Going nowhere: Best motorcycle rear wheel spinners

Updated: 15 July 2024

Unless your bike has a centrestand, cleaning and subsequently lubricating and protecting the chain or cleaning the wheels can be a real pain. That task is made easier with a motorcycle wheel spinner.

You can’t spin the rear wheel easily if it is still on the ground and in the absence of a centrestand, you usually need to roll the bike forwards and backwards so you can cover the full length of the chain.

However, with the rear wheel lifted off the ground, cleaning and lubricating is so much easier; you can easily spin the rear wheel with the bike in one position, allowing you to much more effectively clean the chain and it makes lubing it much, much easier once clean.

There are several ways you can effectively lift the bike’s rear wheel off the ground to allow it to spin easily.

You can use a paddock stand for example, which will do this as well as allow you to work safely on the bike or you can set the bike on its sidestand and then, prop up the opposite side to briefly lift the rear wheel off the ground.

You could park the bike on rollers or use a more serious stand to lift the bike up and allow you to work on it as well as spin the wheel.

Here is a selection of motorcycle wheel spinner that lift the rear wheel off the ground so you can spin it and look after your chain.

Grand Pitstop

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This is perhaps one of the easiest and most straightforward ways of spinning the rear wheel so you can look after the chain. It is a simple pair of rollers that the rear wheel sits on top of while the bike is rested on its sidestand.

The rollers turn, allowing the rear wheel to spin while resting on its own weight on the rollers. This is small enough to bump the bike up onto and you can use it on the rear wheel to clean the chain, as well as the wheel itself and on the front for cleaning. A good motorcycle wheel spinner example.

Pros

Small and compact
Weight rests on wheel
Good reviews online

Cons

Need to get right size for bike

BikeTek Spinner

Price: 41.24

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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Working on a similar principle to the Grand version above, this motorcycle wheel spinner from BikeTek features a pair or large rollers with sealed bearings for longevity and performance as well as a frame with a ramp to help getting the bike up onto it.

Once on, the rear wheel can rotate with the weight of the bike on it. This motorcycle wheel spinner comes with a rubber puck to place under the sidestand to help position the bike in a vertical position.

Pros

Ramp to help loading
Puck to prop bike up vertically
Great reviews online

Cons

Can’t think of any

Tru Tension Wheel Monkey

Price: $59.99

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Another ground-mounted roller, this version from chain-maintenance specialists Tru Tension uses widely-spaced and knurled rollers for grip on the tyre and stability when the bike is resting on it. It also had a handy ramp to make getting the bike onto the rollers easy while the small-diameter rollers help keep the tyre close to the ground.

Pros

Small rollers so low profile
Knurled for grip on tyre
Easy to get bike on

Cons

None we can think of

BikeTek Swingarm Lift

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This lift arm from BikeTek is designed to lift the rear wheel off the ground in conjunction with the bikeu2019s sidestand. You stand the bike and insert this between the ground and the rear swingarm (obviously not single-sided swingarms on the same side as the sidestand).

You then wind the threaded collar until the rear wheel is off the ground. There is a serrated edge on the cup on the ground for grip.

Pros

Well made
Use on any ground
Use on any bike

Cons

May not work for single-sided swingarms

Laser Wheel Spinner

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A variation on a theme, this spinner from Laser is not only adjustable to cope with a wide variety of tyre sizes but it uses four ball bearings to allow easy movement of the rear (or front) tyres. Itu2019s made by British tools specialist Laser Tools, so you know it will be decent quality.

Pros

Adjustable size
Ball-bearing use
Renowned manufacturer

Cons

Nothing we can think of

Oxford Premium Paddock Stand

Price: $242.99

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OK, so this isnu2019t purely a wheel spinner but it will get the back wheel off the ground and hold the bike steady while you clean and maintain the chain, as well as clean or remove the wheel.

This won a Best Buy tag from sister title RiDE in its test and will not only allow you access to the chain but will also mean you can store the bike off the rear wheel, over winter perhaps and work in it in safety and with the bike completely stable.

Pros

Award winning stand
Ensure the bike is stable
Allow storage and maintenance of bike

Cons

Need separate one for front wheel

JFG Racing Rear Stand

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This arm from JFG Racing works in a similar u2013 but slightly different - way to the one from BikeTek. Instead of inserting the complete arm and then winding the bike off the ground, you position the hinged arm between the swingarm of the bike and the ground and then, push the over-centre hinge to lift the rear off the ground. It gets good reviews online and is a handy addition.

Pros

Folds up small so portable
Useful for long tours
Good value

Cons

Possibly not as stable as some

Sealey Lift

Price: $128.99

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Alternative Retailers

Walmart

$143.70

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This handy device from tool specialist Sealey works in a similar way to a centrestand but for bikes without one. You slide it under the bike then use the long handle to pull the bike up onto the stand on its frame rails.

The resting position is slightly over-centre so the weight of the bike keeps it in the raised position and it would appear to be a stable solution to not only raising the rear wheel but also, providing a way to lift the bike for more involved maintenance.

Pros

Works for any bike
Simple and elegant solution
Well-respected manufacturer

Cons

May not work with faired bikes

Pros:

Works for any bike

Simple and elegant solution

Well-respected manufacturer

Cons:

May not work with faired bikes

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By Jim Blackstock

Product Tester for MCN and sister publication RiDE Magazine - Jim began riding motorcycles in the late 1980s while working in an automotive repair garage after earning a Mechanical Engineering degree. Initially, he used bikes for practical purposes but later shifted to cars, starting a publishing career in the early 1990s focused on car modifications and product testing. After a stint in PR and Marketing for major motorsport teams and events, Jim returned to publishing and joined RiDE Magazine in 2017 as a Production Editor. His expertise in product testing soon led him to oversee the magazine’s product content. Rediscovering his love for motorcycles, Jim earned his license through the Direct Access process and now enjoys riding his KTM 790 Adventure across various terrains.

Motorcycle rear wheel spinner