Unless your bike has a centrestand, cleaning and subsequently lubricating and protecting the chain or cleaning the wheels can be a real pain.
You can’t spin the rear wheel easily if it is still on the ground and in the absence of a centrestand, you usually need to roll the bike forwards and backwards so you can cover the full length of the chain.
However, with the rear wheel lifted off the ground, cleaning and lubricating is so much easier; you can easily spin the rear wheel with the bike in one position, allowing you to much more effectively clean the chain and it makes lubing it much, much easier once clean.
There are several ways you can effectively lift the bike’s rear wheel off the ground to allow it to spin easily.
You can use a paddock stand for example, which will do this as well as allow you to work safely on the bike or you can set the bike on its sidestand and then, prop up the opposite side to briefly lift the rear wheel off the ground.
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You could park the bike on rollers or use a more serious stand to lift the bike up and allow you to work on it as well as spin the wheel.
Here is a selection of ways to lift the rear wheel off the ground so you can spin it and look after your chain.
1. Grand Pitstop
Description
This is perhaps one of the easiest and most straightforward ways of spinning the rear wheel so you
The rollers turn, allowing the rear wheel to spin while resting on its own weight on the rollers. It is small enough to bump the bike up onto and you can use it on the rear wheel to clean the chain, as well as the wheel itself and on the front for cleaning.
Pros:
Small and compact
Weight rests on wheel
Good reviews online
Cons:
Need to get right size for bike
2. BikeTek Spinner
Description
Working on a similar principle to the Grand version above, this example from BikeTek features a
Once on, the rear wheel can rotate with the weight of the bike on it and the spinner comes with a rubber puck to place under the sidestand to help position the bike in a vertical position.
Pros:
Ramp to help loading
Puck to prop bike up vertically
Great reviews online
Cons:
Can’t think of any
3. Tru Tension Wheel Monkey
Description
Another ground-mounted roller, this version from chain-maintenance specialists Tru Tension uses
Pros:
Small rollers so low profile
Knurled for grip on tyre
Easy to get bike on
Cons:
None we can think of
4. BikeTek Swingarm Lift
Description
This lift arm from BikeTek is designed to lift the rear wheel off the ground in conjunction with
You then wind the threaded collar until the rear wheel is off the ground. There is a serrated edge on the cup on the ground for grip.
Pros:
Well made
Use on any ground
Use on any bike
Cons:
May not work for single-sided swingarms
5. Laser Wheel Spinner
Description
A variation on a theme, this spinner from Laser is not only adjustable to cope with a wide variety
Pros:
Adjustable size
Ball-bearing use
Renowned manufacturer
Cons:
Nothing we can think of
This won a Best Buy tag from sister title RiDE in its test and will not only allow you access to the chain but will also mean you can store the bike off the rear wheel, over winter perhaps and work in it in safety and with the bike completely stable.
Pros:
Award winning stand
Ensure the bike is stable
Allow storage and maintenance of bike
Cons:
Need separate one for front wheel
7. JFG Racing Rear Stand
Description
This arm from JFG Racing works in a similar u2013 but slightly different - way to the one from
Pros:
Folds up small so portable
Useful for long tours
Good value
Cons:
Possibly not as stable as some
8. Sealey Lift
Description
This handy device from tool specialist Sealey works in a similar way to a centrestand but for
The resting position is slightly over-centre so the weight of the bike keeps it in the raised position and it would appear to be a stable solution to not only raising the rear wheel but also, providing a way to lift the bike for more involved maintenance.
Pros:
Works for any bike
Simple and elegant solution
Well-respected manufacturer
Cons:
May not work with faired bikes