Graves centrestands?

[jarl]

I want a centrestand for my bike, looking at about £120+postage from dave silvers, or £130 from graves who I'm getting crashbars from anyway. Anyone had any experience of the Graves stand? I want it fairly sharpish as I plan to do my wheel bearings soon, so it might be a good idea to get the honda one from Dave silvers, but I thought I'd ask.

[T ALP]

I want a centrestand for my bike, looking at about £120+postage from dave silvers, or £130 from graves who I'm getting crashbars from anyway. Anyone had any experience of the Graves stand? I want it fairly sharpish as I plan to do my wheel bearings soon, so it might be a good idea to get the honda one from Dave silvers, but I thought I'd ask.

Sorry I carn't help you with your question jarl, but just out of interest can anyone tell me what the centre stand, pivot pin, springs, weigh?
Not being bothered about having one fitted permanently, but realising its an essential piece of kit I made one which can be flat packed with the rest of any gear I carry and can be fitted in seconds but cannot be left in place BUT it may be quite heavy at six and a half pounds in weight?

[tramp]

hi jarl,
unless you are going to use the centre stand alot why not get a rear paddock stand for maintenace etc, much much cheaper.

tramp

[davedixon]

I agree with tramp on this one. A fitted stand is a lot of weight to carry around. I borrowed my mates motrax stand but it wouldant fit it was too short and it had a sliding handle to operate it which fouled the number plate. Be warned make sure it fits and works before buying!! Dave.

[Bluff]

Any recommendations for paddock stands and where to get them???

It would be usefull to help me clean my spokes

[jarl]

I want to be able to get the front wheel off the ground for a bearing change, I also want to be able to remove the swingarm. I think a centrestand is my only choice, although I am sure it will interfere slightly and make the bike heavier. If anyone has a method to get both wheels off the ground without paying "£how bloody much?" for a centrestand then I'd love to hear it, I'm not too bothered about changing punctures whilst riding.

[Bluff]

Could you not raise it with a trolley jack and then slip in some blocks with a slat of timber on top?

[tramp]

hi bluff and jarl,
good cheap paddock stands here:Paul Smeeton's BitzForBikes - Motorcycle / Motorbike parts and spares. Bike accessories

to get the bike off the ground for both front and rear major maintenace I had a make weld some car axel stand tops to a old sq metal frame so its under middle of bike and rests in "v" section on btm frame tubes so no worries of falling off.

first "heath robinson thingy" was the old borrowed milk crate/ pop bottle crate with some timber as edge sopports worked greta till mate so it and made me the new version

use paddock stand for rear the place centre support under bike and tip bike back-[really a two person affair] be nice to the wife/girlfriend the day before.

you could always use trolly jack with some kinda frame.

Russell

[TBoy]

Hi,

I'm afraid I'm not the most mechanically minded however after having a nightmare cleaning and oiling my chain I decided to buy a centre stand. I look at all of the different ones available and decided to go for the Honda one. I bought it from my local Honda Dealer £130 with the advice to get a number 3 philips screwdriver to assist leavering the two springs on.

The whole job took about an hour but its on now and working perfectly. I dont know about any of the other stands all I know is the Honda stand does the job I need it to do and if needed it is simple enough to remove.

Hope this helps you decide one way or another, oh watch your fingers when fitting the spring and take care not to punch yourself in the face. They are a bit fiddly but with a bit of care and patience they will slip into place

Steve

[ADE THE BLADE]

I want to be able to get the front wheel off the ground for a bearing change, I also want to be able to remove the swingarm. I think a centrestand is my only choice, although I am sure it will interfere slightly and make the bike heavier. If anyone has a method to get both wheels off the ground without paying "£how bloody much?" for a centrestand then I'd love to hear it, I'm not too bothered about changing punctures whilst riding.

cocoa tin.....some flour.....candle......matches. trust me! oh dont hold me responsible if it all goes wrong