Bike work stand?
 

What is the best quality bike work stand? I am just getting into biking and plan to do my maintenance.

Updated: Had the wrong model number, corrected.

That's like asking who makes the best pickup truck, LOL. I have two stands. A Park Pro Euro model (PRS-21) and a PCS-10. If I had to choose between the two I'd go with the PCS-10. I like Park stands though.




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A completely unexpected (and welcome) attribute of the Pletchser double leg kickstand I got for my second to last tandem buy was that the legs do not keep the crank from turning when deployed. More than that, they are made to be cut to length but if left full length they raise the rear wheel (26") 3" to 4" off the ground. A lot of bike wrenching requires running the RD through the gears after adjustment. Even brake work requires spinning up the wheel to see if there is any rub or grab. I destroyed the clamp of a (cheap) workstand by putting a tandem in it. Now both my workhorse tandems have their own built in workstands. FWIW.

PRS-10 is quite nice.

One thing I don't get about the Park stands that clamp at the axles....none of them at first glance have out of the box thru axle support, have to buy extra parts for that.

I know I was opening up a can of worms,but needed to ask!

A cheap, poorly designed repair stand is a pain. Park makes nice repair stands. Buy the best Park stand you can afford or, watch for used ones on craigslist or whatever.

I got a Feedback Sports Recreational Workstand from Performance for 85.00 during one of their sales. All I can say is that I needed to keep looking for another stand because it is not something you can wrench your bike on. The bike clamp will spin! Add to that the clamp mechanism is like a vise handle you have to spin shut and you need to be holding your bike while attempting this and it I challenging. The only thing I do like about it is that I am 6'3" and I like the height (non adjustable) of this stand. So I found an old Park PCS-1 on Craiglist at a great price. This is also a folding bike stand but it has a clamp that is spring loaded and just needs to be pulled down to secure the bike. Also the bike is secure and you can wrench on this stand... Not being happy and always looking for a deal. I recently found an old heavy shop type stand that I think is a Park PRS-1. A real heavy duty stand that I got a great deal on from Craigslist. The only thing is that it is only about four feet tall but since it looks like standard size pipe was used I plan on adding a section to make it about a foot taller.


Anyway to sum up my rambling I would recommend a Park stand as they seem to be sturdy and solid.


Max Bryant

One worthwhile question is do you really need the "best"? Are you running a commercial repair business or a bike shop? Will it be used every day for a wide variety of bikes? Are portability or ease of storage considerations or do you have a dedicated workshop where it can be left set up permanently?

As to the best brands, I consider Park and Feedback Sports to be the two that qualify and they both make a variety of models in a range of versatility and prices. Buy a good and suitable stand but don't overbuy.

Park PCS-10 is surely not "the best" but for me it hits the right price/quality ratio.

The PCS-10 is going to be the most common recommendation, I'm guessing. You didn't say anything about a price range, but this one is definitely a step up from the PCS-10. The disadvantage of the Topeak is that the tripod legs are long and you need a large area to extend all three. The PCS-10 is two legs and fits in a smaller space.

The Topeak is heavier-duty in pretty much every way and that's what you get for your money. It feels like it's just going to last longer. The scale is nice. They both work.

https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-PrepSt...peak+PrepStand

I have a Park PCS 4-2 it will handle most any repair task.

If you're going to put the workstand in the garage and happen to have a workbench, the Park PCS-12 will save you a good bit of money. It's just the bench-mount version of the PCS-10, so you save about $70 as it doesn't have legs. I'm quite pleased with mine.

I have two.

Feedback Ultimate Work Stand. Compact when folded, takes very little room. Unfolded it has a huge footprint. Great for lighter bikes, not so great for heavier bikes. Easy on and easy off mechanism.

Cinelli shop work stand. I purchased this over thirty years ago when I worked at a bike shop. It was the same stands they were using in the repair department. This is my favorite stand because of how stout it is. The down side is its not portable and I live in a condo.

Depends on what your needs are. If I had the permanent space, I would just use the shop stand.

I have a similar one, the 4-1 (mine is older, it may even be a PCS-4, without the 1 or 2 suffix). Both the 4-2 and 4-1 have heavier, larger diameter tubing than a lot of the home stands, and a better clamp. As Dr. Isotope points out, its the same clamp as the workbench model (and as the heavy shop models). I concur with Giant: these are very capable stands. And they fold up/disassemble for easy storage.

I worked in a bike shop for years and got used to having a really good, heavy duty stand (like a 2.2.1) with a thick steel base. None of the home workshop or portable stands really have that heft and strength and stiffness, but the 4-2 is very stiff for the weight. And you probably don't want an 80 lb repair stand that doesn't fold up.

I have an older model, but the current one looks like this:

http://www.parktool.com/assets/img/p...CS-4-1_001.jpg

I like that the one I got last spring folds up. this way I can take it outside for bike cleaning. but it is handy to have it always set up in the basement, in my bike area. almost everything I do on my bike(s) is easier on a stand.

it may not be the best, but I have no complaints. especially at less than $100

Aluminum Cycle Pro Mechanic Bicycle Repair Stand Rack Bike
http://thebiketube.com/sites/all/fil...?itok=2f32SpYi

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

fyi I do not use the tool tray, I have too many tools & my work table is close enough

I bought myself for Christmas the Kettler Pro Repair stand, on sale , just over $200, but I love it.

The "best", IMHO is the Park PRS-3.2-1 Deluxe Single bolted to the floor.

At home I use a Feedback Sports Classic for its quality construction and portability.

Well, yeah, unless its a PRS 2.2-1 (with two clamps).

That's what I have in my 600 square foot dedicated home bike workshop. Right next to my personalized computer sizing machine, and the dual 6 foot wide by 5 foot tall Lista toolboxes filled with a complete 700 piece set of Snap-On tool, and every tool Park ever made. Right next to to the Monarch 10EE lathe and Cincinnati Toolmaker mill. The Quincy scroll compressor with a 100 gallon tank is there, too. Exclusively for filling the tires of my personal bikes. ;)

I have both a PCS-10 and a PCS-12. Be aware that there is no height adjustment for the PCS-12, so you'll want to be sure your bench will bring the bike(s) to the height you need. Also, I had to mount my PCS-12 on a board to space it away from the bench top and other supports to clear the whirling cranks and pedals.

I think the problem I would have with a bench mount stand is that I like to be able to walk around the bike and work from all sides and angles. But then again I have plenty of garage floor space so I have that luxury. A bench stand would be perfect for someone with limited space.

Very well made. Rock solid. The quick-release clamp is awesome.

this is my vote and what I use. I wasted a lot of time money trying DIY and other options. This stand is also used by a local non prophet bike charity for mobile repairs

Do you need a new friend? :twitchy:

Have been happy with the Venzo stand I got about a year ago.
https://www.amazon.com/VENZO-Alumini.../dp/B00FLU61Z2

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...M/IMG_5439.jpg

I think everyone needs two stands. One to clamp the front forks with the wheel off and one to clamp at the seat tube. I have found that mechanically, that works best.