Value: $199.99 / £224.99 / €295Stand weight: 7.2kgMax Weight: 36kg
You’ll paintings on a motorbike and not using a workstand, however the usage of one when wearing out repairs and maintenance makes existence so much more uncomplicated now and then. Up for evaluate as of late is my very own workstand, the Park Software PCS 9.3, which, within the logo’s phrases, is the stand ‘for the home mechanic’.
The PCS 9.3 is the most affordable portable work stand in the Park Tool range and is about the starting point price-wise for a good quality, durable workstand. I finished working as a mechanic and purchased this stand myself for home use. It doesn’t have some of the features someone working on bikes day in day out will probably need, but for home use on a smaller range of bikes, it’s been perfect.
I’ve been using the stand at home for over a year, and I am now ready to pull together my full review. Check out our best bike repair stands guide for more workstand options and buying advice. If you enjoy working on your bikes and are interested in tools, you can also head to our best bike torque wrenches guide.
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The stand’s legs have two braces to add strength.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)The legs fix into position using this clamp .(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)The height of the stand can be adjusted here.(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)Design and Aesthetics
The stand, as you might expect, comes in one colour, and that is Park Tool blue, a colour that has become synonymous with the American manufacturer over time. There are a few Park Tool stickers on the stand and a model name sticker up on the head. These can rip or tear with heavy use though, so look after them.
The PCS 9.3 needs assembling out of the box. It’s simply carried out, and Park provides maximum of its equipment with easy-to-follow, transparent directions, and you’ll do the whole thing with hex keys. There may be even a at hand meeting video which you’ll watch under. You must be arrange and able to paintings inside of thirty mins.
In the case of stands, weight is typically a just right factor, except you are travelling with one ceaselessly and simply need low weight. The PCS 9.3 makes use of an all metal development which weighs in at simply over 7 pounds, clean sufficient to hold, however strong sufficient to soundly beef up the load of maximum motorcycles (as much as 80lbs/34kg) with out tipping over, which is rarely just right. This can be a possibility with some inexpensive light-weight stands which can be now and again on be offering in division retail outlets and supermarkets.
The stand is constituted of two folding beef up legs, that are bolted to a major shaft which is peak adjustable. The legs have two rubber finish caps to stay noise down, as does the bottom of the primary shaft. Two beef up struts on the base of the shaft additionally upload energy. Two clamps lock the whole thing in position, and they’re clean to make use of when folding the whole thing down.
The top of the stand provides 360-degree rotation, and you’ll regulate the perspective of the motorbike within the stand the usage of the care for behind the top. The jaws then use a plastic-covered metal care for to tighten down onto the seatpost or the body tube to protected the motorbike – attempt to steer clear of clamping carbon body tubes. The plastic jaws are replaceable as they may be able to get chewed up through the years.
The top of the stand does not fold down and remains at a 90-degree attitude to the primary shaft. This hasn’t ever brought about me any garage problems when protecting the stand within the storage, however in case you are driven for area or need the smallest conceivable folding stand, you could wish to imagine every other style.
Something you’ll’t do with the PCS 9.3 is rotate the primary shaft via hand, which means that you’ll temporarily transfer a motorbike facet to facet, for instance or get admission to a undeniable space of the motorbike extra temporarily and no longer have to stroll round it. You’ll transfer the teardrop-shaped primary shaft up and down to regulate the peak, however you’ll’t rotate it; the placement is fastened.
This was once one function I ignored to start with, having been used to doing it maximum days on every other stand, however in time, it was a non-issue for me. My paintings on motorcycles at house has been much more comfortable, and I discovered I did not truly want that function an excessive amount of.
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A spread of various seatposts will are compatible the clamp Wrap a fabric around the submit for added insurance coverage. (Symbol credit score: Tom Wieckowski)The clamp has a mild motion, despite the fact that if you are protecting a heavy motorbike it isn’t as clean as a push shut one.(Symbol credit score: Tom Wieckowski)The jaws can accommodate aero posts and are replaceable. I have extensively utilized my stand to carry a fence panel while I painted it. (Symbol credit score: Tom Wieckowski)Efficiency
The stand has carried out excellently for me when running on all of my very own motorcycles and a spread of take a look at motorcycles, the latest of which was once the Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS. There is probably not an excessive amount of for me to put in writing right here. It is carried out just about completely for me as a piece stand and has carried out precisely what it says at the tin.
Sturdiness-wise, I have never had a subject matter. The whole lot continues to be very best and dealing simply because it must, the primary indicators of use being some paint splatter from once I used the stand to clamp a fence panel to color it. For those who use the stand to scrub your motorcycles ceaselessly, I might counsel spraying the {hardware}, i.e the nuts and bolts that hang it in combination, with some WD40 or identical each and every so steadily for some coverage.
I have stored it assembled in position within the storage and feature folded it down once I want more space or to take it to the ordinary match. For me, it does not take in an excessive amount of room, and I have been more than pleased with it.
The rotating head now and again sticks, if for instance I have clamped a suite of forks into the stand to paintings on them. There hasn’t been the load to transport the unit and I have needed to unwind the clamp and provides it a push. I additionally re-grease the interior of the top now and again which is simple to do.
The stand has a max beneficial weight of 36kg, which is not going to hassle any street, gravel or mtb motorcycles. Simply test the weights if you are running on any very heavy e-bikes or identical.
The opposite primary level I’d make relating to this stand is the lack to simply transfer a motorbike round when running, you’ll have to do the transferring. However at house, running on a motorbike with out speeding with a espresso, or beer, it is been a non-issue longer term.
Worth
That is about the place to begin price-wise for a high quality, heavier-duty workstand and represents just right worth. Different manufacturers have identical fashions, an instance will be the Game Mechanic stand from Comments Sports activities or the BikeGator stand from Unior. There are inexpensive choices in the market, however they aren’t as strong or sturdy. I’ve noticed elementary, affordable stands topple over when a motorbike’s rear wheel was once got rid of, which is a possible crisis.
Replaceable portions also are to be had, which is a plus level for a stand, and there aren’t truly any elementary or affordable portions. For the house and even store mechanics, it is a just right, cast purchase.
If you’re running on motorcycles, I might counsel opting for a stand with a shaft that you’ll transfer and with some type of fast clamp closure, which saves effort and time in case you are running on and lifting motorcycles all day, on a daily basis. It was once the only function I ignored relatively to start with, however it is by no means a deal-breaker.
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The stand folds down in seconds as soon as you’re completed running, despite the fact that you could simply wish to depart it up. (Symbol credit score: Tom Wieckowski)The top does not fold down additional, however it is by no means troubled me.(Symbol credit score: Tom Wieckowski)That is what you’ll be expecting when the stand is folded down.(Symbol credit score: Tom Wieckowski)Verdict
This is a wonderful, just right high quality stand this is neatly fitted to running by yourself motorcycles at house. It is carried out completely the whole thing I’ve wanted and hasn’t put a foot mistaken.
Costlier stands have extra options that make existence more uncomplicated in case you are spannering all day, however as Park Software says, this one is for the house mechanics, and for that, it is just about very best.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyAttributes Notes Score Adjustability The entire main stuff is roofed, lacks a couple of bells and whistles pricier stands have, would possibly not reason an issue though7/10StabilityVery just right, I’ve had 0 problems with a spread of motorcycles and surfaces9/10Clamp design Simple to make use of with a clean motion, would start to put on should you used all of it day on a daily basis 8/10Weight7.2kg, for me the load is a superb factor, mild sufficient to hold around8/10Overall score Row 5 – Mobile 1 32/40
