present their bikes better. That’s a big deal for people who take pride in their machines.”
The Harleys are on X.L. dockers with a Universal Lift holding the back one up. These are good for 400kg.
But perhaps the most important thing about Moto Stacker is that it was designed by a rider, for riders. Danny gets it. He’s been there, working on his bikes in tight spaces, moving three others just to get to the one at the back, worrying about knocking something over, or worse, scratching a tank. Moto Stacker was born out of those frustrations, and it solves them with a level of detail only a true enthusiast would think of.
“I know what it’s like to love your bikes. That’s why I built something I’d trust with my own collection,” he says. “We’ve got customers now with everything from Harleys to Aprilias, collectors with 20 bikes, with a single Ducati in a tight townhouse garage, every one of them wants safety, flexibility, and simplicity.”
Using the Standard Docker, you can fit bikes just about anywhere and easily roll them out to where you want to put them.
For Danny, Moto Stacker is more than a product, it’s the legacy of a lifetime spent loving motorcycles, turning a personal storage dilemma into a nationwide business. And as the company continues to grow, it remains proudly Australian—designed, engineered, and largely made right here, supporting local fabricators and suppliers.
Check out their website for more, https://motostacker.com
So next time you’re tripping over stands or shifting bikes around just to get the mower out, spare a thought for what’s above you. With Moto Stacker, that unused ceiling space could be the key to the garage of your dreams, and it has a 10-year warranty. – Images: Moto Stacker
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