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Boy Scout
Tue Jul 8th, 2003, 07:00 PM
Now that we've covered rear stands (Rear Stand Recommendations? (http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1242)). How about front stands?

I've been looking at the PBs and it looks like there are three general choices (prices listed are MSRP):
1) Standard Front (http://www.pit-bull.com/Standard%20Front.htm) $149
2) Newfront Stand (http://www.pit-bull.com/Newfront%20Stand.htm) $149
3) Forklift with/without Converter (http://www.pit-bull.com/Forklift%20and%20Converter.htm) $140 for forklift, $195 for forklift & converter

#1 is the older style front stand (steering stem). #2 is the new style front stand (steering stem), which uses the same base as the rear stand (in fact there is a converter available to convert a rear stand to a front stand). #3 is a forklift stand. For #3, there is also converter available that will convert it from forklift to steering stem.

Given that #1 and #2 are the same price, seems like #2 would be the better choice since they are functionally the same, but #2 stores more compactly. With regard to #3, without the converter you're limited to tire/wheel work (i.e. can't remove the forks with it). With the converter you're functionally equivalent to #1 and #2, but $45 more. The question I guess is if you have a steering stem lift, are their any situations where you would want a fork lift instead? In other words, is it worth an extra $45 (likely less, since $45 is based on MSRP pricing) to have the capability to do both?

Pros? Cons? General comments?

yakuza
Tue Jul 8th, 2003, 07:15 PM
My buddy Dave (raceday mechanic and shares my garage) has the front forklift and purchased the converter afterwards. For him, the difference is that to access his steering stem he has to remove a plastic part from his bodywork, so the forklift becomes important when he wants to lift the front end for wheel changes, etc without removing any bodywork. I've used his Pitbulls and they are very nicely made and work well.

However, I scored a deal last fall on the front steering-stem lift and convertable rear stand from Kowa Motorcycle Tools (http://www.kowatools.com/) for about the same price he paid for just one of his pitbulls (without the steering stem converter! :o ). They obviously aren't as sturdy or high quality as the pitbulls, but they've worked flawlessly for me for a year now both in the garage and at the racetrack.

I can't think of a good reason you'd need just the forklift, and if you ever wanted to remove your forks (fork oil change) you'd need the steering stem lift, or else be comfortable with suspending your bike from the rafters of your garage (my bike is actually hanging from my rafters right now as I just sent my shock off hehe).

Hope that helps.