Review of Topeak FlashStand Portable Tune-Up Stand

Topeak FlashStand Portable Tune-Up Stand
By: Topeak Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 5
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Flashstand

On: 2008-05-03

Good product. Not quite a sturdy as I was hoping but it works and it is light.

It has potential, but....

On: 2007-05-22

I cannot recommend this device for most people. This little stand, while cute and convenient to tote along in your larger tool kit, is too flimsy and unstable for anything more than very delicate work. Lube your chain carefully, or check your rear tire for debris. It even says in the included instructions "not to spin the tire rapidly, or apply the brakes abruptly". If you do it will fling itself to the ground. The stand is also rated for no more than 30lbs, so is unsafe to use on larger hybrids or mountain bikes. If only the legs opened a little wider, or they used aluminum in place of the soft plastic, I would be willing to pay more for the convenience. Even setting on a level blacktop surface, my best road bike was knocked over with a slight gust of wind. I spent more on deraileur repairs after that than the darned stand cost!

It has potential, but....

On: 2007-05-21

I cannot recommend this device for most people. This little stand, while cute and convenient to tote along in your larger tool kit, is too flimsy and unstable for anything more than very delicate work. Lube your chain carefully, or check your rear tire for debris. It even says in the included instructions "not to spin the tire rapidly, or apply the brakes abruptly". If you do it will fling itself to the ground. The stand is also rated for no more than 30lbs, so is unsafe to use on larger hybrids or mountain bikes. If only the legs opened a little wider, or they used aluminum in place of the soft plastic, I would be willing to pay more for the convenience. Even setting on a level blacktop surface, my best road bike was knocked over with a slight gust of wind. I spent more on deraileur repairs after that than the darned stand cost!

Not a true work stand

On: 2007-01-04

I held high hopes for the product - being that I live in a little apartment in NYC, I was looking forward to saving space. The tune-up stand is little/portable, however it was not too sturdy. The bike, while on the stand, will not withstand much torque at all. The bike fell over many times before I gave up and purchased another bigger/more sturdy stand. Forget about turning the crank, the slightest movement of the crank creates too much torque for the little stand and the bike falls over. This stand would be good for LIGHT work - possibly a light tuning of the brakes or a wipe down with a rag. Any pressure whatsoever would necessitate a bracing hand on the frame of the bike. Overall a 2/5 because it may be okay for a little persons bike or a bmx. I used it on a mens road bike size 57.

Not a true work stand

On: 2007-01-03

I held high hopes for the product - being that I live in a little apartment in NYC, I was looking forward to saving space. The tune-up stand is little/portable, however it was not too sturdy. The bike, while on the stand, will not withstand much torque at all. The bike fell over many times before I gave up and purchased another bigger/more sturdy stand. Forget about turning the crank, the slightest movement of the crank creates too much torque for the little stand and the bike falls over. This stand would be good for LIGHT work - possibly a light tuning of the brakes or a wipe down with a rag. Any pressure whatsoever would necessitate a bracing hand on the frame of the bike. Overall a 2/5 because it may be okay for a little persons bike or a bmx. I used it on a mens road bike size 57.

Practic and usefull but....

by: Anonymous On: 2006-08-22

Its a very practical device with a big problem: Its very flimsy, you put your bike and it bends and almost the tire touches the floor, some times it touches the floor making your job hard to execute it (washing, lubricating the chain etc.)

Topeak have to redisign it or reconsider to build it with metal or a harder material.

The general design is very good, you bend it and put it in a bag, very usefull when you travel by car, or to do some repairs at home and you dont have room to store a big professional style BIKE STAND

Has a plastic piece

On: 2006-08-19

Topeak chose to build this with one hard plastic piece which is its weakest link. The rest is built with strong parts. The hard plastic piece bends and will break with maybe 50 lbs of force (I didnt test it). The bending creates less stability in addition to the weakness of the plastic. If they had paid a little extra for an aluminum piece, it would probably hold at least 100 lbs. Its a shame to have all strong parts which can hold 100 lbs and then decide on one weak piece which can only hold 50. A stand is only as strong as its weakest leak, of course. Its use is really only to be a portable stand you can take on rides. If youre going to use a stand at home, get atleast a chainstay/seat stay stand. I got one at performance for $25, and it can hold 100 lbs and works both on my tandem and single bike. It also lifts the tire up a little higher.

Has a plastic piece

On: 2006-08-18

Topeak chose to build this with one hard plastic piece which is its weakest link. The rest is built with strong parts. The hard plastic piece bends and will break with maybe 50 lbs of force (I didnt test it). The bending creates less stability in addition to the weakness of the plastic. If they had paid a little extra for an aluminum piece, it would probably hold at least 100 lbs. Its a shame to have all strong parts which can hold 100 lbs and then decide on one weak piece which can only hold 50. A stand is only as strong as its weakest leak, of course. Its use is really only to be a portable stand you can take on rides. If youre going to use a stand at home, get atleast a chainstay/seat stay stand. I got one at performance for $25, and it can hold 100 lbs and works both on my tandem and single bike. It also lifts the tire up a little higher.