Abba stand/NWS Ulti-Pro - any alternatives?

[matt_the_blat]

Right - slight downside of having Ohlins suspenders is it needs servicing roughly every 5 minutes. So, I need to remove the shock to get it serviced (02 Aprilia RSV-R Mille).

I've got normal front & rear paddock stands, plus an under yoke one but they probably won't be much use. I know an Abba stand will do the job or NWS do something called the Ulti-Pro (like the Abba one). Before I fork out £100 (unless I spot a bargain at the NEC) does anyone know any alternatives?

I've got ratchet straps and I've considered suspending the bike from the garage ceiling but I'm not 100% sure I trust the roof!!! (I also saw a picture recently on www.apriliaforum.com of a snapped rear subframe!)

Cheers,

Matt

[MonkeyJim]

A proper stand is £100 well spent.

As Strappy said, the NWS/Abba stand will fit a multitude of bikes, so it will always be useful for as long as you have a bike.

I have the Abba one...used it for taking the shocks out on a few bikes....piece of cake.

Axle stands under the pegs will work. if the pegs are the original flip-up types, then take the off and put the LH one on the right and vice-versa, so they flip down instead of up. The first time that you drop the bike, you will regret not shelling the money out (I dropped a bike off a pair of shite Oxford stands- luckily with no damage). Just make sure that you loosen all the bolts before putting it on the stand!

Zakalwe speakum da truth, no hokum

I consider stands to be part of my toolkit and thus are worth spending good money on as an investment.

I've got an ABBA stand which gets used all the time, for cleaning the bike, maintenance, and storage. I originally bought it so I could remove the rear shock and replace with an ohlins, and I've been amazed at how much I've used it over the years.

I combine it with a Harris under-yoke front stand so I can get both wheels off the ground for working on / winter storage without loading the suspension at either end. The under-yoke front means I can get the forks out too if I need to.

I think the NWS stand is probably just as good, but what sold the ABBA to me was they do adaptors to fit into the R&G crash bungs I've got mounted off both ends of the swingarm spindle.

Before that, I used a Micron rear paddock stand, which I still use very occasionally; it was very cheap but it's a bit crappo compared to the ABBA and Harris ones I've got.

Spend your money wisely, get decent kit.

[jollygiant]

Ok can you do this with paddock stands???

Best £80 I have ever spent on garage stuff use it all the time now. So easy to get it up as well(Ooh Err Missus!!)

[MonkeyJim]

Matt - just a thought since I posted above

might be worth checking if Abba stands are going to be at the NEC as you mention it.

I bought mine direct from the Abba Stand stand [geddit?] at the Ally Pally show and got a great deal, admittedly it was quite a few years ago though.

I bought the main stand, a 'front lift' [arf!] plus the adaptors for the R&G bobbins for my R1, all for about £100. Thankyouverymuchta

[matt_the_blat]

Jolly good, jolly good. I have a look for a bargain at the NEC but failing that I'll give NWS a shout.

Thanks everyone

Matt

[MonkeyJim]

Jolly good, jolly good. I have a look for a bargain at the NEC but failing that I'll give NWS a shout.

Thanks everyone

Matt

ABBA have got a stand at the NEC show

http://www.motorcycleshow.co.uk/mci2008/ex...hibitor_id=2647

hope the link works, if not try http://www.motorcycleshow.co.uk/mci2008/exhibitor_list.html

[blow_away]

I think Simon Martin may have packed in making stands? ISTR his website was www.buystands.co.uk but I can't find it now?

[lorenzo]

I suspect that simon martin sold his designs to NWS. Certainly his and their stands are very similar and he's sold designs to NWS in the past.