Gone are the days of cookie-cutter bikes that all share the same frame tubing, wheel sizes, and axle standards. These days, bicycles come in an almost infinite array of shapes and sizes, constructed of aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, and even titanium. Some are made for riding rough and rocky singletrack, and others are made to fly over asphalt. There's a decent chance you own more than one bike, or your garage is filled with yours, your kids', and your spouse's. Regardless of how many bikes you have, eventually, something will go wrong with one or more of them. At OutdoorGearLab, we're lucky to have a huge variety of bikes and a bunch of people passionate about riding them. Some of us are pretty slick with a wrench and don't blink an eye at tearing down a suspension fork and servicing it ourselves. Others just want to make sure all the bolts are tight and the tires have air in them before they set out.
How We Tested Bike Work Stands
Our thorough test process aimed to identify each stand's strengths and weaknesses and rate them across seven predetermined metrics. Each model was run through a series of tests and measurements to assess its performance and how it compares to the others. To test each model, we rated its ease of Setup, stability, clamps' ease of use, available angle adjustments, height adjustment, portability, and ease of everyday maintenance. We have detailed how we tested each of these metrics below.
Ease of Setup
To determine how easy each work stand was to set up and break down, we set them up and broke them down repeatedly. We practiced with each model and did timed trials to see which were the easiest and fastest to deploy. We also took into account any required assembly, though it didn't affect the overall ease-of-setup scores.
Stability
Stability is a very important aspect of each work stand's performance for effective wrenching and safety. As a baseline stability test, we had our testers perform a simple pedal swap, an action that places a good amount of torque on the bicycle while mounted in the stand. Our testers also used each stand for a variety of other repairs and maintenance tasks, and positioned the bikes in them at maximum height and extreme angles to push the limits of each model's stability. The most stable models will hold steady while you remove a 10-year-old bottom bracket, while less stable models struggle to stay still while you retape your handlebars. If you're using a heavy mountain bike or ebike, a more stable stand can be the difference between lubing your chain and the bike tackling you.
Clamp
A good clamp design can make or break a work stand. User-friendliness is one of the most important aspects of a clamp's performance, and we primarily considered ergonomics and ease of clamping in our evaluation. Every clamp-style stand we tested has wide, non-marking rubber-coated jaws, but the closure mechanisms vary dramatically. Some have super user-friendly slide-locking or ratcheting designs, while others use a cam-locking closure. By repeatedly loading and unloading bikes, our testers determined which models had the best and worst clamp designs. Unlike many other mechanical devices, the clamp needs to excel at being operated with a single hand because, in most cases, you're holding a bike in the air with the other hand.
Angle Adjustment
To evaluate the angle adjustment on each work stand, we examined the design and interface of each model before using it in practice. Testers made frequent adjustments to the clamp arm of each model with and without a bike in the clamp jaws. Bikes were held at extreme angles, and repairs were performed to test the stability and security of each model's adjustment.
Height Adjustment
Most bike work stands have an adjustable height so you can position the clamp arm at the appropriate height for the task at hand. We measured each model at its maximum and minimum height and compared those numbers to the manufacturer's claims. Additionally, we tested how well each stand's height adjustment worked by repeatedly raising and lowering it, with and without a bike in the clamp's jaws. Factors such as hardware, friction, and ease of raising and lowering were taken into account, along with the adjustment range. One of our test models uses an electric motor to raise and lower the bike with a push of a button.
Portability
All of the work stands we tested are relatively portable, and most collapse down for storage or transport. We measured each model in its smallest collapsed size to determine its dimensions and weighed each stand on the same scale for consistency. We also took into account additional features, such as storage bags and loose parts and pieces to keep track of. The heaviest model in our lineup has transport wheels that allow you simply roll the stand to a new location.
Everyday Maintenance
Another important rating metric was everyday maintenance. Tasks as simple as washing or lubing your bike after every ride are enhanced with a work stand. The more user-friendly a work stand is, the more likely we are to use it. The everyday maintenance metric is deduced by questioning all of our testers at the end of a review period. Is there a barrier to use? Would you rather just lean your bike against the wall while lubing the chain, or is the stand inviting?
Conclusion
There's a lot to consider when purchasing a bike work stand, but any of the stands we tested will be better than the one you don't have. We hope the information we've gathered helps you decide which work stand is the right one for you.