How useful is it?
I use a paddock stand at the moment, so I'm gussing it will allow me to change the shock and measure static sag. That doesn't seem alot for 90 odd quid outlay.
I know 90 quid aint much, but I'm currently after shock, silencers, tyres and tail tidy. Even sourcing these second hand is going to cost me the bast part of 600 quid, so I could save the 90 quid and add it to my small silencer budget (150 quid) which would make life easier.
[Is removing the shock easy? I only ask because someone posted on here saying it took 2 of em 1 hour]
Abba stands
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Admittedly Im no pro with a paddock stand, but I was always nervous using them... balance the bike with one hand, make sure the hooks have caught properly on both bobbins then push and pray everything goes according to plan. I'm over doing the drama I know... but thats how they felt for me.
The Abba stand takes slightly more prep time in that you have to locate the one side into the swingarm pivot, then clamp the other side on and align that side to the swingarm pivot and tighten everything down - all this is done with the bike on its own sidestand so its not going to fall over. Then when you hoist the bike up its smooth and it kinda "clicks" over the pivot point and is solid. Ive worked on the bike, fell over the bike (dont ask) and even sat on it and its solid.
The Abba stand takes slightly more prep time in that you have to locate the one side into the swingarm pivot, then clamp the other side on and align that side to the swingarm pivot and tighten everything down - all this is done with the bike on its own sidestand so its not going to fall over. Then when you hoist the bike up its smooth and it kinda "clicks" over the pivot point and is solid. Ive worked on the bike, fell over the bike (dont ask) and even sat on it and its solid.
Sack of cement on the pillion seat, or do what I do, drill a hole in the garage floor and fill a rawlbolt that has a hook, the you can tie it down.Fausto wrote:Abba Stand for me too. Never tried paddock stands so can't compare however about the only job you can't do is remove the swing arm ( unless you buy/make special adaptor bolts ).
Oh and I have yet to work out a front wheel removal method. Any suggestions?
I know some people have used a "hoist" from a suitable beam in their garage to lift the front (but be sure the beam is strong enough). Others have made a floor-standing frame from which to hoist.Fausto wrote:
Oh and I have yet to work out a front wheel removal method. Any suggestions?
I'm wondering if I can find somewhere to mount a steel plate under the front of the engine that I can use to lift with my trolley-jack.
(If pressed, I may have to confess to using my trolley-jack without such a suitable jacking point .... but that's not really something to recommend)
However, this looks good for supporting both ends (although it couldn't cope with fork removal).
https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=667
I have an Abba stand it's just the job for working on the rear shock, by the way it comes out from the top, you can't remove the shock from underneath the s/arm 
It's a simple job to lift the front wheel whilst on the Abba, they also make a lift lever but I use a hydraulic jack under the oil tank suitably protected. I don't much fancy stringing up my falco to a beam but depends on your circumstances really.
You can also push a long metal bar through the swinging arm pivot or the hollow in the fame above if you are removing the s/arm and rest the bar on axle stands, this has some advantages.
I find a paddock stand better somtimes depending on what area of the bike you working on.
It's a simple job to lift the front wheel whilst on the Abba, they also make a lift lever but I use a hydraulic jack under the oil tank suitably protected. I don't much fancy stringing up my falco to a beam but depends on your circumstances really.
You can also push a long metal bar through the swinging arm pivot or the hollow in the fame above if you are removing the s/arm and rest the bar on axle stands, this has some advantages.
I find a paddock stand better somtimes depending on what area of the bike you working on.
I can't do anything using roof beams.D-Rider wrote:I know some people have used a "hoist" from a suitable beam in their garage to lift the front (but be sure the beam is strong enough). Others have made a floor-standing frame from which to hoist.Fausto wrote:
Oh and I have yet to work out a front wheel removal method. Any suggestions?
I'm wondering if I can find somewhere to mount a steel plate under the front of the engine that I can use to lift with my trolley-jack.
(If pressed, I may have to confess to using my trolley-jack without such a suitable jacking point .... but that's not really something to recommend)
However, this looks good for supporting both ends (although it couldn't cope with fork removal).
https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=667
I am also looking into jacking up the engine somehow. I'd like this solution to be good for all front end tasks otherwise there's a strong possibility of ending up with a whole collection of stands - each with it's own specific funcion
I’ve ended with a selection of stands they all are useful in there own ways. Front and rear stands are excellent for removing wheels messing with the front forks and generally maintaining the bike. The Abba stand to be honest is rarely used really only good for messing with the back of the bike and is too fiddly.