BOLT IT ON BIKE STAND REVIEW

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Max Rhulen

There are many ways to store a mountain bike, but a bottom bracket mounted unit like Bolt It On’s Bike Stand offers some unique functionality that makes it worth considering. With the unique as a bike stand that fits a Specialized Levo eBike and many others, Bolt It On have produced an offering that we’ve appreciated having in the bike shed. Keep on reading to learn all about it.

ABOUT THE BOLT IT ON BIKE STAND

Best known for their motorbike carrying systems, Bolt It On applied their two-wheel vehicle transport and storage expertise to their Specialized Levo-friendly Bike Stand. Manufactured in the USA, Bolt It On’s Bike Stand is designed to hold a range of mountain bikes and eBikes with hollow crank axles thanks to its 8mm (5/16”) spindle. This includes the Specialized eMTBs, such as the popular Levo, which is claimed to be unique to Bolt It On’s Bike Stand. As it was designed around the Levo, Bolt It On says that it should handle eBikes up to around 60lbs without issue.

The Bolt It On Bike Stand is manufactured from Laser Cut and welded steel which is powder coated black to offer corrosion resistance. Thanks to a wide base and sturdy construction, it’s designed to hold the bike steady with the rear wheel off the ground both in the garage and at the trailhead, with its 6.8lb (3.1kg) weight ensuring portability. Bolt It On designed the stand to offer pedal clearance, creating the possibility to turn the cranks for chain cleaning and lubrication; gear tuning and more. Things that any eBiker knows can be a bit challenging without a stand. The stand is available in Black only for an MSRP of $149.99.

THE DIRT

We’ve been putting the Bolt It On bike stand to work, both in the bike shed for storage as well as pre- and post-ride maintenance, and at the trailside for some quick tune-ups. We’ve appreciated its sturdy overall feel and ability to remain stable on a variety of mostly flat surfaces. Make no mistake, it won’t keep your bike stable in largely off-camber or uneven terrain but does a fairly good job in your typical trailhead parking lot.

The 8mm spindle doesn’t look like the burliest construction, but so far, it’s holding up without issue on multiple different 50-60lb eBikes. We wouldn’t risk sitting on the bike while in the stand, but we’ve lubed countless chains, swapped pedals and tuned gears without complaint or any undue wear.

Even though the rack is designed and marketed as a Specialized Levo-focused product, one thing we’d love to see would be an adaptor sleeve for larger diameter hollow crank axles such as SRAM DUB or Race Face Cinch crank. With the larger diameters, there’s risk of the end of the shaft scoring the inside of the crank axle over time, so a tighter fit or softer material would be great to see for different crank systems. For the Turbo Levo or a Shimano eBike crank though, the fit is excellent and we’re yet to see any undue wear. We can foresee this one continuing to be useful for a long time.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Bike Stands are simple in theory, but not always perfect in execution. Bolt It On’s Bike Stand comes pretty damn close. Fitting more bikes than most and with a reassuringly sturdy design, it’s a solid offering and very useful to have in the shed or for the trailhead.

Price: $149.99
Website: Boltiton.com