R&G Elevation Paddock Stands review

R&G Elevation Paddock Stands review | £135 (rear) & £75 (front) | www.rg-racing.com / 01420 89007 | Reviewed by John Milbank

You’re right, these are not cheap paddock stands. But neither was my bike – a 2008 Ducati Monster S4R. It’s the machine I’ve always dreamed of owning, and as I’m a bit OCD about keeping it clean – which includes taking the wheels off – I needed a paddock stand.

Starting with the most valuable stand – the rear – this is a solidly-built, quality piece of kit. Bikes with a single-sided swingarm like my Ducati need a very secure stand; without it, any flex in a poor design could see the bike slide off the locating pin. That would be away from the bike’s own side-stand, almost certainly resulting in some serious damage.

The rear Elevation costs £115, then the locating pin to suit your bike’s axle costs £20. This fits into a quality pair of ball-bearings, allowing the pin to rotate freely as you lift the bike. There’s enough leverage in the stand to make it simple for one person to pick the machine up, but without leaving too much hanging out behind to trip over.

The front stand – essential for removing the front wheel if you don’t have a winch in the ceiling – should only be used when the bike is already on a rear paddock stand. On the Ducati, two metal pins, sheathed in hard-wearing plastic, locate quickly under the fork bottoms and make it quick and simple to securely lift the front end.

These stands are a great example of getting what you pay for – they’re solidly designed with quality components and well worth the investment if you love your bike as much as I do.