Simplicity is the name of the game with Topeak’s Prepstand ZX, so much so that it eschews the usual clamping design of the best bike repair stands in favour of a forked hanger. While this limits the stand, ease of use, solid build quality and portable size make it worth considering if you’re looking for a quick and easy bike stand.
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Topeak Prepstand ZX - Technical details
Topeak’s Prepstand ZX is built directly for ease of use with its forked-style bike holder wrapped with hard rubber, so it shouldn’t damage the bike when it’s hung. It’s constructed from 6061-T6 aluminium and can carry up to 25kg – ideal for all but the heaviest e-mountain bikes.
As a folding stand, the Prepstand ZX uses a couple of quick-release clamps to hold everything together once it’s extended. The folding bike hanging fork sits in place and clicks to be in line with the rest of the stand when stowed away. Handily, Topeak offers a tool tray as an optional extra.
When folded, the stand measures 88x11x11cm and extends to 96x96x58cm. Topeak claims the stand weighs 3.29kg. It’s not compatible with aero seatposts larger than 45mm in width.
Topeak Prepstand ZX - Performance
Now, a workstand without a clamp might seem limiting but that doesn’t mean the Prepstand ZX is useless. Far from it, as it’s held up rather well against clamp-equipped work stands and makes a real case for those who work with heavy bikes, or struggle to lift their bikes onto a stand for whatever reason.
Extending the stand is as easy as any other with a smooth action and well-designed quick-release clamps. The build quality is very good and worthy of the asking price. On the extending hanger side of the stand are measurements marked for height. I see why these will be useful but I never used them.
With the Prepstand ZX opened up for service, hanging a bike is super simple, being just a case of hooking the seatpost over in between the hanger’s prongs or fork. Then, the hard rubber jaw keeps the bike in place reasonably securely. Even though bikes have rotated when sat in the jaw, they’ve never fallen. However, it’s not terribly tall, so if you’re planning a bigger job you’ll need to grab a chair but I’ve happily swapped forks and changed tyres using this stand.
But, during those times, the bike has turned in the jaw, which can become a pain. During jobs that require a torque wrench, the bike does rotate and things can become unstable. It also becomes a handful when indexing gears, as there will be a lot of movement when rotating the pedals. It does, however, provide a great base to wash a bike.
The Prepstand ZX is very stable, which is impressive given its light weight. Even when hanging heavier bikes up to the load limit, the stand performed solidly without a hint of flex.
Generally, the Topeak Prepstand ZX is useful and will help those who might struggle to lift their bikes and clamp them in place on regular stands. For those who usually rely on a professional mechanic to sort their bikes, this stand makes a worthwhile option as it’s easy to use and ideal for smaller jobs. But for the more serious home mechanic, they’ll find themselves missing the all-out stability of a clamped stand, and the height of others.
Topeak Prepstand ZX - Verdict
With a recommended retail price of £160, you must be a fairly committed home mechanic to drop the cash. However, if you’re able-bodied and more than capable of lifting and clamping a bike, that price can be tough to justify against other budget-orientated stands from Decathlon and the like. Those stands, however, don’t match the build quality and stability of the Prepstand ZX.
This stand will do well against many workstands above the £100 mark. Park Tool’s PCS-9.3, is the brand's cheapest stand at £225 and comes with a clamp. Topeak’s cheapest clamped workstand is the Prepstand Elite at £280. Feedback Sports comes in with a solid budget option at £200 but its maximum workload isn’t near that of the Prepstand ZX’s.
If you’re one for occasional bike tweaking, require a quality stand and want to stay away from the budget brands, Topeak’s Prepstand ZX is worth consideration, despite the lack of a clamp. It’s well-built, stable and among the easiest stands to use. However, the lack of a dedicated clamp limits basic maintenance tasks.