Whether it's a bike rebuild from the frame-up or simply to just clean your wheels, sooner or later you'll need to get your bike off the ground. Most sportbikes don't have center stands, and jacks are made for lifting cars, not bikes. Attempting to use one on a motorcycle results in an unstable bike, cracks in the lower fairings or damage to the exhaust. Motorcycle lifts are a great way to work on a bike in the garage, but aren't portable and are very expensive. Owning a good set of motorcycle stands is not only a wise investment, but will save time and money for the do-it-yourself mechanic.
Stands come in a wide variety of finishes, shapes and lifting methods. In general, there are two ways to lift the rear tire of a motorcycle off the ground--with spools and without. The most stable stands lift from spools attached to the swingarm, and these spools must be purchased separately and vary by bike and model. The alterative to using spools is to lift underneath the swingarm via small flat rubber coated plates. This method is more versatile but slightly less stable. For bikes that have a single-sided swingarm, special stands must be used that lift the bike via a large pin that raises the rear from the center of the axle.
Front stands also come in a variety of lifting methods. Some use a pin that's inserted inside the frame's headstock which allows the forks to be removed. The downside of this method is a model specific adapter pin must be used for each bike. Using the correct pin for your bike is crucial, as the wrong pin can make the bike unstable. The other method is to lift from beneath the fork legs. This is great for tire changes, brake maintenance or wheel cleaning, and can be used on most sportbikes.
It's important to note that a front stand should only be used in conjunction with a rear stand. Using a front stand on its own will make the bike very unstable. It is also important to only use stands on a flat surface. Carpet and rough cement can prevent the wheels from rolling properly.
A good set of proper stands is a worthy investment and will allow you to have a save and supported bike to wrench on.