Paddock stands

Originally Posted by ebay seller

EXTRA HEAVY DUTY for SUPERBIKE use (up to 1300cc) and should not be confused with similar products also offered on ebay which are only suitable for bikes up to 600cc.

Huh? I didn't think there was enough difference between say, an SV, and a Hayabusa, that a stand suitable for one might not be suitable for another!

Please don't consider a stand with cups that lift under the swinging arms, these
twist as you try to locate them and brake lines etc get in the way. Remember,
if you are concentrating on getting the cups under the arm you are not concentrating
on keeping the bike upright! that's when it goes over! My experience is that a stand
with very firm fixed forks lifting under bobbins screwed to the swinging arms is the only
way to go ( 8mm threaded holes are there for this purpose). You don't want to always
have to have someone on hand to help ! they are always busy at the critical time!
Spend the extra you won't regret it.
Ride magazine May this year did a good test of stands The Harris came out the best dropping only one mark cos you have to buy the bobbins to use it.

Originally Posted by ukgooner

So these are no good then?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-HEAVY-DUTY...QQcmdZViewItem

I have the above.
I have had no problems with them at all. I have a firestorm and the stands cope with it no problems.
I need the Mrs to stable the bike to help me get used to the balance points but now i can get the bike on and off the stands on my own. They are very stable and do the job well.
Cant see a problem with them myself

[northwind]

Originally Posted by ukgooner

So these are no good then?

Exact same as my old set. I used them with the cups more than I did with the hooks, never did get on with the hooks on that one. I think this is a pretty unusual opinion to be fair, I think more people hate the cups. For most people, one of those rear stands is all you'll ever need IMO. But again, depends on your use.

Originally Posted by ukgooner

So these are no good then?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-HEAVY-DUTY...QQcmdZViewItem

I hate front stands that go under the bottom of the fork legs .... not only are they no good for doing fork changes etc, but actually make wheel changes harder than they should be!!!! I MUCH prefer the ones that go under/in the bottom yoke hole ...

like this one (this is the exact one I have) :- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FRONT-HEADSTOC...QQcmdZViewItem

[northwind]

True that... But once you've bought one of those and a rear stand, that's most of the price of a frame stand.

Originally Posted by northwind

True that... But once you've bought one of those and a rear stand, that's most of the price of a frame stand.

'Abba' type stands are good (got one of them too) ... but are a bit of a faff when all you want to do is oil ya chain

Also those front stands raise the front end quite high, so there is plenty of room to work ... also with the ABBA center stand you need to jack the bike up at the engine to work on the front ... this is a bit dodgy in itself ... with a bike on a bobbin rear stand and one of the yoke front stands, it isn't going anywhere, so you are never worried about the bike toppling over when working on it!! ... the only job you can't do with that configuration is a rear shock ... even an engine change is possible/made easy ...

So do you require bobbins still if you are using the "cups" version of a paddock stand.

I guess I will be using it mainly for light maintenance and cleaning, no plans to become a mechanic anytime soon.

Originally Posted by ukgooner

So do you require bobbins still if you are using the "cups" version of a paddock stand.

I guess I will be using it mainly for light maintenance and cleaning, no plans to become a mechanic anytime soon.

No you don't require bobbins with the 'cups' stands. But I don't have proper bobbins anyway!! ... You just need a couple of appropriate thread (M8?) bolts - job done!!!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

also with the ABBA center stand you need to jack the bike up at the engine to work on the front ... this is a bit dodgy in itself ... with a bike on a bobbin rear stand and one of the yoke front stands, it isn't going anywhere, so you are never worried about the bike toppling over when working on it!!

It's quite tricky to remove the yokes though An Abba and small jack is rock solid, really, you'd need to be trying pretty hard to knock it off.

I agree though, there's advantages to both, that's why I have both