How we test bike kickstands

Kickaroo sells two parts: a fixed kids stand in five lengths for 12 to 20 inch wheels, and an adjustable adult stand for 20 to 29 inch wheels.

1. A length matched to the wheel

The five kids lengths are 7.3 in (18.5 cm), 8.1 in (20.5 cm), 8.9 in (22.5 cm), 10.0 in (25.5 cm) and 11.0 in (28 cm), for 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 inch wheels, weighing 4.9 oz (139 g), 5.1 oz (144 g), 5.2 oz (146 g), 5.5 oz (155 g) and 5.6 oz (159 g) in that order. The wheel size is molded into the sidewall of the tire, next to the pressure rating. If the bike sits between two sizes, order the shorter length. The size guide covers the in-between cases, and the 16-inch and 20-inch pages go into those two sizes in detail.

The adult leg adjusts in length, so one stand covers a wheel range: S for 20 to 22 inch wheels, M for 24 to 29 inch wheels. You set it once on the bike and it stays where you put it.

2. A plate that matches the frame

The kids mounting plate measures 0.98 x 1.65 in (2.5 x 4.2 cm) and is 3 mm thick. Its mounting hole is 0.41 in (10.5 mm) and takes a standard kickstand bolt of 0.31 to 0.39 in (8.0 to 10.0 mm). If a weld is in the way on the outer face of the stay, the plate mounts just as well on the inner face.

On the adult stand, look at the bracket on the left chainstay behind the crank and count the holes: two holes takes the two-hole plate, three holes the three-hole plate, and no bracket at all takes the center mount, which bolts under the bottom bracket. The mountain bike kickstand guide shows where a stand can attach on frames that have no bracket.

3. A foot that holds on soft ground

The rubber sleeve on the foot is a friction fit and can work loose; a drop of contact adhesive puts it back permanently. On some units the return spring does not fold the leg all the way back on its own, so you help it with your foot. The kickstand holds position at both ends either way.

4. Materials stated plainly

The kids stand is a painted steel body with a molded rubber foot. The adult stand is thickened aluminum alloy and weighs 14.0 oz (0.397 kg). No load rating is published for either range.

5. What comes in the box

The kids stand ships without a bolt. Most kids bikes already have one, sitting in the rear chainstay bracket and often holding a plastic blanking cover; if yours does not, any bike shop has a standard kickstand bolt for a couple of dollars. The installation guide shows where it goes.

The adult stand ships with two Allen keys, so there is nothing else to buy before fitting it. It is sold one per order, so there is no 2-Pack on the adult range the way there is on the kids range.

Every order ships free and is covered for 30 days, as set out on the refund policy. Buyer feedback on both ranges is on the reviews page, and the rest of the writing is collected in the guides, including the comparison between adjustable and fixed designs.