• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Front stands: fork or head?

veritasmp

veritasmp

New member
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Location
Mid-Peninsula
Moto(s)
'88FZR400/600 Hybrid, '88Honda NX125
Name
kram
Thinking about getting a front stand. Head stand seems like it would be more useful. Thoughts, personal preferences, or experiences with either type?

Thanks
 
What is it you want to do? Simply remove the front wheel? Or pull the forks for servicing?
 
If you plan on removing the forks from the bike and doing tire changes then a head stand type lift is a better choice.

If you plan on just doing tire changes then a fork stand type lift is good.
 
You can purchase a head stand adapter for the pit bull fork stand. I'd go this route, since it gives you the flexibility to lift from the head, and the convenience of a fork stand. By in large, the front stand is mostly used to change tires.
 
I'd say head. Really, is there any downside?
 
Garret, I haven't owned one so I can't comment with authority. Have you owned one? What's your experience been?

Personally, it seems like the steering head stand is going to be more time consuming to put in place. I know that in some cases, installing it requires removing the fairings.

My observation is that at track days and in garages, most of the people use fork stands. My riding partner owns both, and seems to use the fork stand for the most part.
 
I use a PitBull head stand, just have to be careful to avoid scratching the fender during installation and removal. This can be minimized by turning the front wheel slightly and installing the stand's pin slightly off-center.

If you choose the fork stand, it helps to loosen the front axle pinch bolts before lifting the front of the bike up; on some fork designs, bolt access is hindered by the stand design itself.
 
The Pitbull front stand is the way to go, as it does indeed have the head adapter, if you really care to have both.

FYI, while I have the Pitbull front with the head adapter, I've only ONCE in my riding life needed a head stand when I had to remove the forks (and I actually didn't have it then! :laughing). Since then, I've used nothing but just the front stand underneath the forks.
 
Burning1 said:
Garret, I haven't owned one so I can't comment with authority. Have you owned one? What's your experience been?
Click to expand...

Yes, I have owned a Pitbull head stand and it was awesome. Now my dad took it when he moved, so now I don't have one, and I miss it.

Personally, it seems like the steering head stand is going to be more time consuming to put in place. I know that in some cases, installing it requires removing the fairings.
Click to expand...

On my 04 636 I never had any issues with it "taking more time". You did have to be careful sliding it under the nose, but it wasn't difficult not to scratch anything. If it were the case that fairings had to be removed, yes, I'd probably go with the fork stand, 'cause I'm lazy like that. The head stand IMO is more stable. It also allows you to turn the bars if necessary (makes getting the brakes off my 636 a bit easier). Also, as noted above, depending on the bolt layout of your fork legs the fork stand may get in the way.

My observation is that at track days and in garages, most of the people use fork stands. My riding partner owns both, and seems to use the fork stand for the most part.
Click to expand...

I think this is at least partly due to the fact that you have to have different "pins" (at least with the Pitbull version) for different bikes. In the case of trackdays/garages where it is useful to be able to re-use the same stand on many different bikes without having to buy extra parts I think a fork stand might be better. That is, until you have to swap fork oil mid-day :D
 
Last edited:
Burning1 said:
Garret, I haven't owned one so I can't comment with authority. Have you owned one? What's your experience been?

Personally, it seems like the steering head stand is going to be more time consuming to put in place. I know that in some cases, installing it requires removing the fairings.

My observation is that at track days and in garages, most of the people use fork stands. My riding partner owns both, and seems to use the fork stand for the most part.
Click to expand...
I have a Pit Bull head stand. On my VFR, it requires removing the horn. One of these days I may relocate it.
 
hi All, from my personal experience Pit Bull head stand is the shit you can do anything to the bike ever needed as long as you also have a rear stand I own 2 Pit Bull stands rear is adaptable one spool/paddle and they were money well spent
Broke-ass AFM racer dude when I can afford it
Elliott
 
Well, I wanted a stand that would give me the most options. Per all the responses, it looks like the head stand allows me to do more things such as fork maintenance as well as pulling the tire.

I just want more bang for my buck and I'm trying to avoid buyer's remorse.. I hate those situations where I say, "I should have got the other %$%#@! thing!"

Thanks for all the responses! It's very informative. I didn't know I might possibly need to remove the fairings.


Hooli said:
What is it you want to do? Simply remove the front wheel? Or pull the forks for servicing?
Click to expand...
 
just be careful some fairings may clear ok, some not just ease it onto the headstand and check for clearance, buy a pitbull or 2 you'll never regret it
elliott
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top