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This article was first published in June 2021 and was revised in June 2024.
Bicycle kickstands are available with claw or quick-release clamps. Both variants have advantages and disadvantages. The quick-release clamp fixes your racing bike gently to the fork, while the clamp claw allows more fixing options. Branded products costing around 300 euros work well and only differ in the details. The inexpensive model from Rose is not convincing in terms of handling and stability.
If you have the desire and talent to wrench, sensible tools are a must. The basic equipment includes an assembly stand that holds the road bike securely and gently so that both hands are free for work.
Professional team mechanics swear by quick-release stands. The racer is usually supported by the bottom bracket on a rail and is clamped to the fork when the front wheel is removed. It is then centred above the feet and can be rotated on its own axis. The variant that is more common in hobby workshops clamps the frame tube or seat post to the boom using a claw. Both forms have advantages and disadvantages.
On stands with a claw, the working height can usually be adjusted over a wider range, which is good for approaching the bike at eye level. The claw, which is usually pivoted, can also be used to fix the bike in different positions. Disadvantage: The stand loses stability the heavier the bike is and the higher and further away from the central support tube it hangs on the boom. If the feet are then positioned unfavourably in relation to the centre of gravity, the stand can easily tip over. Small and sharp-edged holding claws can also damage the frame or the seat post if they are tightened too tightly. In order to work in different places, it may be necessary to clamp the bike differently and adjust the claw to a different tube diameter each time, which is annoying in the long run.
Quick-release mounting stands clamp the racer firmly and relatively gently. This is important for assembly work that requires a lot of force. At the same time, the swivelling frame allows access to the wheel without having to dance around the stand. Disadvantage: The front wheel must be removed to fix the wheel; work such as aligning the front rim brake or the brake disc is not possible.
Road bike kickstand: clamp claw or quick release?
You need to invest around 300 euros in a bike stand from the usual brand manufacturers; the cheapest models from mail order companies or seasonal special offers at Aldi or Lidl are available for a fraction of this price. We tested six currently available models from Feedback, Pedros, Topeak and Rose; the prices range from 60 euros for the Xtreme from Rose to 340 euros for the quick-release stand from Feedback.
Screwing is most enjoyable with the quick-release stands from Feedback or Topeak. The racers are secured gently, stand securely on any surface even when working with a lot of force and can be rotated 360 degrees to any desired position with a gentle push. Good handling and good workmanship characterise the expensive clamp stands from Feedback, Topeak and Pedros, although the latter tends to tip over more with only two feet. The inexpensive Xtreme stand from Rose also helps with maintenance or bolting work on the racer, but is not as stable as its competitors and is less handy.
Gentle clamping: Tips and tricks for use
Carelessness or excessive clamping forces can damage carbon frames with thin-walled tubes in particular. Here are the most important tips for gentle work.
- Choose the clamping point carefully. The tube wall thicknesses increase towards the nodes. If possible, clamp the frame tubes off-centre, close to the steering head or the seat tube node.
- Only increase the clamping force in small increments until the racer no longer wobbles in the bracket.
- If your bike has a round carbon seat post, we recommend replacing it with a metal version if the seat post is your preferred clamping point
- Thin layers of foam or cardboard minimise pressure peaks at the contact points and protect the paintwork
- If you tilt the front of the bike slightly downwards, the handlebars straighten out automatically
Bicycle kickstand with clamping claw in the test
Feedback Pro Elite
- Price: 319 Euro
- Stowage dimension/weight: 120 x 20 x 16 cm / 5.5 kg
- Working height/clamping width: 106-177 cm / 20-70 mm
- Equipment: Quick release, quick release height adjustment, parts compartment, pocket, integrated small parts compartment
Conclusion: Great finish; good handling when folding and clamping; practical quick-release mechanism; the folding mechanism of the claw is a little snaggy
Pedro's foldable assembly stand
- Price: 299 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Stowage dimension/weight: 140 x 31 x 25 cm / 8.8 kg
- Working height/clamping width: 106-173 cm / 25-65 mm
- Equipment: Quick release, quick release height adjustment, trigger adjustment, bag
Conclusion: Great finish; pistol grip allows quick fixing; arrangement of the legs increases the risk of tipping; relatively heavy
Topeak PrepStand Elite
- Price: 300 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Stowage dimension/weight: 124 x 18 x 18 cm / 5.9 kg
- Working height/clamping width: 120-180 cm / 10-50 mm
- Equipment: Quick-release height adjustment, parts compartment, pocket, integrated small parts compartment
Conclusion: Top workmanship; good claw; good working height adjustment; practical storage compartment for screws and small parts in the boom
Xtreme S1300
- Price: 57 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Stowage dimension/weight: 67 x 102 x 110 cm / 7.0 kg
- Working height/clamping width: 110-163 cm / 20-45 mm
- Equipment: Quick-release height adjustment, tool and parts tray, low working height
Conclusion: Very favourable; boom with claw not very precisely manufactured; tilts slightly backwards, clamp with smallest opening
Bicycle kickstand with quick release in the test
Feedback Sprint
- Price: 339 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Stowage dimension/weight: 76 x 20 x 14 cm / 5.7 kg
- Working height/clamping width: 75-112 cm / all thru axles
- Equipment: Quick-release fastener; tilting mechanism, thru-axle adapter
Conclusion: Great finish; good handling; small storage capacity; also suitable for disc brakes with thru axles; stable
Topeak PrepStand X
- Price: 280 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Stowage dimension/weight: 87 x 24 x 15 cm / 4.9 kg
- Working height/clamping width: 93-153 cm / all thru axles
- Equipment: Belt lock, tilting device, bag, thru-axle adapter
Conclusion: Test winner: Compact and lightweight; top workmanship; high stability; good handling when working; easy to stow away; with carrying bag
Matthias Borchers
Editor
