Portable Truing Stand

A bench stand is the right answer when the wheel and the workshop are in the same room. When they aren't (an event tent at a race weekend, a hotel room the night before a gravel start, the back of a team van between transfers) the Portable Truing Stand 1688 is the stand that travels with you.

At 2.3 kg with the hidden foot folded into the base, the 1688 takes little space. Unfold the foot for free-standing use, or screw the stand to a workbench (screws not included) when you want a more stable mount.

It accepts 16 to 29 inch wheels, with or without a tire, and hubs up to 157 mm, including solid, quick-release, and (with the Thru-Axle Adaptor 1689.3 or 12, 15, 20 mm adapter set) thru-axle hubs. The hidden foot folds into the base for stowage, and the stand can be screwed to a workbench for more stability (screws not included).

Compatibility

• Wheels: 16 to 29 inch, with or without a tire.
• Hubs: solid axle, quick release, and thru-axle (12, 15, 20 mm with the matching adapter).
• Maximum hub width: 157 mm.
• Disc brake: accepts the same Rotor Truing Gauge 1689.2 as the Pro Stand.
• The 1688 official manual does not list the Cannondale Lefty Hub Adaptor 1689.6.

“Made of tool steel and durable powder-coat by Unior in Slovenia, this home mechanic stand is built to last a lifetime under DIYer use.”

David Rome, BikeRadar (2016)

Why the portable

The 1688 is the 2.3 kg folding stand for home use. It screws to a workbench when you want more stability, but it does not need a dedicated wheel station. What it does not claim is the Pro Stand's wider-hub range or included magnetic thru-axle adapters; the 1688's official accessories are Rotor Truing Gauge 1689.2 and thru-axle adaptor 1689.3.

Built in Zreče, Slovenia

Unior has been forging hand tools in Zreče since 1919, and sponsors professional road and mountain-bike race teams. The Portable Truing Stand is the home-use counterpart to the Pro 1689 wheel truing stand. It takes 16 to 29 inch wheels and hubs up to 157 mm, folds to a small footprint, and the official 1688 manual names accessories 1689.2 and 1689.3.

Pro tip from our mechanics

The fold-down leg is a feature, but it's also where things move. Before any event, set the 1688 on a flat surface and run the upright through its range; check that the single-sided caliper sits square to the rim, not at a small angle. If it does not, the foot may need re-seating. The trial run takes two minutes and rules out the half-hour of chasing a “wheel won't true” problem that's actually a stand-not-true problem. The full truing workflow we use on either stand is in How to true a bike wheel →

FAQ

What wheel sizes and hub widths does the 1688 accept? It centers 16 to 29 inch wheels, with or without the tire mounted, and supports hubs up to 157 mm wide. Solid and quick-release axles sit in the arms directly. The left arm is welded; the right arm slides and locks with the star-grip screw.

Does the stand fold, and can I mount it to a bench? Yes. A hidden foot pulls out of the base for free-standing use and folds back into the lower profile for storage. The stand can also be screwed to a workbench for more stability; those screws are not included. Official weight is 2.3 kg (2300 g).

Can I check a disc rotor in this stand? Yes. The left leg has an upper slot for Rotor Truing Gauge 1689.2, the official brake caliper accessory named in the 1688 manual. The stand's own rim caliper is one-sided with a plastic tip, so you true one side of the rim, flip the wheel, and true the other.

Do I need adapters for thru-axle hubs? Yes. For 12, 15, or 20 mm thru-axles the official 1688 manual specifies adaptor set 1689.3, sold separately. The 1688 does not include adapters, and the official 1688 manual does not list the Cannondale Lefty adaptor 1689.6 or the Wooden Base 1689.9.