MXA TEAM TESTED: MATRIX CONCEPTS LS1 LIFT STAND

On Jul 11, 2023 Last updated Jul 11, 2023

**The MXA test riders loved the LS1 lift stand, even those that had electric bike stands, felt that it was quicker, lighter and easier to use.**

WHAT IS IT? The Matrix Concepts LS1 lift stand is absolutely the best step-on bike stand that MXA has ever tested.

WHAT’S IT COST? $189.95.

CONTACT? www.matrixracingproducts.com or (661) 253-1592.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Matrix Concepts LS1 lift stand.

(1) Design. Matrix Concepts makes standard metal bike stands, aluminum bike stands, molded plastic bike stands, electric bike stands and the LS1 step-on stand. Each has its advantages, based on usage, price and need. Obviously, most racers choose a standard metal stand. It supports your bike, can be maneuvered on uneven ground, and allows you to carry a gas can within its legs. The big downside is that the rider has to muscle his bike into the air and swing it onto the stand. For those who don’t want to lift a 230-pound machine up 17 inches, Matrix has redesigned and reintroduced the popular Power Lift electric bike stand that ran into supply-line issues during the pandemic and disappeared from the marketplace—only to be redesigned and brought back by Matrix. Electric bike stands mean never having to lift your bike again. Just slide the stand under your bike and step on the “up” button. Unfortunately, they are very expensive. Enter the Matrix LS1 lift stand.

**The engineer who configured the foot-pedal linkage hit the leverage ratio on the head.**

(2) LS1 design. As a major manufacturer of bike stands of all kinds, Matrix knew that it could make a stand capable of lifting your bike for a substantially lower cost than an electric stand. Rather than muscle power or an electric battery, the LS1 lift stand uses leverage to get your bike up in the air. Step-on stands have been around for decades, but they have typically been cheaply made, wiggly and prone to releasing prematurely if bumped. Matrix committed to making the strongest, most stable, easiest-to-use step-on stand by over-building the LS1. The center post has a jumbo diameter to lessen wiggles, plus there are wide rubber feet on the base.

(3) Center post. Guiding the center post is a DeRon bushing for smooth action. Plus, there is a urethane bottoming bumper to stop metal-to-metal clank. The lowered height is 12 inches, so it can slip under almost any full-size bike (a minicycle version is on the way). The lifted height is almost 16 inches in the up position. Plus, the step-on linkage self-locks when the stand is in the up position. The 8- by 11-inch platform has a rubber pad on top to help keep the bike firmly positioned.

**Thanks to its wide stance, large diameter center post and rubber feet, the LS1 is supremely stable on level ground.**

(4) Performance. Of all the step-on stands that MXA has tested, the Matrix LS1 is by far the best of the breed. The engineer who configured the foot-pedal linkage hit the leverage ratio on the head. Getting your bike off the ground is as simple as stepping on the wide foot pedal, while lowering the bike to the ground only requires lifting the pedal upwards with the toe of your boot (it even has teeth under the pedal to ensure that your foot doesn’t slip). We also like that the 16-pound LS1 step-on stand has hand slots on both ends of the top platform, making it easy to carry.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? You can’t carry a gas can inside it, because there is no inside.

MXA RATING: The LS1 is as good as it gets.