My Blue Ridge Parkway Ride 2016

[robertbarr]

Wow, tough break. Probably every rider on this forum has gotten away with a sidestand 'error' at least once. Several times, for me, but all it cost me was embarrassment.

For that switch, perhaps look into an OEM Suzuki part for a model that used the idiot light. I'm about 99% sure my '82 GS850 had the warning light, so dig up a parts diagram. All you'd need to do is fabricate a bracket -- and a simple photo of someone's '82 would give you a good idea of what you're aiming for.

Good to see someone actually adding a safety warning. I always cringe when people discuss bypassing safety switches like clutch & sidestand. I guess they think they're the exception to the rule that someday, some time, they'll make that little mistake. Same reason pilots go through that checklist every single flight -- they're professional enough to understand that they're fallible.

Sorry your BRP adventure came to such a crummy premature ending! I've ridden it twice in the past three years, starting from Chicago, and it's worth every mile & dollar. I'm already thinking about next year...

[cowboyup3371]

For that switch, perhaps look into an OEM Suzuki part for a model that used the idiot light. I'm about 99% sure my '82 GS850 had the warning light, so dig up a parts diagram. All you'd need to do is fabricate a bracket -- and a simple photo of someone's '82 would give you a good idea of what you're aiming for.

Thank you for the tip Robert; the switch is still available and expensive at $63 from Parts Outlaw for the 850G model

[robertbarr]

Thank you for the tip Robert; the switch is still available and expensive at $63 from Parts Outlaw for the 850G model

Ebay? .......

Yeah! I searched on "Sidestand switch" and got about a million hits, with neat photos of every variety of sidestand switch imaginable, some with universal-looking mounting bolt patterns. Ten, twelve bucks, most of them.

[Guest]

Sorry to hear of your downfall, but hope you get mended soon.

I'm yet another who has had a reminder or two about the sidestand being left down, but they were at low speed.

Don't know why I do it with the GS, I never did it on my previous bikes and none had a stand indicator.

[2BRacing]

Sorry to read about your mishap Scott, just glad that it was not worse and you can still tell us the story. Best wishes for a speedy full recovery!

[Guest]

This experience (less the medical drama) was common with the older BMW's. You can't see the side stand when it's down because it's under the jug. Sorry you were injured. Glad it wasn't worse. I did a low side, mid speed biff years ago. Broken ribs, broken collar bone, oblique eye muscle damage from the concussion. Ribs are healed, collar bone spliced with screws and stainless steel, vision still wonky at times. Give the old bod time.

[Redman]

Scott, Hey, Not Good.

Glad to hear not worse.

I could send pics of the Honda rubber toe thing on end of sidestand.

Good that you now understand N.O. switch and N.C. switch.

Maybe SOmething you already have thought of, but has not been mentioned:
Also consider that you dont want the swtich to indicate that the side stand is down.... you want the swtich to indicate the at the sidestand is NOT fully retracted.
So, have swtich mounted so the plunger is activated when the sidestand is in the full up position, and wire your circuit to the the N.C. contact. Think of the swtich as more "when do want swtich to turn off the light", not so much "when want swtich to turn on the light".

.

[bwringer]

Sorry to hear of this incident, Scott. Heal up fast!

We've had at least three accidents at rallies where someone got excited or distracted, left their kickstand down, and went into the weeds. I've seen a few scrape as well before being flipped up...

Anyway, I'm baffled as to why you're not just using the kickstand warning light and switch that are already there, or should be there?

All the pieces are in place, but the light is just too dim to see. So find a way to make a stronger light.

The Honda-style rubber finger is a great solution as well.

[cowboyup3371]

Sorry to hear of this incident, Scott. Heal up fast!

Anyway, I'm baffled as to why you're not just using the kickstand warning light and switch that are already there, or should be there?

.

The '81 550T and L models don't have a warning light from the factory.

[Steve]

Anyway, I'm baffled as to why you're not just using the kickstand warning light and switch that are already there, or should be there?

I don't know of any GS that had the switch before '82. Scott has an '81.

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[alke46]

My ST1100 has the side stand switch that acts as a kill switch. Has saved me numerous times of taking off with it down.

[Steve]

My Wing does the same thing, and more. It's also part of the interlock system for Reverse.

.

[gbw]

Sorry your trip ended this way. I too had a couple of occurrences of riding off with my side stand down. It's an easy thing to forget when there is a lot going on. While I'm not a big fan of nanny style safety gizmos, the side stand cut out switch on my more modern bikes has prevented this from happening again...so I'm for them.

Heal up quick and keep us posted on your switch/warning light mods.

[bwringer]

The '81 550T and L models don't have a warning light from the factory.

Ah, that explains that.

Perhaps you could retrofit a switch from a later model, then?

[cowboyup3371]

While upgrading my phone this weekend, AT&T gave me a free iPad mini which was kind of nice but not something I really needed. However, since I still haven't built up a new computer and knowing that Apple's toys make decent videos without much effort, I decided to see what I could do with the only video I took from this trip. It's not the greatest but it's my first attempt at editing one of my GoPro videos and I'm pretty pleased with it so far. I think I'll go back and edit some of the videos I took from Brown County year.