Recommendations for a quality but not outrageously expensive workstand?
 

I'm in the market. Tired of putting bikes together/taking them apart while they lean up against a wall :)

Free-standing type, btw. Not the kind that would mount to a workbench.

Pics, specs, plusses and minuses are all welcomed, as are observations and opinions. Thanks!

DD

eagerly watching this thread...

Park Tool PCS-9 is the go to, I think. No frills, just a quality stand.

I have a Feedback Sports Sprint, the kind where you use a fork mount instead of a clamp. I also have a Wrench Force stand with a clamp that's pretty nice. I like both, and both have pros and cons, but I'd recommend the Feedback, or at least that style. It's nice to not have to clamp the seatpost or the frame, and you can spin it around, making it great for cleaning or building.

Look for a Pedro's Rockstand.

They originally debuted for around $1300 for the double stand and I think around $600 for the single. However, nobody knows what they are and they NEVER look for them. You can potentially find them for less than the price of a good Park portable stand if you find a motivated seller.

Pedros Australia 2011

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=482819http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=482820

Also for those limited to a portable stand budget, insist on getting a three-footed stand. You won't regret it. I like Ultimate stands, but a stand is mostly a stand. Also don't forget that Park makes wall mounted stands. More bang for the buck and they don't fall over if you can't budget for a shop stand.

I second the recommendation for the Park stand. It's just an overall quality piece of kit, very stable and it folds up into a fairly small package. If you can bear to spend a little more money the PCS-10 has a much nicer clamp and a quick release on the height extender, but the PCS-9 gets the job done for less money, just less conveniently.

Park PCS-10 is my vote. I spent ton's of time and $$$ trying DIY versions. time and $$$ wasted.

This is the best tool investment I have made. Not the cheapest, but quality,stability, usability, etc are great.


Home Mechanic Repair Stand - Park Tool

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps1xs48ic9.jpg

I love my PCS-10 too. I've long since forgotten what it cost, but if I could go back in time, I'd tell myself to pick one up right after getting into bikes again.

I have a Nashbar stand and have no complaints.

http://media.nashbar.com/images/nash...60-NCL-TOP.jpg

Nashbar 360 Repair Stand

I've been using this one http://www.amazon.com/Venzo-Mechanic.../dp/B00D9B7OKQ

It's been good for what I do and I love that it folds up and stores away easily.

Feedback Sports Sport stand. The tripod is sturdy and allows twisting the bike while on the stand. Also gets high enough where the BB is nearly at eye level. Seems to retail now $30 more than what I recall spending, but I am old and the memory is going.

http://www.excelsports.com/assets/gallery/104492-1.jpg

If I told you what I use, you'd laugh at me.....what the heck.

I used to use one of these, and someone stole it at a charity ride.
http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v1/1...king-stand.jpg

but now I use one of these, and a bungee cord. If I have to do BB work I take the wheels off, lay the bike on a carpet.
Do not ask me how I remove and replace headsets. Some things, you don't want to know.

http://static.jensonusa.com/images/D...4/RA309A06.jpg

+1 on this stand. Been using it for years, folds down super quick and compact, but I leave mine set up in my shop all the time. More stable than the PCS 10 from Park, but a bit more dear ($) as well. I think it's a great piece, and durable as hell. I can really crank on a frozen BB without it trying to rise up like some of the 2 leg style. I really like the "punch button" QR clamp too.

Amazon.com : Feedback Sports Pro Elite Repair Stand with Tote Bag (Red) : Bike Workstands : Sports & Outdoors

Mine is a cheap one (Minoura maybe?) bought from nashbar probably 10 years ago. Works, so worth what I paid for it, but I wouldn't recommend you go that cheap.

I have tried several, and prefer this one: Tacx t3075. Very stable, and takes a lot of abuse. Folds too.

https://wwwstatic3.tacx.com/Media/De...stand-left.jpg

For bikes with fenders I've got this C&V contraption:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Grotefoto-3TS7TSKX.jpg

The professionals, however, prefer these:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Grotefoto-MI4I7MQB.jpg

Whew...

That looks similar to this Spin Doctor (plus Spin Doctor Truing Stand). $100 + $50, assuming they are still available.

Bike work stand, wheel truing stand, car rack

I snagged a used Park Commercial stand off of Craigslist a while ago. I've worked on bikes on the ground and upside-down for so long it takes a bit of time to get used to it.

Park Professional is still the standard IMO unless you need portable.

The Park PCS-9 is adequate. It would me nice to have the clamp like the PCS-10, but it doesn't ruin my day or anything.

I have a PCS-9 and it's worked great. There is a PCS-11 for sale in Seattle on CL for a reasonable price. https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bop/5267020262.html

This works well. Not having dedicated shop space, I really like that it all folds up. There are, however, times I wish it had a 50 pound base. Thankfully, those times are very few.

I had never seen one of those that hold the bike by the forks, I've got to build one of those.

I got one of these: Minoura Repair Stand RS-5000 - 19081 (used on ebay) after my PC-9 quickly bit the dust. That was 7 years ago. I have beaten on it pretty hard, as I used to do a fair bit of flipping. Still works like a charm.

I used a Blackburn workhorse for almost 20 years until just recently decided to upgrade and got the Park PRS 21. I like the ability to rotate the bike. My work space is pretty tight and it's nice to be able to rotate the bike to get into my parts/tools closet and my beer fridge on the other side. I also like adjustable height because bending over the old stand was killing my back.

I think a good stand is money well spent notwithstanding my years of using the cheap stand, wish I got the Park years ago. I got the 21 because I prefer fork mount for my odd shaped and carbon frames, but clamp type will be fine for steel bikes, and truly most other types of bikes.

Jeff, There are only two consumer stands to consider imo, the Feedback Pro Elite or the Feedback Sprint.

If you work on mostly steel, tradition bikes, the Elite is just fine. For modern CF, the Sprint. The QR on the Elite is worth the extra money. I recently bought a second Elite. I was able to get it for under $200/shipped. They do go on sale from time to time.

Park PCS 10.
Great stand, use it all the time.

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6091eec1.jpg

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...ps26462ace.jpg