What good is a kickstand anyways

[B Evil]

Well I bought a set of complete pipes off ebay to replace the rusted out single cheeck'd straight pipe job of the previous owner. And as I'm sure some of you had heard before the seller said 'sure it'll fit'. As you can imagine, shipping isn't cheap so it's not worth the hassle of shipping them back for a refund. I cross referenced part numbers and knew they weren't the same so it's not all the sellers fault, but while I was looking at the pictures with the part numbers it looked like the main difference was on my bike the rear mounting bracket was on top the muffler and these it was below the muffler. I figured it wouldn't be any big deal to make a new mounting bracket. Well they were a little stubourn going on since apparently the spacing between header pipes was a little different as well but I loosend up the clamps on the 'Y' and was able to get them on. Unfortunately there was one more "tiny" difference. I'm not sure how different they actually are since I'm missing a good bit of the original pipes but apparently the 'Y' is different as well.

So here's the problem. They still bolted up (loosely) but the crossover isn't connected. It seems that these new pipes have a slightly longer and wider 'Y' so the 'Y' on the left side is pushing up against the kickstand bracket. Is there any reason not to bust out the torch and cut that sucker off? Hopefully I can salvage the kickstand, and drill a few holes or fabricate a new bracket and re use the original kickstand in a new location but otherwise, anyone know of some inexspensive bolt on kickstands?

In case you are wondering she is a 1981 GS 550 L and the donor pipes came from a 1980 GS 550 ? (I think it was also an L but I'm really not sure).

If it's not clear what I'm talking about I'll try to get some pictures up later today.

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[Zooks]

Why not cut it off as neatly as possible and have someone re-weld it for you a little further back?

 

[mortation]

Sorry wasnt thinking , edited post

 

[Griffin]

If they'll fit fairly easily without the sidestand, I'd just lose the sidestand.

I went about five years on my GS700 without a sidestand. The pivot bolt that holds it on the frame vibrated loose, and one day just fell off. I was cruising down the road, and lost the bolt, but found the stand. I took it home, and stuck it on a shelf, where it stayed for five years.

As a result, I got into the habit of always using the centerstand, and still pretty much do to this day.

 

[Steve]

If they'll fit fairly easily without the sidestand, I'd just lose the sidestand... I got into the habit of always using the centerstand, and still pretty much do to this day.

Using the centerstand is indeed a possibility, but I have found that you must be much more selective where you park.

If you park in a blacktop parking lot at work, you may come out at the end of the day to find the bike on its right side. Besides the narrow stance of the centerstand making it easier to tip the bike over, it places virtually all of the weight on two little pads, driving them right down into the hot blacktop. The reason it ends up on the right side is because of the arm that comes out the left that you stand on to get the bike on the stand. When it contacts the pavement, surface area is increased on the left, but the right side still sinks.

.

 

[B Evil]

Thanks for the ideas. I was hesitant about the idea of taking it to someone to have them weld it back on because I didn't exactly want to ride around without it and only the center stand so I was looking for the quick fix . . . insert tab A into slot B thing . . . you know what I mean. I'll have to practice using the center stand a little more because I look like a damn hill jack behind a sheep putting her up on the stand right now. She's always parked in the garage on cement at home and I work 3rd shift so hot asphalt shouldn't be too much of a problem. If it is, I'll just park her on the sidewalk.

Unfortunately though, it doesn't look like the kickstand can be moved back any further unless a sturdy bracket is added to the back of the frame. Any problems with moving it forward? It would probably have to be mounted between two of the pipes so it might be a little tricky getting the kickstand down but do I need to worry about it being off balance if it was moved forward approx 8 inches?

 

[BassCliff]

Just checking...

Just checking...

Mr. B Evil,

Here's something I haven't heard you mention. Does you new exhaust clear the oil drain plug? I'd hate to see you bolt it up and then not be able to change your oil.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Steve]

... so I was looking for the quick fix . . . insert tab A into slot B thing . . . you know what I mean.

Yeah, that's the problem with the bunch of home-brew engineers out there. :-s

Always rememer...tab A should go into slot A. :shock:
Tab B is what is supposed to go into slot B. 8-[

.

 

[Bert Patterson]

If they'll fit fairly easily without the sidestand, I'd just lose the sidestand.

I went about five years on my GS700 without a sidestand. The pivot bolt that holds it on the frame vibrated loose, and one day just fell off. I was cruising down the road, and lost the bolt, but found the stand. I took it home, and stuck it on a shelf, where it stayed for five years.

As a result, I got into the habit of always using the centerstand, and still pretty much do to this day.

This may work for a lot of people - probably the majority - but for someone like me, who parks regularly (workdays nine months a year) in a ramp, the floors slope enough so that I'd be uncomfortable using a centerstand.

 

[scotschult]

Another Thought

Another Thought

I have one bike, and have heard of others that, depending on the "new" pipe in question, you might have to lose the center stand to fit the pipe. I'd make sure the center stand will fit/be functional before hacking off the side stand. Just a thought.

 

[Footy.]

When i rebuilt my GS750E two years ago, i left the sidestand off and just used the center stand.

But when i toured with luggage last year, i had a lot of trouble "getting off" the bike. With the center stand only, you have to get off the bike while holding it upright. then you can lift the bike on the center stand.

I found it hard to swing my leg over the bike to get off with the luggage on (just side bags). I had a few "wobbles" at times that almost caused the bike to topple over!

With the side stand refitted, no problem. You can just kick it down while sat on the bike, then slide off the left side.

The side stand is a big consideration if you carry luggage in my opinion.

Footy.

 

[KRISTI'SGS550]

Hey what about using your old Y, from your old exhaust. Would that work at all?

Cory

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Thanks for the ideas. I was hesitant about the idea of taking it to someone to have them weld it back on because I didn't exactly want to ride around without it and only the center stand so I was looking for the quick fix . . . insert tab A into slot B thing . . . you know what I mean. I'll have to practice using the center stand a little more because I look like a damn hill jack behind a sheep putting her up on the stand right now. She's always parked in the garage on cement at home and I work 3rd shift so hot asphalt shouldn't be too much of a problem. If it is, I'll just park her on the sidewalk.

Unfortunately though, it doesn't look like the kickstand can be moved back any further unless a sturdy bracket is added to the back of the frame. Any problems with moving it forward? It would probably have to be mounted between two of the pipes so it might be a little tricky getting the kickstand down but do I need to worry about it being off balance if it was moved forward approx 8 inches?

Be careful if you are going to move the side stand too far forward or back as it can cause imbalance. I had a Moto Guzzi 850 with the side stand on the frame curve where the downtube from the steering head met the horizontal tube running under the engine. The number of times this bike fell over on me was unbelievable. So be careful if moving the side stand too far from its original position. Do your research first.

 

[Rock]

I'd send it back and buy the correct system and make it easy and right. But that's just me.

 

[B Evil]

Mr. B Evil,

Here's something I haven't heard you mention. Does you new exhaust clear the oil drain plug? I'd hate to see you bolt it up and then not be able to change your oil.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Good question. I'm almost certain it will but I will look again when I get home in the morning.

 

[B Evil]

I have one bike, and have heard of others that, depending on the "new" pipe in question, you might have to lose the center stand to fit the pipe. I'd make sure the center stand will fit/be functional before hacking off the side stand. Just a thought.

Other than the aforementioned issue with the side stand they fit fine with the center stand. Won't know for sure untill the side stand is gone.

 

[B Evil]

Hey what about using your old Y, from your old exhaust. Would that work at all?

Cory

I wish it were that simple. That's were the rust was concentrated at. It was to the point that both the 1 and 4 header pipes fell right off when I unbolted them.

 

[Greg O.]

I remember as a kid in the 1960's some of the early Hondas only had a center stand.

Greg O

 

[B Evil]

Did someone on ebay try selling a chopped GS with a log for a kickstand (hopefully that wasn't someone on here)? Maybe I'll just start carrying a log around with me.