Buying guide
Motorcycle paddock stands: front, rear and how they attach
Published 13 September 2026. Prices and stock last checked 14 September 2026.
The short answer
A rear paddock stand lifts the back wheel by the swingarm, either through hooks that locate on spools bolted to the swingarm or through flat or L-shaped pads that cradle its underside. A front stand lifts the front wheel under the bottom of the fork legs, or, on a headlift stand, through the steering head. Check which mounting points your bike has before buying, because a stand with nowhere secure to locate is the wrong stand.
What we have in stock for this
Front and Rear Motorcycle Stand Motorbike Lift Heavy Duty Paddock Carrier Bike Hoist
$119.95
Delivery quoted at checkout for your postcode · in stock
Why it is here: Front fork-leg stand and rear swingarm stand as a kit, with both attachment types.
Who this suits
Riders who want to lift one end of the bike for chain, wheel, tyre or brake work.
Who it may not suit
Anyone removing the fork legs, which needs a headlift stand, or bikes with no suitable swingarm mounting points.
Rear stands: spools or pads
Spools, sometimes called bobbins, screw into threaded mounts on the swingarm. A rear stand with U-shaped hooks locates on them, which holds the bike positively. If your swingarm has no spool mounts, a stand with flat or L-shaped rubber pads lifts under the swingarm itself, provided it has a flat, strong section at the right width. Many stands adjust in width and come with both kinds of attachment.
Front stands: fork legs or steering stem
A fork-leg front stand lifts under the bottom of both fork legs, clear of the brake calipers and lines. It gets the front wheel off the ground for wheel and brake work, but the fork legs still carry the bike, so they cannot be removed. A headlift, or steering-stem, stand lifts through the steering head instead, which frees the forks to come out. We do not currently sell headlift stands.
Putting a bike on the stands
Put the rear stand on first. With the bike upright and in neutral, locate the stand, hold the bike steady by the handlebar or seat, and push the stand's handle down in one smooth movement. Only then lift the front. A second person holding the bike upright makes both steps easier, and taking it off again is the same sequence in reverse.
Width, adaptors and storage
Measure the distance between the spools or the pad points on your swingarm and compare it with the stand's adjustment range. Check which adaptors are supplied. Paddock stands with a detachable handle store flatter.
The figures, from each listing
Front and Rear Motorcycle Stand Motorbike Lift Heavy Duty Paddock Carrier Bike Hoist: stated load capacity 300 kg front and 300 kg rear.
These figures are taken from each product's own listing and re-read daily. Check them against your bike before buying.
How this page was put together
How this page is kept honest: the guidance is written by Placid Deals from general workshop practice and the stated specifications of the stands and lifts in our range. We have not tested these products. Figures for individual products come from their own listings, are re-read every day, and are left out whenever a listing contradicts itself.
Part of the range guide Motorcycle Lifts & Stands, with every model we currently stock.
Questions and comments
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