Bicycle Mechanics - Repair Stand Reviews wanted.

I am going to purchase a repair stand for home use.

I've researched free standing, wall mount, bench mount, inexpensive, outrageous, most every option.
Will anyone with first hand experience offer pros or cons of their home repair stand?

I just bought the Nothern Tool stand and like it "so far". havent had it that long but have hung everything i own on it and it works very well for miner repairs and cleaning.

It was assembled in like 5 minutes and is the main stand for my 29er, but i have had my 26", my sons 26" and a 20" in it and dont have any complaints about it yet.

And only 39.99
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200419669_200419669

I have had the Park PCS-9 for 3 years and It gets the job done. I do wish I would have spent the extra money and got the PCS-10 however, the clamp mechanism is much nicer.

problem is portable stands don't weigh enough.
only if the base is extraordinarily wide can that be made up for .
But that un does the portability.

Best : repair arm from a support pillar in the building.. then it won't fall over .

I got a folding repair stand Yakima had, it was a trade show demo, so I got it cheap.
that was 20 years ago , not the best but it works.

I have a Park Tool PCS-10 works great no issues with it at all solid stand for all jobs.
Several good stands out their so have fun.

Another vote for PCS-10.

PCS-10 here as well. Works great and is very stable. Folds nicely and lots of adjustability. Looked at pretty much everything out there before deciding on the PCS-10 but finally decided to buy a good stand and be done with it. Just ordered the wheel truing adapter (TS-25) and looking forward to seeing how that works out. Won't be as versitile or functional as a real truing stand but will be a step up from using the brake pads.

Here's what I have: http://feedbacksports.com/shop/Sport-Mechanic-Work-Stand-P3.aspx Works perfect for me.

PCS-10 here!

I bought the Ultimate Pro-Elite from REI many years ago, it worked well for servicing and washing my bikes, but after about a year or so, the clamp developed some issues ( like not rotating well, getting stuck etc). I called the manufacturer (now owned by Feedback Sports) and they tried to guide me over the phone and thru fax in fixing the issue, but we couldn't do it.

Took the stand back to REI for exactly the same model ( was told the clamp issue had been fixed thru a minor tweak in the design) and everything has been okay.

Would I have shelled out that much for a stand, if buying it with cash outright? Probably no, but I had a fat dividend from REI at the exact same time I needed a stand, thus that purchase. I like that it has a wide base when opened, the clamping mechanism design and also like the almost total aluminum construction (no rust issues) for when I wash my bikes.

I have a Spin Doctor Pro G3 work stand and an older Park model with a flat base, vertical tube and clamp on the end. The pro's and con's that I've found are that the Park tool is heavier and has a nifty ability to swing the bike around any which way I want. This comes in handy at certain times like if you are filling the bottom of a headset with loose balls. It's very stable and you can really torque things like BB cups down with the bike in the stand. Con's of this stand are that the clamp isn't adjustable. Now I use an adapter that fits into the seat tube like a seatpost and allows the clamp to grab the adapter instead of the bike so the clamp never touches any bike tube.

The Spin Doctor stand is lighter weight but folds up in about 4 seconds and can set aside in a corner for storage. Ie, it doesn't take up room like the Park stand. It isn't stiff enough to allow you to really crank on big bolts with the bike in the stand. The 'clamp' is screwed down onto the tubing so you don't have to worry about crimping any tubes like you would with the Park stand. I usually use this on the top tube or seatpost but if you have a short seatpost it might not fit and if you use the top tube it can interfere with any cables running along there.

The stands that cradle the BB and front fork look interesting but I've never used one. Unless you have a dedicated space for your stand getting one that folds up so it can be put away is a nice feature although they will not be as sturdy as a fixed setup. I don't find the sturdiness of the heavier stands a huge advantage though, since you can always just put the bike on the ground if you need to really wrestle with a BB cup or something.

I have the Ultimate Elite which is now known as the Feedback Sports. I like it because of the tripod stand. I am able to take it in the bag included and bring it with me to events and it handles uneven ground very well. Naturally, it works well on a level floor also but the portability as well as the stable base drove my choice. Actually it was bought for me as a gift by my awesome wife whom I was dating at the time.

I have a Feedback Sports Recreational Stand and it does the job. It's not as portable as the more expensive stands and it can start swaying when I'm spinning the wheels fast. You can get the Feedback Sports Truing Stand and it will attach to the stand so you don't have to sit on the floor or have the wife yell at you for getting bicycle grime all over the dining room table.

The only complaint that I have about it, and this is generally true for the non-Park stands, is that the clamp is designed with the opening on top, rather than from the side. This makes quick repairs easy because you can just rest the bike in there and not clamp it down. However, if you need to clamp it down and you have a bike with a small tube diameter, you have to hold the bike up so that it aligns with the middle of the clamp. Otherwise, it can get stuck at the bottom of the clamp and can scratch the paint once the rubber starts wearing out. Also, holding up a heavy bike with one hand and turning the clamp with the other can get old fast. A quick-release mechanism would fix this because you don't have to hold the bike up as long while you're turning the screw but you're not going to find that on any inexpensive stands.

The Park stands don't have this problem because the opens to the side and the bike is actually resting on the clamp arm. If I decide to pick up another stand, I'll pay the extra money and get one with the quick-release or get a Park.

Here's what I have: http://feedbacksports.com/shop/Sport-Mechanic-Work-Stand-P3.aspx Works perfect for me.


I have this exact stand and am 100% happy with it. folds up small and can take it in the car. As mentioned above a stand like this needs a wide base and this one has it. Head holds well on seat post and has angle adjustment. I have also used it on top tube (ugg) and there is clearance in the jaws for top or bottom run cables, no binding.

I figured I wouldn't be the first to vouch for the PCS-10. Great stand. Look around online, you can score one for around $125 new & shipped.

Another vote for PCS-10.


+3

PCS-10 just arrived for me as well. Very robust and stable, easy to set up and folds down to a manageable storage size. I took my frame off the stand and laid it on the floor in order to remove a stuck fastener with a bolt extractor - that's the compromise, but it's not a deal breaker.

I have bought all of my stands used. If you shop aggressively, you will find a used single bike pro stands (PRS 3) for about the retail price of one of the new home owner stands. Eventually I upgraded to a two bike pro stand (PRS-2), it is really nice, and of course, I bought it used. It really depends on how much you plan to work on bikes, and how much space you have. The PRS-2 takes up quite a bit of room, but boy, is it nice!

On the more portable side, I picked up a Spin Doctor Pro Stand (used of course), and have found it to be more stable than the Parks home owner stands I had prior to that. The version of Spin Doctor stand I have looks just like the Park Tool PRS-25 team issue work stand.

One really nice thing about Park Tool is that they stand behind their product, whether you buy it new or used. I needed a part for my PRS-2, they sent it to me immediately, no charge. Can't beat that!

I have a Park PCS-4. It has seen a ton of use and works great.

I usually avoid "me too" posts but I'll add my vote for the PCS-10.

PCS-10 here as well. Works great and is very stable. Folds nicely and lots of adjustability. Looked at pretty much everything out there before deciding on the PCS-10 but finally decided to buy a good stand and be done with it. Just ordered the wheel truing adapter (TS-25) and looking forward to seeing how that works out. Won't be as versitile or functional as a real truing stand but will be a step up from using the brake pads.

How is the PCS-10 for tightening cranks? Or loosening stubborn BBs? I've use a Park Tool PRS-3 quite a bit. The ones I've worked on had a sizeable metal base that you could stand on while tightening cranks, etc. Those are stellar.

I like my PCS-10. I would have tried the Northern stand mentioned above though, for that price, but I found out about it just after I got my stand.

I have the PRS-25, same as the PCS-10 except a bit lighter and a different clamp. I like the stand but it takes up a bit of space in my work room. In a cramped space it is hard to get behind it. I was looking at the PRS-20 but decided on this style so can tilt the bike. I do like the micro clamp on this model, just a few spins and its clamped.

How is the PCS-10 for tightening cranks? Or loosening stubborn BBs? I've use a Park Tool PRS-3 quite a bit. The ones I've worked on had a sizeable metal base that you could stand on while tightening cranks, etc. Those are stellar.
Just replaced my external bearing cups last weekend and it worked fine. I do it on the stand the same way I did it before. One hand on the wrench and the other on the seat tube.

YES! I love helpful reviews! I just ordered the Northern Tool and Equipment one...9 days until all of the crappy things about bike creation and mending are gone...

I have a PCS1... best features are the spring loaded clamp (like the old pro7 stand) , how freaking tough this stand has been, and how it will handle pretty much anything.

I have bought all of my stands used. If you shop aggressively, you will find a used single bike pro stands (PRS 3) for about the retail price of one of the new home owner stands. Eventually I upgraded to a two bike pro stand (PRS-2), it is really nice, and of course, I bought it used. It really depends on how much you plan to work on bikes, and how much space you have. The PRS-2 takes up quite a bit of room, but boy, is it nice!

On the more portable side, I picked up a Spin Doctor Pro Stand (used of course), and have found it to be more stable than the Parks home owner stands I had prior to that. The version of Spin Doctor stand I have looks just like the Park Tool PRS-25 team issue work stand.

One really nice thing about Park Tool is that they stand behind their product, whether you buy it new or used. I needed a part for my PRS-2, they sent it to me immediately, no charge. Can't beat that!

The PRS 2 is a beautiful stand.

I am going to purchase a repair stand for home use.

I've researched free standing, wall mount, bench mount, inexpensive, outrageous, most every option.
Will anyone with first hand experience offer pros or cons of their home repair stand?

I own a Park Tool PCS10. It has a good clamp and is reasonably steady in use. However, I practically never use it, instead I just use a pair of hooks attached to chains to the ceiling 95% of the time. There are several reasons for this. I only have limited space so I have to stove the PCS10 away when not in use. It takes time to setup the PCS10 compared to the hooks that can be swung into actions in a matter of seconds. The hooks also has a couple of features that I like: they keep the front wheel/fork steady (the PCS10 requires a separate thing to do the same). They keep the bike automatically level and centered, something I like when checking how smooth the shifting is. All in all it is a surprisingly effective solution for very little money. Perhaps not so well suited if you want to build a lot of bikes, but works very well for regular maintenance.

If I ever bought a new stand it would be a "Tacx Spider Team T3050" or something similar: such work stands are just much more steady than tall a stand like the PCS10, so they work better for high torque jobs. They also keep the bike level and the front wheel centered, which is great gear adjustment and removes the risk of the handlebar swinging into the top tube and ding it. There is also no risk of over-clamping, so they work great on carbon seat posts. (it is a very bad habit not to clamp the bike to the seat post).

Of course, every bike stand has it advantages and disadvantages; the T3050 doesn't work for very small children's bikes, or recumbents or other "funny" sized bikes. Taking the front or rear wheel off when putting the bike in the stand, isn't a problem with QR wheels, but can be more bothersome with solid axle wheels etc.