RubberSideDown

As I said, nothing personal, and you should do what you feel will work out to your best advantage.

As far as being 'risk averse', I (like many others here) ride large displacement bikes in Thailand, so I don't exactly live my life in fear, but I pick my spots- what I am averse to (in a big way) is possible hassles, and I'd rather spend a few bucks to potentially avoid them (having experienced a lot of it in my decade+ in Thailand).

I've got my own long history of having things shipped as well.

Unless I know someone personally, I would prefer to keep my transaction separate- if that's 'risk averse', so be it.

I've got an XX6 coming from Panda (probably today or tomorrow)- they had stock on them last Thursday- maybe I got the last one.

It's true it only has a 6mm lock, but I picked it more for the shock value of the alarm than the actual protective properties- if someone wants your bike badly enough and they have some help lifting it (and they don't care if they damage it in the process) they'll get it.

rubbersidedown, if you have money and want piece of mind, go buy ABBA stand.

Yeah- most of my posts in this thread are me convincing myself to just do it.

It doesn't need spools, but it needs special adapters to attach to the swing arm pivot point.

A few companies copy the design, but I would imagine they had an original example to use as a prototype and measuring guide- I'd rather not give a local guy a YouTube vid and a few pics and say 'make me this'.

In any case, I really didn't want to fabricate anything- TM made an excellent suggestion in ABBA and the more I look at it the more I like it. I don't mind saving some money, but it's a secondary concern.

Well, I don't agree that 'steel is steel' for starters, and all welds are certainly not equal (which is where I would feel least confident, especially leaving the bike on it overnight or longer), but, regardless, I trust experience and R&D over the vast amount of poor workmanship I've seen in Thailand- I'd rather pay more and feel confident than pay less and worry. I've been burned before, and I don't want to learn another hard lesson.

I see your point, but I'm going to buy peace-of-mind (if I do indeed buy this ABBA stand)- I have no doubts in the quality of it, and I might also add the front wheel lift, which adds more complexity to the project (not to mention the bespoke swing arm fitting kit the basic stand requires).

You know that abba stand is as basic a project as can be.

It is in many ways the same as the ones we use to build for our dirt bikes

Except the little feet would instead be the 2' long handle you pushed down with your foot.

When it hit the ground the bike was at that point tipped into place. The exact same principle as

this stand.

I know someone said they would not trust welders here in Thailand but this is a super easy

project. If one were worried the only stress points could be plated with a triangle plate

doubler for strength.

Could be a good project for someone to make some side $$$ here

Possibly, but my heavy bike sure isn't going to be the test subject- I'll wait until a few other bikes have kissed the pavement and the bugs get worked out.

Do you want to be first...?

So you think FedEx gets hit with a higher rate than what's actually on the books? I was in a customs office last week and they had packages from different carriers and countries- they were referring to the same (quite large) book for the tax rate (using the declared shipping value- I saw them actually do this, and they both questioned me as to the contents as well as opened the box for an inspection) regardless of the source- like I said, my (big) USPS-shipped package was hit with the standard duty.

I definitely believe that some things slip through, but the actual value of the stand is ~$150- the customs fee is going to be ~$50 regardless (as this item is way too heavy to avoid notice). The problem is the shipping fee- even if Royal Mail could somehow save another 1K in taxes (which I personally doubt, though I concede I could be wrong), it costs another 1K so it's a wash.

It's nothing personal against Ticketmaster, but as we aren't personally acquainted I think we would both be better off acting individually (I might actually be a Nigerian scam artist who gets rich off dodgy motorcycle stand deals- you never know.)

I haven't had any particular issues with FedEx (I usually get hit with the same 30% + VAT charge no matter the shipping method- I was charged this on a package I received last week via USPS) and I would go for that method over Royal Mail (the RM 'small packet' mail usually comes in without a charge, but anything as large and heavy as these stands will certainly be scrutinized). The import cost is based on the customs declared value, which will be the same regardless of carrier.

I'm curious to hear how it works out for you, but as I really can't wait up to 10 weeks (the time-frame I was quoted for the 'assembly version', and, frankly, I don't like the sound of that...), I will most likely order one this week via FedEx (if I order one at all).

Got a price on the ABBA stand- 264GBP shipped, or 11,800 baht (shipping alone via FedEx is 164GDP)- I'm still thinking about it as I do like the stand nd in the end it will still come out to about the same as the TBR stand I'm considering, but that's really expensive.

Make sure it will fit your swing arm without scratching it- many of the DMP reviews mention that it's pretty narrow. No doubt you know that Kawi uses 10mm spools where most other Japanese bikes use 8mm spools.

Knowing who the op is i am sure he knows how to use a phone and make his own decision.

I just sent an inquiry of my own, asking about shipping to Thailand and whether they were willing to ship in a plain box (no company logos) by Royal Post with a handwritten label (Often slides right through Thai Post customs). Also asked about shipping two units together. Anybody else interested? Perhaps there could be a "group buy."

..I wish you luck getting a large package full of heavy steel through the Post Office customs dept. without attracting any attention.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking- the customs hit on the actual purchase won't be too bad, though- maybe 1500 baht.

Having watched the video a couple of times, I like the ease-of-use for one person- a rear-stand can be tricky when you're using it by yourself.

I agree about the welders and lousy steel. Might get a good one and might get a bad one. And the attachment point needs to be incredibly strong, something the ABBA engineers have surely already thought through.

Having researched it a bit, I would definitely trust ABBA- they obviously know what they're doing.

Now it's all about how hard a hit they toss out on the shipping- from the US, a stand like that ships for about 2K, but postage from the UK (as you said) is pricey- I paid 1K shipping for an Oxford rain suit last month.

My Hayabusa weighed about 550lbs, and I used to use a Pitbull stand- I got good at it after a while, but it took some practice- it helps if you can muscle the bike a bit, but you need to be careful- having had experience with one I would get another, but I would imagine a few newbs have seen their bike land on its side (or on top of them)...

Have you thought about just getting one made up at a local metal shop.

I have used a milk crate in days past, they work fine.

I haven't seen too many local welds (or welders) I would trust, and there's no way I'm gonna try balancing my heavy bike on a milk crate- my 250 supermoto, sure, as that's hit the deck a few times already.

I would never be the 'test pilot' for some sort of structural support fabricated by a local metal shop.

Sorry for not actually 'reading' (and I appreciate your posting a better link the second time)- I agree it's an interesting stand, and I'd like to know the price shipped.

In any case I sent them an enquiry re: shipping as I am not in a rush (I probably won't have my bike until the end of May at the earliest)- I will post whatever info they provide.

Ask them if they'll cut the rate for two. I'd go in with you.

No response yet, but they would have gotten my email on Saturday afternoon in the UK and were probably closed- I will give them until Wednesday and then try calling if they don't get back to me.

Having watched the video a couple of times, I like the ease-of-use for one person- a rear-stand can be tricky when you're using it by yourself.

It's (the equivalent of) 4500 baht- I'd pay around 8K shipped, but not more than that- I'm still going to get either a Pitbull or TBR stand, but I'll wait until I can bring one back from the States myself rather than ship it.

The bike puncture repair kit says to use the entire 8oz (225g) bottle- that's after a puncture, though- it might be different if it's being used on a preventative basis.

Sorry for not actually 'reading' (and I appreciate your posting a better link the second time)- I agree it's an interesting stand, and I'd like to know the price shipped.

In any case I sent them an enquiry re: shipping as I am not in a rush (I probably won't have my bike until the end of May at the earliest)- I will post whatever info they provide.

Those are the Chinese-made (probably DMP) stands- I don't trust them- they might last for years without an issue, but I'm not confident in the consistency of the welds. They also are known to not be wide enough for a large swing arm, which I will need (many reviews say their adjustment is maxed out on a 600cc bike).

Maybe I'm being snobbish about it, but it's too important a piece to risk such a heavy bike on.

Yeah, I know- they'll hold your bike up right until the time they don't- those places usually aren't terribly concerned with putting a few scratches in your swing arm, either- like everyone else here, I've seen some very questionable practices used by both car and bike repair shops.

I just won't take the chance- if it's not a TBR or Pitbull (which I used to store my Hayabusa on back in the States) or some other brand I trust (where I can leave it sitting on the stand for days if I want, not just jacked up for an hour), I'll order it- I'll be buying piece-of-mind.

I didn't think I'd end up finding one for sale (though I'm sure there are a few in use here-and-there)- I would imagine the market is just too small and they're kind of bulky and heavy to make importing them (relative to their cost) worth it in large numbers.

Thanks for that tip- I will give them a try.

My application will be a 2013 Kawasaki ZX-14R.

The stand above is not what I'm looking for, and it's only for Ducati, unfortunately, and it's not the style I want- I'm looking for this (or its equivalent):

I've found the usual Chinese-made stands (like DNP for 2K)- I don't trust them to hold a 585lb (over 100lbs more than a Versys or ER6N) bike that will be very expensive to fix if the stand lets go, and most have little or no adjustability when it comes to accommodating a larger swingarm- I'd much rather spend 10K and have piece-of-mind than spend 2K and worry- that said, if there's a Pitbull-quality stand available in Thailand (even twice US retail) I'd rather buy it locally than import one- this thread was a shot-in-the-dark as I've searched without success..

I'm looking for more than 'adequate' in this case as it's a heavy bike, and it looks like that will mean spending the $ to import one. They are all 'simple'- they aren't all built to the same standard, sadly.

I ordered the compressor with a kit that included a bottle of 'Slime'- I would still try a plug first, but in an emergency situation it's good to have more options. 8oz (225g) shouldn't be a big problem if it's evenly dispersed through the tire- of course, you can only carry so much stuff with you.

I've found the usual Chinese-made stands for less than 2K, but they are generally too narrow for my application, and I don't feel confident using one for a bike weighing over 260kg.

I know I'll probably have to bite-the-bullet and have something like a TBR S1-Pro stand sent from the States for ~10K (plus import duty), but does anyone know of a place where I can source something like a Pitbull (or similar brand) spooled stand?

You can get a small compressor that will attach to your bike's battery and inflate your tire in less than ten minutes from Panda Rider for 1400 baht- it's a handy item if you have the room for it.