How to choose a motorcycle lift or stand

Chain cleaning, lubrication and adjustment only need the rear wheel free to turn, which a rear paddock stand does in seconds. Removing a rear wheel or changing a rear tyre needs the same stand to hold the bike steady while the wheel is out.

Front wheel, brake and fork-seal work needs the front raised, either by a front stand under the fork legs or, if the fork legs themselves are coming out, by a stand that lifts through the steering head.

Oil changes, detailing, winter storage and jobs where you want both wheels off the ground suit a jack stand under the frame. If you service your own bike often, or spend long sessions on it, a lift table saves a great deal of kneeling and bending.

Paddock stands lever one end of the bike up. Rear stands locate on spools bolted to the swingarm, or cradle its underside on flat or L-shaped pads. Front stands lift under the bottom of the fork legs.

Scissor jack stands are wound up with a handle and lift under the frame or engine on a rubber-topped deck. Hydraulic jack stands do the same job with a pump, so they rise quicker with less effort.

Lift tables carry the whole bike on a platform with a ramp and a front wheel clamp, and are raised hydraulically, usually with a foot pump.

Wheel chocks cradle the front wheel so the bike stays upright, and are for parking and transport rather than lifting.

Look up the wet weight, with fuel, oil and coolant, rather than the dry weight. Check whether the swingarm has threaded spool mounts, or a flat underside a pad can sit on. Measure the gap between the floor and the lowest flat point of the frame or engine, and compare it with a jack stand's lowest stated height; if the gap is smaller, the jack will not fit under the bike. Note where the exhaust, sump and centre stand sit, because a jack deck needs a flat, solid point to lift on. For a wheel chock, check your front tyre's diameter and width against its stated range.

A lift table needs room for its full length plus the ramp, and space to walk around both sides while the bike is up. Jack stands and paddock stands store against a wall or on a shelf. All of them want a level, hard surface such as concrete; a soft or sloping floor lets the load shift as it rises.

Read and follow the instructions that come with the lift, use its locking bar or pin once the bike is at height, and strap the bike to a table's tie-down points. Loosen tight axle nuts and bolts while the bike is still on its wheels where you can, because heavy force on a raised bike can unsettle it. A second person makes putting a bike onto paddock stands much easier.

Front and Rear Motorcycle Stand Motorbike Lift Heavy Duty Paddock Carrier Bike Hoist: stated load capacity 300 kg front and 300 kg rear.

Motorcycle Jack 450KG Scissor Motor Bike Lift Stand Hoist Mini Motorbike Quad: stated capacity 450 kg; lift range 95–350 mm; platform 230 × 366 mm.

500kg Motorcycle Lift Scissor Jack Work Stand Motorbike Heavy Duty Bike: stated capacity 500 kg; lift range 90–370 mm; platform 370 × 230 mm.

Dirt Bike Lift Stand, Motorcycle Jack Lift Stand 440 lbs Capacity and Hydraulic Lift Operation, Adjustable Height Hoist Table, for Dirt Pit Bike Repair: stated capacity 200 kg.

500Kg Hydraulic Motorcycle Lift Motorbike Stand Bike Jack Hoist Lift Table: stated capacity 500 kg; lift range 215–780 mm; platform 1895 × 605 mm.

These figures are taken from each product's own listing and re-read daily. Check them against your bike before buying.