This is a gear review about the best bicycle kickstands for bike touring 2024.
Generally, most people cycle touring do not use kickstands. Several years ago I added a bike stand to my touring bike, against the advice from the manufacturer. I loved it so much that I couldn’t see myself bicycle touring without a kickstand. Cyclists who are commuting or using their bikes to get around town love them, maybe you will too.
You may not think that you need a kickstand, as there is often somewhere that you can lean your bike against, whether this is a wall or a tree.
However, when you are riding a touring bike that is full of gear a kickstand is a great option to have on your bike.
Sometimes there isn’t always somewhere to place your bike, so a kickstand can become a really helpful thing to have. In this article, I have put together the best bike kickstands that you’ll be able to buy right now.
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How We Tested
The Kickstands in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Bike Touring and Bikepacking. Some of the Kickstands were purchased by the author for this review. They have been rigorously tested by the author for more than 30,000 miles of cycling through more than 20 countries around the world. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to present this honest and unbiased review of the best bike kickstands for touring 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.
Best Bicycle Kickstand for Bike Touring & Bikepacking
The Best Bicycle Kickstand for 2024 are:
Best Bike Kickstand 2024 – Overall
Pletscher ESGE Multi Kickstand
Pros:
> Made from aluminum
> Fits most bikes
> Very strong for loaded touring bikes
Cons:
> Will scratch paint work on frame
> Can be annoying to fit
The Pletscher ESGE Multi Kickstand is an aluminum kickstand that is suitable for bikes with wheels between 26 to 29 inches.
I have used and tested this kickstand on a fully loaded touring bicycle for more than 30,000 miles and 10 years of use. It is super strong and works even when the bike is fully loaded with more than 60kg of luggage. Few other kickstands are good enough to be used on a fully loaded touring bicycle.
This kickstand has been designed to provide you with stability on smooth or rough terrain while being loaded or unloaded. The aluminum is extremely durable and can deal with wear and tear while you are out riding. When using a loaded touring bike this kickstand will be able to hold the bike better than almost any other kickstand.
This kickstand can fit most size bikes. It is easy to install and use but will take a bit of time to adjust it for that perfect fit.
Overall, this is a very strong kickstand and the best kickstand for bike touring on the market and best suited for someone who is using a touring bike or using a bikepacking setup.
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Best Kickstand for Front Bike Racks
Tubus Lowrider Front Rack Kickstand
Pros:
> Height Adjustable
> Strong
> Great for Tubus Lowrider racks
Cons:
> Works with Tubus racks only
The Tubus Lowrider Rack Kickstand is the perfect kickstand if your bike has a lowrider rack. This kickstand mounts to the Tubus Tara Lowrider Front Rack, so you can park your bike with ease.
This kickstand works well to keep some of the heaviest touring bikes upright and parked. It is suited to front bike racks from Tubus and stabilizes the front of the bike which tends to want to turn the wheel 90 degrees. When on any type of angle this may cause the bike to fall. More about this is in the info section below. Either way, this front bike rack kickstand will prevent this.
The length of the arm of the kickstand is adjustable, so it should fit all sizes of bikes with Tubus racks.
Overall, this is a great touring bike kickstand for anyone using Tubus front racks.
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Best Center Kickstand for Bicycles
Pletscher ESGE Twin
Pros:
> Can hold up to 55 lb / 25kg (inc bike weight)
> Very stable
> Folds away when not in use
Cons:
> Not much adjustability
> Can’t be used with very heavily loaded touring bikes
The Pletscher ESGE Twin Kickstand has been designed to work like a motorbike’s center stand. Once the stand has been kicked into place, the stand lifts the rear wheel. This kickstand is perfect for 26-inch wheels.
With two feet, this is one of the most stable kickstands that you can get your hands on.
When it’s not in use, thanks to a pivot movement, a spring allows for the stand to fold away to one side of the bike when it’s not in use. This kickstand should only be used for touring bikes that are not too heavy and not carrying heavy loads. The maximum load capacity it can hold is 55 pounds / 25 kilograms.
Overall, this is a great bike kickstand that is best suited to lightweight bikes. Fully loaded bicycle touring should be avoided with this kickstand.
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Other Bike Stand Options
Click Stand
Pros:
> Reasonable price
> Strong but not for heavy loads
> Easy to use
Cons:
> Need to lock the brakes when in use
> Needs to be unpacked every time it is used
The Click Stand Kickstand comes in 4 to 6 segments and is made from 11mm aluminum tubing. The Click Stand comes in two sizes the Click Stand Max is ideal for bikes with added weight or tandems.
I used this Clickstand for my first couple of bike tours. After several months of using the Clickstand while touring, I found it a bit annoying that I needed to unpack it, lock the brakes, and find a flattish area to stand the bike. After trying to love it I eventually got rid of it and upgraded to the Pletscher ESGE Multi Kickstand.
While the Click Stand Mini is good for most bikes with or without racks. This is a foldable and portable kickstand, which you use once you have stopped moving. When you want to use it, you need to put your brakes on or the bike will fall over. A hair tie or something similar wrapped around the handgrip and brake lever should be enough to prevent the bike from moving
Overall, this is a great budget kickstand for bicycle touring, bikepacking, or commuting but it is not as quick and simple as folding down the leg on a kickstand.
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Kickstand Buyers Guide
Centre VS Rear Mount Kickstand
Where you mount your kickstand is up to you, but you want to make sure that it is placed in the position that gives you the best support and stability when it’s in use.
You also want to make sure that wherever it is placed, it won’t get in your way while you are cycling. Otherwise, this could lead to some annoying mistakes and accidents.
Rear Mounted Kickstands
Rear-mounted kickstands are better suited when the majority of your bike’s weight is on your back wheel. These kickstands mount onto the back of your bike’s frame, between the crank chain and back wheel.
Where a rear-mounted kickstand is positioned means that there is less chance of the stand getting in the way of your pedals, while you are cycling.
Centre Mounted Kickstands
Centre-mounted kickstands are great and nice and stable but they have limitations. They can only be used on lightweight bike setups that are under 25 kg / 55 lb. Anything above that can damage the kickstand and even worse they can damage the frame.
It should also be noted that you should not over-tighten the center stand or you can damage the frame.
Generally, center-mounted kickstands are not recommended for loaded touring bikes but are awesome for commuting bikes.
Weight
The weight of your kickstand is important and does depend on the type of bike that you have.
A touring bike that has been loaded with a lot of gear and equipment is going to need a much sturdier kickstand, than someone who uses their bike for commuting purposes.
You don’t want a kickstand that adds a lot of weight to your bike and that is distracting. It should be pretty unnoticeable while you are on the go, but still be strong enough to support your bike and whatever else is on it easily.
Most kickstands have a weight limit, and you need to factor this in when you are buying your kickstand. The weight limit you look for must depend on the purposes of your bike and the reasons why you need a kickstand.
You need to be aware of its weight limit because you don’t want to buy a kickstand that can’t take the weight that you had in mind.
Durable
You want a kickstand that is durable and will last a long time. The durability of a kickstand depends on the materials that the stand is made out of. Aluminum and steel are two very popular material choices for kickstands.
As both are known to be very strong materials that are durable and can deal with wear and tear easily. Always check the material that your kickstand is made from, as you want it to be made from a material that you know you can rely upon.
Foot Grips
Some kickstands come with foot grips, which are designed to help prevent your bike from slipping on uneven and muddy terrain. This is a nice feature to have, but you must be warned that the rubber feet are known to wear out quite quickly and will need to be replaced regularly.
Although it is a personal choice, rubber feet are best avoided unless you are only using the bike kickstand for commuting.
Adjustability
Some kickstands are adjustable. This is a bonus for bike riders who enjoy riding on uneven terrain, as the kickstand can adjust to the terrain that you are in.
If you only ride your bike in towns, cities, or any flat roads then adjustability isn’t something you need to look out for.
Adjustability is a nice feature for your kickstand to have. Yet, it is more important for bikers who ride on uneven terrain, as it means they can adjust the kickstand to the terrain that they are in.
Some kickstands can be cut to size if needed.
Conclusion
Kickstands are secretly a really useful thing to have on your bike. They allow you to prop your bike up anywhere really easily. They are an ideal feature to have on your bike if you enjoy bike touring or carry heavy loads on your bicycle.
Above we have given you a list of the best bike kickstands you can buy right now. Now there is no excuse for leaving your bike on the ground ever again.
Overall, the kickstands that I mentioned here are the best bicycle kickstands on the market in 2024.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are All Bike Kickstands Universal?
No, when you are purchasing your kickstand, you need to make sure that it will fit. Sometimes some kickstands have been made to allow mount properly and work properly with bikes or bike racks of the same make.
A lot of bike kickstands are universal, but you always need to make sure, so that you don’t buy a kickstand that doesn’t fit your bike.
What Side Of My Bike Does A Kickstand Go On?
You will find that most kickstands are on the left side of your bike. This is because most bikes naturally lean to the right, as more is attached to the right side of your bike. Therefore, the kickstand normally goes on the left side.
Is a Bicycle Kickstand worth it?
Bicycle Kickstands are usually quite cheap, reasonably easy to fit, and a much better option than laying your bike on the ground. For most people, the small amount of money spent on a bike stand is worth it.
BikeHikeSafari Gear Review Process
The author, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small independent adventurer and outdoor gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is not part of a large blog network and is proudly independent. All reviews on this site are independent and honest gear reviews of outdoor products by the author.
The author, Brad McCartney is a very experienced triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Read more). He was a manager of an outdoor retail store and is very experienced in what is important when using and testing gear for reviews like this.
BikeHikeSafari will never receive any money for reviews and they do not accept sponsored reviews on this website. All the comments about the gear reviews are from the author based on his years of experience. Hope this independent review was helpful for you.