Abba or Paddock

I need either a paddock stand or an Abba stand for the 'Busa. Is the
Abba stand worth the extra?

If I decide not splash the extra dosh on the Abba, and just get a
paddock stand, will I end up meeting my Waterloo?

 

What do you need it for?

If just lubing the chain and removing the wheel occasionally, a paddock
stand will more than suffice.

 

Mainly, yeah.

I had a paddock stand for the 9R, and found it a bit awkward, although
I think that was ground wasn't totally flat where I used it!

The Abba seems a lot easier to use (according to the vid on their
website), with the added advantage that getting the front wheel off the
ground looks easier, and it's smaller to store when not in use. It is
about twice the price though.

Any particular makes of paddock stand to look into? I think my
previous one was "generic".

 

They're a piece of piss to use. Or, at least, any stand I've used has
been. One hand holding the back of the bike steady, the other pushing
the handle down to raise the stand.

I've also got a front stand that makes getting both wheels off the
ground at the same time pretty trivial. If you hit ebay you should be
able to find a set of front and rear stands at a reasonable price.

I bought a Micron one a decade or so ago and it's still going strong.
It's not exactly a complex bit of kit so I'd be surprised if it was
really that easy to buy a bad one.

 

The Abba stand is a lot more fucking about to get on BUT you can't drop the
bike while getting it onto the stand. It isn't that hard to get the balance
wrong with a rear paddock stand and let things slip. Apparently.

 

Spend the extra money, money, money.

 

I have both and abba stand and front and rear paddock stands.

For ease of use the Abba wins hands down, especially if you are going
to be lifting a heavy old 'Busa.

As has been already saiid, once you have locked the abba in, its
pracactly impossible to drop the bike when lifting it onto the stand -
I have had a couple of hairy moments doing the rear of the bike onto
the stand before now.

Also, as the abba lifts the bike on the swing arm pivot, its further
forward and makes lifting the front a lot easier. You can just tip the
bike back on the stand and shove a couple of bricks under the sump if
you have to.

--
Gavin.

GSXR600K1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby
Blog: http://www.stoof.co.uk

 

I've got an Abba and the busa's rock solid on it, however the nose is
still fucking heavy so you can't just put a bag of sugar on the pillion
seat and start unbolting the front axle. Abba do an under sump lift to
get the front up so I'm keeping my eyes open on eBay for one.

As an alternative, for about the price of an Abba, Suzuki do a centre
stand for the busa so it's always with you. If I'd not got the Abba
already I might have considered one.

Re chain lubing, fitting a scottoiler is fairly straightforward as
there's loads of space in the tail.

 

On 29/04/2010 13:30, Gyp wrote:

Car jack anna piece of wood does it for me.

 

beer crate

 

I've gone away from the fat tubular stands like Micron etc because they
inevitably end up twisting and looking wonky. One of mine is so bent
out of shape that the lifting hooks would certainly scratch my swingarm
if I were to use it again.

In their place I've got a couple of Champion brand stands, one front
and one rear. Bought from A+R Racing in Frome via their ebay site and I
am very happy with them. I quite like the fact that I can remove the
handle from the rear stand and get my CBR in Danny's van with the back
of the bike right by the back door[1], leaving room in front for my
tools.

[1] There are two wheel clamps bolted to the floor, one further back
than the other so the bars don't touch, and a normal Micron type
paddock stand won't allow the doors to close

 

I've got both and much prefer the Abba stand. Apart from being a *lot*
easier to use single handed, I found the natural place for my paddock stand
to sit was right on top of the Scott Oiler tube.

 

My last one was a Micron and it did good service, but indeed started to twist.

I now have the Motrax ones that are made of ally box section and bolted
together, look trick as owt and so far are fine.
--
Gavin.

GSXR600K1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/gavin_wilby
Blog: http://www.stoof.co.uk

 

I don't know why people don't just use a bit of rope.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9494/dsc00058au.jpg

 

Oddly, I was planning to put an eyelet into the ceiling and use the
rachet strap to lift the bike - just like that buy indoors

 

Pah,
http://www.sweller.dynalias.org/images/guz-crate.jpg

 

You want one of these, you do.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4565887023_3e0d352bdb_b.jpg

If I could remember who made it for me back in 1998 I'd give you their
details, but all I can remember is they were on an industrial estate on
the north side of Norwich.

 

sweller took a blunt brush and painted...

The old scope used for krypton tuning bikes then?

 

Testing alternators.
http://www.sweller.co.uk/mz/electrics/alt_osc.html