MPW centre stand

[NTBooth]

Hello everyone!

Has anyone had any experience with these MPW centre stands before on a 2017<?
The reviews seem very limited.

Their cost is similar to Cosmo (which I would prefer) but don't want to pay VAT/import dues on the stand (it cost me about 45 quid on the HEED bars I bought). Should be less on this but still puts the price about 10% (atleast) higher from Cosmo.

The MPW claims free next day delivery too.
Interested to know if anyone has had one on theirs as I'm definitely leaning towards giving this a try.

*Edit: it seems Cosmo isn't shipping to the UK. So...looks like I'll chance one of these anyway! (Not paying >£260 for a OEM one  )

[The Doctor 46]

That's a brilliant price. I've just looked and know it would cost a lot more than that for a used one off an auction site. 

[NTBooth]

Yeah and the used ones are usually in pretty rough condition from what I see.

The Cosmo one is 115 euros (£97) but with VAT and possibly import duty it makes this one even more attractive.

I'll give it a go at the end of the month and let you gentlemen how I get on with it.

[Barbel Mick]

For future reference you won't pay duty on imported goods if the total cost is less than £135 (I believe that may include postage, but not sure).
 https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

[mr_diver]

IIRC many moons ago I bought the same one for my K6 Wee - seed as good quality and OEM and it out lasted the engine 

[UK_Vstrom650]

Import duty/VAT are based on product costs plus postage. They then add import duty to give a new total, then whack VAT in that new total to give you the bill.
If it's like pre-Brexit, Royal Mail will add a handling fee...

[NTBooth]

Thanks chaps - ill update once I've saved the penny's for one. 

[porter]

 Not a centre stand but I recently bought a new jacket from Motocard in Spain for £103.00 and nothing was added. So if you stay below £135 all in you'll be OK.

[NTBooth]

Stand Arrived today - Will fit tomorrow and report!

By the way - ordered it 24th at 13:45 and it was here by 13:00 25th.
thumbs up for quick delivery 

[NTBooth]

Fitted this afternoon.

Everything was as it should be, all parts here, nothing missing.

Instructions were primarily in German with English translations that were "OK. The parts sheet could have done with some more translations just to help me identify similar looking parts a bit easier but it was reasonably self explanatory. (See example pictures, ignore spilled thread lock).

Left side bracket - no problem, all fit fairly easily.

Right side bracket was a pain in the arse (just the top bolt really), I think it's supposed to be fitted with the exhaust off and probably the right foot peg off, but of course I didn't think about that prior to starting.
I took the bolts out of the right footpeg and managed to finally get the washers lined up etc, I got a 6mm hexbit into the bolt that I could then reach with a long extension and managed to tighten it but because the bit was at an angle, it slipped a bit and damaged the outside of the bolt a little. Bolt is still fully functional and was more than tight enough before it slipped. I still had plenty of purchase on the bolt with an Allen key I could get in there and could loosen and tighten the bolt without issue.I don't ever plan on taking it off though...so wouldn't be an issue even if it was stripped (see photo)

Dual spring was as usual a pain in the arse without the right tool, but a bit of paracord and some grunting and it went on in no time.

Bike up on the stand:
It goes up easy enough, no issues.

Back wheel clears the floor well - even on my uneven garage floor.

I got this primarily for maintenance and so it takes up a bit less room in the garage, so it will serve those purposes very well.

It doesn't feel as "sturdy" up there as my benelli but that has a very large and wide stand and this one is quite petite.
If the front wheel is pointing forwards it only takes a light push forward to come off the stand which I suppose is both a good thing and a bad thing. With the front wheel on steering lock it would take a good shove.
I don't know how I'd feel about leaving it out in a storm on the stand...but it's garaged at home and undercover at work so won't have to ever find out hopefully.

Overall - compared to the other options out there it was significantly cheaper and will allow me to do basic chain maintenance so I'm happy. 

[duck-strom]

Seems like a good option, I might go for this.

Any chance of posting some pics of it on the bike?

[NTBooth]

Yep, I'll take some tomorrow and let you know.

[NTBooth]

Pictures for you @Duck-Strom

Did a quick 15 mile trip to drop some bits off and get petrol. No issues. Everything stayed attached.

I know I said it in the original post but it comes off the centre stand really well - I put it up and was facing (forwards) up a hill. Id have had to give the benelli a mighty shove to get it off so wasn't expecting how easily this one went down. I almost put my pelvis through the tank I think 

Had a push and pull of it in the garage. Can take it off the centre stand with 2 fingers.

With the front wheel on steering lock though it's pretty sturdy and would take deliberate force to get it on the ground again.

[NTBooth]

Didn't realise that the picture I'd took had the wheel in a grass tuft so you can't see it off the ground...

The first pic shows it's in a dip though and the wheel was off the ground.

I can show you how far off if you want another picture of it in the garage. Let me know.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Looks good 

Did I read that right that you can take it off the centre stand by using two fingers? Am not sure I'd want mine to drop off that easy. I have the OEM one and it needs a good shove to take it off, so can't be knocked easily when I'm moving about in the garage.

[NTBooth]

Yes uk_vstrom650. That was my initial reaction too.
- I do now think it is probably safe whilst up there, especially as if I was going to put it on the center stand whilst out and about the steering lock would also be on and in that case its more than sturdy enough 

I'm used to it being a struggle to get up and down from the center stand so it was very odd.
It quite honestly might just be that I'm so used to having to force my bike up and down that this is normal - I'm also a bit of a gorilla, so might just be me being rough.

If I can, ill try and take a little video.

[NTBooth]

An interesting little update for anyone following.

I was just browsing the SW motech website and noticed their center stand picture (see below).
So I had a little look at their instructions - lo and behold....it is exactly the same! (see below and compare vs my pic above).

So the question is...is this just an SW motech piece in different packaging? Is it a copy?
the only difference was the missing SW motech front page with torque values on - see picture 4.

[Ianmc]

   Just a little note of caution about these stands,I fitted one to my L4 last year after looking at the price of new Suzuki ones.The stand and brackets are all good quality and although the offside bracket is a total PIG to fit (you have to have all of the bolts in place before you slide it into position behind the exhaust) the kit in general is well made and strong,the only problem I had was with bolt quality,I used a torque wrench to finally tighten the bolts and one of them sheared next to where the threads started,after I had managed to unscrew it I had a closer look and all of the bolts are low quality,I then obtained good quality bolts/Allan bolts for to replace all of the originals and when tightening I could feel the difference immediately,they all tightened straight away without any stretching at all.All in all a good bit of kit let down with poor quality hardware.

[NTBooth]

Thanks Ian!

I found the bolts to be fine on the one I ordered - no issues.
The only one I damaged was my fault for doing it at a silly angle - I MAY replace it just to appease my own OCD.
Good thing for other to keep an eye on though if they order one! 

I agree about the right side being a pig to fit - if someone was so inclined - taking the exhaust and right foot peg off would have made it an absolute doddle though.