The Different Types of Bike Stands & How They Differ

Any rider who maintains their motorcycle by himself will probably tell you that you shouldn’t be doing any bike maintenance without a bike stand. Bike stands keep the bike upright without fearing of it tipping over. And even though they are an incredibly convenient tool, not everyone needs to have one. After all, not everyone is interested in maintaining their bike by themselves. However, those who do need a bike stand and are looking to buy one, there are a couple of factors they need to consider in order to make a well-informed decision.

When shopping for one, you’ll come across a couple of different types, all of which have a unique function. However, they all have one thing in common – to support the bike and hold it securely. Some bikes are easier to work on with centre stands, while others are easier to work on with side stands, which put the bike in a slightly tilted position. But worth knowing is that working on a bike that’s slightly tilted to the side can be dangerous and challenging, as there’s always the risk of it falling over. For that reason, when shopping for a bike stand at a motorcycles accessories store, try to get a centre stand.

The three main types of bike stand available in motorcycles accessories stores include wheel chocks, roller wheel stands, and paddock stands.

Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks feature a section which comes in direct contact with the bike’s tyre. Not only does it hold the bike vertically, but it also grips its tyres to prevent movement. These stands are typically used to safely park bikes when at the workshop, at home, or anywhere else. Wheel chocks make bike maintenance and cleaning easy and convenient, and they’re also great for securing your bike when transporting it on a trailer. However, wheel chocks can’t be used to change the tyres on the bike.

Paddock Stands

Paddock stands support the bike under the rear and front suspensions. While these stands function similarly to wheel chock stands, they’re slightly less secure when transporting the bike on a trailer. However, paddock stands are much more versatile as they allow the rider not only to clean and maintain their bike but also to remove its wheels. In fact, removing the tyres using a paddock stand is very easy.

Roller Wheel Stands

Lastly, roller wheel stands are more compact than other types of stands. They’re practically a flat metal bed featuring two rollers where the bike’s wheels can rest. While using this type of stand, riders have to put the bike’s side stand down, because it doesn’t hold the bike up. These stands are ideal for cleaning the bike’s wheels, as well as for maintaining and oiling the drive chain. Generally, these stands are the most simple and most affordable type.