Getting a lift from Sealey

■ Sealey MPS2 180kg Motorcycle Two Arm Centre Stand ■ £71.94 ■ sealey.co.uk (cheaper at Machine Mart and others)

To paraphrase Archimedes: “Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will get my AJS 350 into the air.” My AJS is a pain to get onto its centre stand and I have a couple of motorcycles with no stand at all, which makes chain adjustment and wheel removal very difficult. I have in the past resorted to sticking an axle stand under the opposite side to the side stand (but it isn’t terribly stable) and also to using a hydraulic lift, which is great but does get in the way a lot. Then I picked up this device. It’s from Sealey and is a brilliantly simple but effective way of lifting a bike with a cradle frame that does not have too many bits sticking out underneath. You just select the height you want by using one of three bolt holes, position it under the bike, and with a hand on a handlebar to keep it steady, push the long lever down, and the bike just pops into the air. No fuss, no back straining – just a firm shove down on the lever.

The PVC sheath protects everything under the engine. The current Sealey version seems to be missing the two PVC sheaths on the grounded part, which is a shame.

Depending on where under the engine you put it, the stand lifts either the front or rear wheel into the air for easy access or removal. It tucks away in a corner and would be handy for those who find it hard to get their bikes onto an existing centre stand, or for bikes without one. It can lift 180kg to heights between 200/275mm.

I was lucky enough to pick up mine second-hand for £20, and I doubt if I would have been tempted at the list price of £71.94, but having used it, I’d say that even at full price, for those avoiding back strain it’s worth every penny.