Stand up straight: Best motorcycle paddock stands as chosen by MCN

Published: 04 June 2024 Updated: 25 July 2024

There are lots of reasons why a motorcycle paddock stand is a fundamental accessory, even if you’ve only got a basic tool set-up.

First and foremost, bikes like being stored upright. There are several models that specifically don’t like being stored for any length of time on just the side stand – the oil drains to one side and exposes the engine’s internals to air and moisture, with potential corrosion issues.

They can also be very useful for general maintenance; if your bike doesn’t have a centre stand but does use a chain, then cleaning and lubricating the chain is far easier if the rear wheel is off the ground, as is adjusting the chain tension.

The best motorcycle paddock stands at a glance:

Best value for money paddock stand: Oxford Premium Paddock Stands – View on Sportsbikeshop
Best paddock centre stand: Abba Superbike Stand – View on Demon Tweeks
Best moveable paddock stand: Oxford Zero-G Dolly Stand – View on Sportsbikeshop

And if you need to remove the rear wheel for any reason – for example, if you’re replacing the chain and sprockets – then you’ll need to get it off the ground.

At the front, it’s a similar situation; you may need to remove the front wheel to replace bearings or get tyres changed, for example, or just to get weight off the wheels and tyres during storage to prevent the tyres from becoming misshaped.

If you need to raise your motorcycle a little higher and off both wheels you can look at a lift or bench.

Oxford Premium Paddock Stand

Best value for money paddock stand

Price: £61.64 (was £99.99)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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Tested by Richard Newland for 10 months -

"There have been three occasions in my life when I've watched bikes gracefully keel over and land like beached whales on their sides thanks to collapsing paddock stands."Thankfully, I'm confident it won't happen with a front and rear motorcycle paddock stand from Oxford. The long handle section gives good leverage to hoik even the heaviest bikes off terra firma, and once lifted, the bike feels rock-solid and secure.

"Crucially, they also use double wheels per arm, ensuring there's less torsional twist when the mass of your bike is bearing down on them. Great value for money."

Pros

Great value
Long handle for leverage
Well made

Cons

Colour choice not for everyone

Quality

5.0
Value

5.0

Max Load	250kg
Construction	38mm tubular steel
Mounts included	L plates and bobbin forks included

Elongated handle design which helps give more leverage and a controlled lift
Two position adjustment screws ensure security and stability
Extra torsional supports giving increased rigidity

Abba Superbike Stand

Best paddock centre stand

Price: £133.91

www.demon-tweeks.com

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Tested by Jim Blackstock: "While the Superbike stand and front-lift arm kit are not cheap, compared with some paddock stands, they are significantly cheaper than a pair of front and rear paddock stands from a decent manufacturer.

"The cheaper paddock stands are not particularly good quality, and the Abba stand scores because it is easy to lift the bike and when it is in the air, it is rock solid, giving you the confidence to tackle any job on it.

"You can also use adapters to remove the swingarm – not something you can do with a paddock stand – if you need to, and £20 makes it useable on another bike. It's a great addition to the workshop and made the jobs I had to do not only possible but so much safer and easier."

Read our full Abba Superbike stand review

Pros

Fits a huge variety of bikes
Easy to use and safe and stable
British made

Cons

Bike tips forward onto front wheel

Quality

5.0
Value

5.0

Max load	Unknown
Construction	Fully welded steel
Mounts included	Specific bike mounts included for your model

Both wheels suspended simultaneously
Will not scratch the swing-arm
No permanent fittings required to be fitted to the bike

Oxford Zero-G Rear Dolly Stand

Best moveable paddock stand

Price: $197.40

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Tested by Adam Binnie: "I'm a bit short on space in my garage, and there's usually a car on the driveway backed up to the door - this means a lot of to and fro-ing to get my bike into the right space.

"The castor wheels on this Oxford paddock stand mean I can spin the bike 180 degrees if need be and manoeuvre it into the space against the wall where it can be safe from falling objects or heavy garage items dragged past its easy-to-scratch paint.

"It requires a bit of assembly but feels rock sold once put together, and the castors can be locked in place to stop it sliding around when you don't want it to. Oxford was very keen to point out this is only to be used on smooth concrete floors, though you can't go wheeling it down the street.

"I've found it super useful when working on the bike in my small garage space because I can move it around to access the other side without having to drop the stand, reposition and then put it back on the stand. A really useful bit of kit."

Pros

Handy in tight spaces
Well-made

Cons

Some assembly required

Quality

5.0
Value

4.0

Max Load	250kg
Construction	Welded steel
Mounts included	Bobbin forks

Heavy duty lockable castors
Torsional supports for increased stability
Lift to 335mm height

Oxford Zero-G Front Dolly Stand

Best moveable front paddock stand

www.amazon.co.uk

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Tested by Justin Hayzelden: "Some front motorcycle paddock stands can feel a bit precarious when it comes to the crucial moment of levering the wheel off the ground - not great for confidence when it's your pride and joy at stake.

"Thankfully, this sturdy dolly stand from Oxford has a few neat features to alleviate that issue. Firstly, the arms that cradle the fork legs have rubber pads to prevent scratching, providing an opportunity to get them settled first without risking damage to paintwork. They're spring-loaded, too, locating the pads positively under the fork ends so they don't slip out.

"The stand is suitably long enough to require very little effort as you push down, and it rolls neatly into position to support the front end. Once raised, the bike feels perfectly secure, and 360° castors make manoeuvring it around the shed a doddle. The wheels can also be locked in position for when you're carrying out maintenance.

"Despite its heavy-duty appearance, the Zero-G dolly's tubular construction makes it surprisingly lightweight. There is some self-assembly required, but it only takes a few minutes. It's well made, easy to use and is pretty much a workshop essential."

Pros

Handy in tight spaces
Well-made

Cons

Some assembly required

Quality

5.0
Value

4.0

Max load	250kg
Construction	Welded steel
Mounts included	Lifting forks included

Heavy duty lockable castors
Rubber covered mounts to protect the bike
Torsional supports for increased stability
325mm lifting height

R&G Racing Elevation Rear Paddock Stand

Price: £94.99

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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Tried and tested by Michael Guy - "British company R&G have been around for years and have a reputation for designing and selling truly fit-for-purpose products an d this rear paddock stand is no exception. It’s easy to assemble but feels completely ‘together’ once built. It also strikes a reassuring balance between being sturdy without weighing a tonne, meaning it’s easy to manhandle into place with one hand while you keep your bike upright with the other. "

"This stand is universal and will fit practically any model of twin-sided swing-arm bike thanks to its easily adjustable hooks that are designed to work with regular bobbins which can be screwed into your bike’s swing-arm. Getting your bike up on the stand and the rear wheel off the ground is simple due to the four high quality castors which help to take the weight. And once up on the stand you’ll have zero concerns about the stability of your pride and joy meaning that, whether you’re simply oiling the chain or removing the whole rear wheel you can be confident your bike will stay upright."

Pros

Easy to use
Sturdy construction

Cons

Assembly required

Quality

5.0
Value

4.0

Max load	Unknown
Construction	Tubular steel
Mounts included	Bobbin forks included

Adjustable arms
High quality castor wheels
Powder coated black finish

What to look for in a paddock stand

There are two main types of paddock stand; ones that are universal and ones that use bobbins. The universal variety will lift the rear of the bike on the swingarm and will fit wherever possible, while front stands also tend to be universal, lifting on the bottom of the fork legs.

The other variety uses a pair of conical bobbins that are fitted to the bike (and stay fitted), and then hooked brackets lift on the bobbins for a more secure mounting.

There are also stands that will lift on the front headstock allowing the front wheel and the suspension to be removed while the bike is up, and another option is for a lift to use a rod that passes straight through the wheel spindle from one side to the other.

Some stands replicate a centre stand with added functionality, while others lift the whole bike off the ground – but by that point, we’re starting to move away from paddock stands and into proper workshop stands.

FAQ

What is the point of a paddock stand?

A paddock stand is used to keep the motorbike stable which stationary, not to be mistaken with the side stand or centre stand. The paddock stand allows the wheel (rear or front depending on which stand is used) to move freely while positioned upright.

Do paddock stands fit all bikes?

Paddock stands will fit almost any bike with either a swing-arm mount or a bobbin fork mount. Bobbins are added to the swing-arm to protect it and also to provide a mounting point for lifting the rear of the bike.

Can I leave my bike on a paddock stand?

Yes, it is advised to leave your bike on a paddock stand if you are not going to be riding it for long periods of time. It can also be left on a paddock stand if you are carrying out work on the rear wheel for example and can’t put the bike onto it’s own stand.

What is the point of a paddock stand?

A paddock stand allows the bike to be lifted off it’s wheels, which allows the wheels to be removed or for work to be carried out where the wheel needs to rotate. For example to clean and lubricate the chain.

How MCN tests products

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction, we use it exactly how you do; in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

All of the paddock stands in this page have been tested in the real world by a member of the team and scored at least four stars overall.

Motorcycle paddock stands are tested against quality and value before being awarded an overall score out of five.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcyc l e products.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.