Pro-Elite stand (w/ truing arm & tool tray)

Reviewed by Brian Mullin aka Gram and MTBR.com Pastajet
https://www.gramslightbikes.com/

Intro
I have been using Feedback Sports bike stands for over a decade, and my old one is still puttering along, albeit a bit stiffer with age (like all of us). Back then the company was called Ultimate Support Systems, and in addition to the bike stands, they also made professional speaker stands. The speaker and bike stand divisions split into separate companies, and very recently Feedback Sports acquired Ultimate Bike Support.

Feedback Sports has been in business since 2004, and is headquartered in Golden Colorado. They were primarily a designer and manufacturer of digital scales and bicycle tools, until they acquired Ultimate Bike Support (USS) in September 2008 and brought into their fold the USS bicycle repair stands and storage products. Feedback Sports was started by Doug and Lisa Hudson, both whom are intimately involved in the Colorado bicycle racing scene. In fact, Lisa won the 2008 Winter Park mountain bike series!

The Feedback Sports bike stands come in 5 versions, the Pro-Elite, the Pro-Ultralight, the Sport-Mechanic, the Pro-Classic and the Recreational. All except the Recreational model use Feedback Sports foldable tripod system. The system offers excellent stability on uneven ground, which makes it a great feature on road trips, bike races, etc. The Pro-Elite is their top of the line bike stand, and its innovative clamping system sets it apart from its brethren.

Features
The 12.6 lbs. stand is made from anodized aluminum, and is comprised of 2 sections. The lower section contains the tripod legs, while the upper section has a 28 inch telescoping tube with an attached bike clamping head that can accommodate up to 2 5/8 inch tubes. The stand folds down to a compact 5x8x45 inches, and when erected has a 54 inch footprint.

Quiz: why are pounds abbreviated as lbs?

The basic Roman unit of weight was the libra pondo; libra means "scales or balances," and pondo comes from pendere, meaning "to weigh." Pondo became pound, and libra became the abbreviation lb., reflecting the medieval custom of keeping accounts in Latin.

Here is a short video highlighting some of the features of the Pro-Elite stand:

https://vimeo.com/clip:4702599

To use the folding tripod, just open the single lower quick release lever, and push the legs down into position, and then lock the lever down. For stability, I prefer having one leg pointing directly towards where you will be working. To close up the legs just open up the lever, and tug the legs back up against the main tube body and then close the lever. You can also just partially move the legs up, so that it can be stored without taking up as much floor space. The lever is also very nicely shaped and very ergonomic. Those are the little touches that really add a lot of flavor and usability to Feedback Sports bike stands.

Next » Clamp Arm & Tool Tray


Secure-Lock clamp

Clamp Arm
After the tripod is set up, the bike clamping head can then be brought up. The Secure-Lock clamp is not only rugged, but it is one of the easiest and most functional clamps I have ever used. On the backside of the clamp arm is a large knob, which you twirl to loosen or tighten, to either adjust the angle of the clamping jaw or bring the head up or down. To bring the head up, just twirl the knob until it stops, tilt the clamping arm up, rotate the jaws to the angle required, then twirl the knob until it locks down (give it a strong twist). To put the arm down, loosen the knob slightly, rotate the arm until the small slot faces down, twirl the knob until it stops, drop the head, and then twirl the knob until it locks. The back end of the clamping arm fits nicely into a strengthening slot that gives the clamp arm additional stability and strength.

To use the clamp, pop the release button to open the jaws, place the bike into the clamp jaws, push the clamp closed with its ratcheting action, and twirl the knob on the front of the clamp to lock it down. To take the bike back out, hit the release button and the jaws pop fully open, and your done. Simple! No more struggling with a bike trying to get the clamp to function properly. The height of the clamp arm is easy to adjust, just use the single upper quick release lever located at waist height, and raise or lower the clamp as needed. To adjust the angle of the jaws just loosen the back knob of the clamp head, change the angle and re-tighten. It is very sweet to just pop the release button to take the bike off the stand.

The legs give a nice stable platform, but the upright tubes have a slight flex to them. When the clamp arm is elevated the smaller diameter upper tube also adds even more flex to the system, it is noticeable, but it is not overtly so. The clamp head strengthening slot does help some, and makes it work better than its brethren.


Tool Tray

Tool Tray
The 14x10x3 inch Tool Tray is a nice optional item, and well worth the additional cost. It has several slots for tools, and several large compartments, one for a beverage (caffeine, alcohol, or water), and the largest has a drain hole with a stopper so you could use it to clean parts. It clamps on easily, so for portability it can easily be installed or removed. You just slip a small clasp onto the lower leg, and then the main tool tray slip onto it and the locks down, but it can still be rotated as needed. Having a tool tray is very handy. I am always needing a place to put parts (especially small ones) as I am working on a bike, and it is nice to have spots for tools instead of just dropping them on the ground or putting them in your pocket. Where did I put that bolt?


Tote Bag

Tote Bag
The optional Tote Bag (stand comes with or without tote bag) to carry the folded stand is not only beefy, but it is nicely padded to protect your investment from getting banged. I had a tote bag for my previous stand, and I highly recommend one. I have a truck, so I am always pitching it into the back of the bed, and things get dropped on it and the tote bag keeps it safe and secure, plus it gets a lot less dirty.


Flop Stop

Flop Stop
Another nice optional item is the Flop stop handlebar holder. It locks the handlebar in place to keep the front end from moving around while working on the bike. You just clamp one end to your seatpost with its rubber band, loosen the extension arm, extend the arm to the handlebar, clamp it to the handlebar, and then lock the extending arm.

Next » Truing Station


Truing Station w/ weighted base

Truing Station
The Truing Station is comprised of 2 pieces, a weighted 6.2 lbs. base that is used on a table or workbench and a truing arm, which attaches to either the base or on top of all of Feedback Sports bike stands. The truing base has a set of slots and compartments to hold spoke wrenches, nipples, spokes and tools. The truing arm is made from anodized aluminum, and is 18 inches long and has 2 indicators that can move in multiple directions, and the arm is long enough to accommodate 29 inch wheels.


Truing Indicators

The truing arm is a unique single sided design that allows complete access to the wheel while truing or building. The bottom of the arm attaches to the base or stand, and can be tilted as needed, and then tightened down with a small knob. Both indicator's slide up and down on the arm, and then have a roller that allows finer adjustments to where the indicator pins can be positioned. The upper indicator is for lateral truing (side-to-side wobble) for both a wheel and a brake rotor, while the lower indicator is for radial truing (up and down wobble). It is very easy to make minor adjustments to either of the indicator using the roller indexes. Dishing is simplified with the single sided design, since the wheel can just be flipped over to check the dish, so an additional dishing tool is not required.

Since the base is weighted, it does not need to be attached anywhere, which allows the truing station to be moved to any location required.

To check the true of a brake rotor, just flip your wheel so that the rotor faces the truing stand arm, roll the upper indicator pin almost fully in towards the arm, slide the indicator up to the rotor braking area, and then roll the indicator pin towards the rotor, voila, you can check the rotors true.


20mm & 15mm Truing Stand Adapters

Truing Stand Adapters
I ran into an issue when I wanted to true my 15mm and 20mm thru axle front wheels. Normal truing stands are meant for 9mm axles, so I needed a truing stand adapter to fit my larger axle wheels. There is a whole slew of adapters on the market, brands such as Magura and DT Swiss (they appear to be the same make), some generic ones, plus Park Tools has an adapter made specifically for their stands. I found a very nice product made by https://mtb-tools.blogspot.com which is located in Northern California. The adapters (12/15/20mm) are made from 6061-T651 Aluminum billet, and in the multiple times I have used them, they have performed admirably, and what sets them apart from other like adapters are their o-rings. Nice work Vince.

Next » Bottom Line



Bottom Line
It's not the cheapest stand on the market, but its durability, portability, functionality, features and usability make it well worth the cost. I can vouch for the longevity of the companies stands since mine is close to 15 years old and is in fine shape. The Secure-Lock clamp system is one of the best systems on the market, and is simply a joy to use. The foldable system makes it easy to break down and put up the stand, and the tripod design had great stability on uneven ground. There is just a hint of flex from the upright tubes and more so when the upper tube is extended, but it's not much to complain about in a near perfect product.

The Tote Bag is a great item if you travel, while the Tool Tray is just plain handy for holding all the typical items you use for bike repairs. If you like to true your own wheels or even like to check if the disc rotor is true, then the optional Truing Station is a nice item, and it installs on top of the stand for more usability. I also liked the optional Flop Stop handlebar holder to secure the front steering during repairs.

Strengths
-Secure Lock clamp head with quick release button
-Portability
-Stability
-Longevity
-Reliability

Weaknesses
-Expensive
-Flexy upright tubes

Value Rating: 3.5 Flamin' Chili Peppers


Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin' Chili Peppers


Feedback Sport Specs

Pro-Elite Stand
Anodized red aluminum
Weight 12.6 LBS . ( 5.7 KG)
Clamp height 42" - 71" (1067 mm - 1803 mm)
Clamp opening accommodates tubes up to 2.6" (66 mm)
Base diameter 54" (1372 mm)
Jaw width 3.25" (82.5 mm)
Folded Size 5" X 8" X 45" (127 X 203 X 1161 MM)
Load capacity 85 lbs. (38.6 kg)
3-year warranty
MSRP: with Tote Bag $259.99
without Tote Bag $239.99

Truing Station
Red anodized aluminum
Height 20" fully extended (508 mm )
Base footprint 8" x 10" (203 mm x 254 mm )
Weight 7.8 lbs. (3.5 kg)
Weight of truing arm without base 14 oz. (.4 kg)
1-year warranty
MSRP: $79.99

Tool Tray
Black plastic
Dimensions 2.75" x 10" x 14.5"
(69.9 mm x 254 mm x 368 mm )
Weight 2 lbs. (.9 kg)
1 year warranty
MSRP: $32.99

Tote Bag
Black padded nylon
Weight 8.5 oz. (.24 kg)
1 year warranty
MSRP: $29.99

Flop Stop Handlebar Holder
Adjustable length 20"- 35" (508 mm - 889 mm )
Weight 5.5 oz. (.16 kg)
1 year warranty
MSRP: $21.99

Feedback Sports url: https://www.feedbacksports.com/