Quote from: S2daRk on May 29, 2008, 08:05:35 PM
I have both the FG and pitbull reversible stand. They are both great stands. The FG is great when you want to remove the rear wheel. It has a rubber covered rod that locks your wheel in place when you remove the large wheel nut.


But I use the pitbull stand most of the time. It's nice when you want to clean your chain or your rear wheel. Since it's reversible, you can move it to either side while you spin the wheel and clean the opposite side.

I have two of these for LH & RH

I have the PowerStands "Mario" and it is a great stand IMO. It has the two pins and actually came with two other pins for different motorcycles.

When I was shopping for stands I asked my dealer and he suggested "Handy". Said they were reasonably priced and well made. I checked them out and they only had a "handle to the rear" stand (The Pitbull had only that option at the time too). I was uncomfortable with that as I did not want to walk behind the bike as I was lifting it I wanted to stand beside it. The handle forward type allows that.

If you use the Powerstands on the right side of the bike it is then a handle to the rear stand.

BTW my dealer told me to stay away from the Pitbull as he felt they lifted the bike too high. I know probably 90% of the people here swear by them but I took his advice.

For the front I got a Woodcraft. It is a nice stand too and adjustable for height...works on my ST4 also...a plus.

You guys have got it all wrong -the  ONLY  stand worth having is the ABBA stand!

97 british pounds? what that like 160 dollars.

So the ABBA appears to basically be a center stand but it is not permanently attached to the bike.

I "grew up" with bikes with centerstands. In fact the S2R 1000 is the first street bike I ever had without a center stand...thus my research into buying the PowerStands and Woodcraft.

IMO, a centerstand is a wonderful thing to come stock on a bike...I love 'em and think all bikes should come standard with them. That said...I feel that the stand alone front and rear stands are far superior in actual use (wrenching on your bike, removing front and rear wheels) than a centerstand.

You see their picture (GIF) where the bike is shown pivoting to have access to either the front or rear wheel. Well that is how a stock center stand works and it is a compromise IMO.

If I could only have either a rear stand or a center stand, I would take the center stand as you can work front or rear wheel with the pivoting factor mentioned above...But if I could have a front and rear stand...I'd take that option anyday over a center-type (ABBA) stand.

Any compromise is just that, a compromise. it does more than one job but not as specifically or as refined as a tool designed for one particular job.

Just my $0.02 YMMV

Duckman - perhaps you've not appreciated 2 big advantages of the ABBA stand?
1. It lifts from the swing-arm pivot so the rear shock is not loaded and can be removed.
2. With the swing-arm removal kit you can remove the swing-arm.
How about that for versatility? 
....but perhaps you need to use one to appreciate it  - if you're ever over my way you will be welcome to try it

Jethro, it does sound like a unique item. I guess I should have done some reading on the site...I just looked at the pictures...Comes from my comic book mentality I suppose.....

....and I'm not just recommending it because it's made in UK  - I have bought a wheel balancer from MARC PARNES in US and that's a good bit of kit - highly recommended if you fit your own tyres.
.....although I do have the ABBA BEAD BREAKER as well - it really is well made stuff.

Well I also change my own tires I don't recall the name of the product I use to break beads but it is a small hand/lever set-up that works well.

You won't believe how I balance my tires...the old lock the axel in a padded vise and spin the wheel till the heavy spot rests near the bottom...weight the opposite and spin again. Not quick but it works...Actually I sorta enjoy it...I'm a cheap date.