Forward vs rearward handle stand.

[kevin_stevens]

Ok, new bike, I get to buy ANOTHER stand - I seem to alternate between single-side and double-side swingarm bikes with depressing regularity.

For the K bikes, PitBull has two rear stands. One is the "conventional" handle to the rear setup, the other is the "handle forward" style that seems more popular in Europe. Pros/cons on the forward handle? There are two I can think of - one that it gives you maybe better access to the rear wheel without the stand frame in the way, the other that the support direction is opposite. The latter would matter most when putting the front wheel up - there's always a scary moment where you have to be sure the front stand is moving back under the forks rather than pulling the whole bike forward off the rear stand. But this would just change the direction and make it scary when letting the bike down rather than putting it up, so not sure that's a big difference.

Anything else? Why did forward handle stands come to be, anyway?

Here's links...

Pit Bull Motorcycle Stands & Accessories: One Armed Rear, Fwd Handle, BMW K1200/1300

Pit Bull Motorcycle Stands & Accessories: One Armed Rear, BMW K1200/1300

KeS

[boner]

i can swap my stand to be forward or rearward, i usually go fwd. the handle is out of the way when you're walking around the bike, and i feel it is nice that i can keep one hand on the handle bar while putting the bike up, keeping everything more stable.

[kevinwilly]

I want to say on the triumphs and ducatis the front arm stands let you do something different than the rear arm stands... like they lift from opposite sides so you can do the sprocket or something. I forget.

I have one of the rear-facing stands. They work on more bikes- you can just change out the pin. It's EXTREMELY stable and you can just drag the bike forward or backward without having to worry about it folding up on you. There's NO danger of it coming off when lifting or lowering the front end. NONE.

The other way might be better because you can hold the bike easier while lifting the rear.... but I find it's not hard at all to do it from the rear. I just put the pin in with the bike still on the side stand, and use the left wheel of the stand to lever it up. Once you have both wheels of the stand on the ground, even with the lever up in the air and the bike on the ground, it won't tip over at all.

Yeah- it might be less of a trip hazard for the forward facing one... but with shaft drive, there's not really any reason for it. The rear one works with more bikes. I still have mine and don't have a triumph on the road right now. Whatever. It's worth holding onto.

[OreoGaborio]

They're pretty much the exact same stand, the handle is just welded on to the other side. That's about it. Purely rider preference.

The forward stand came to be because it saves on space. You can back the bike right up against a wall.

[kevinwilly]

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

Kevin, they're virtually the exact same stand, the handle is just welded on to the other side. That's about it. Purely rider preference.

Well, then they have changed them since I last looked. Which would not surprise me.... I've had mine for like.... a while. 7 or 8 years, at least.


If they all work the same and you can change out the pins in both, then yeah- it's just whatever you want. I'd take the rear facing one, still... that way if you have it on there when you're doing the fairings or shifter or whatever the handle isn't in the way.

[ZorroX]

I have a pit-bull forward stand and it is much nicer when you are by yourself. However, it turns into a bit of a PITA at the track when your buddy comes running up to help set up your stand and it's damn near impossible because he has no leverage from behind. You end up getting off on the right side so he can get leverage or just doing it yourself.

[OreoGaborio]

Originally Posted by ZorroX

no leverage from behind. You end up getting off

giggity