► Centre and side stands

[bob buck]

Side Stand

When I purchased my F650GS the dealers fitted a lowering shock to a standard bike for me, I found that the side stand was too long and the bike had next no lean angle, so I reduced the length by approx 30mm by cutting just below where the spring attaches and flush at the foot,then welding back together, this mod gives a good lean angle with no worry of the bike falling over

No sure if BMW supply a shorter side stand for lowered bikes

 

[ide508]

My F650GS leans over at a frightening angle when on the side stand and I've now taken to biasing my luggage load to put all the heavy stuff to the right hand side of the bike.

Also, my side stand flexes at the joint with 20mm play across the beam of the bike (the joint actually moves). So this increases the lean. I thought this was unusual when I bought the bike, and checked another example which was the same. However when I was in Bahnstormer a couple of days ago I checked an F650GS and a F800GS and the play was hardly detectable.

So the questions are
(1) does you bike lean in a manner that worries you?
(2) how much play is there on your side stand?

Tim

Well, mine (800 GS) has for sure quite a lot of "play" too much for my taste if I compare it with my old Funduro 650 (96) which had none !
I love my new toy, but (so far) my only regret is the side stand. On the 650 there were 2 springs, one to help opening it and the other one to raise it.

To answer your question:
1/ No as long as I can rely on the side stand...(actually not the case)
2/ Just the same as yours, +- 20mm

I am wondering how to tighten that bold effectively ...
On the inside part of the side stand there is a small bold 8mm which I suppose keeps the cut out switch in place.
I can't believe that the only way to tighten the stand is via that black (exterior) round with a hole for a torx to place in.

On those pictures, I think that the gap >< the stand and the holder is quite large.
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7701/dsc03255e.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2229/dsc03256copie.jpg

Cheers
Bernard

 

[Tim Cullis]

Yes, the 8mm nut holds the side stand switch, although my switch has been removed due to continual cutting out and stammering problems. Whilst in Germany recently the bike was recovered by BMW Assist (fourth instance of this) due to cutting out when the bike was put into gear.

My torx bolt is tight, there must be some sort of internal slackage.

Tim

 

[ide508]

Thanks,

Do you mean that the exterior black circle with a torx hole in it is the only way to thighten that stand ?
It "seems" to turn loose on my bike

Cheers

 

[Tim Cullis]

I've just checked mine and it won't tighten any further. When I loosen it there is no difference in the amount of free play.

Tim

 

[ide508]

Tks,

Just to be sure. To thighten the stand you only have to "act" on the black outdoor circle with the torx hole in it ? Regardless of the 8 mm bold which stands right behind ?

Cheers

 

[Tim Cullis]

Yes. The 8mm nut holds the side stand switch.

 

[ide508]

 

[ide508]

Tighten it up this morning and the "play" is about 5mm now

Can't edit my previous post

 

[haydenvn]

The lean angle of my 800gs got progressively worse during a 4 week trip, up to the point I had to only use the center stand.When I got home and checked ,the side stand had bent and the fork where it mounts had spread.The mounting fork was fixed by squeezing it in a vise and the angle reset in a pipe bender.It worked but the metal is very soft and will bend again so I may try to make one out of thicker tube.

 

[freeloader]

Can't edit my previous post

There's a time limit on doing that; think it could be an hour.

 

[ILMV]

Just to add my 2p, the side stand on my 800GS seems fine, infact I can on occasion slap the side stand down whilst 2 up and I don't get any bending or flexing.

 

[ide508]

Do you have faith in your side stand

Hello there

A question I'm asking myself lately
What is the best way to get out of the bike.
1/ Using the side stand while on the bike and just lean it,
2/ or get out of your bike and then open the stand ?

With my f 650 funduro I really trusted the side stand and always get out of the bike with the first method.

My new 800 gs doesn't make me so confident. The angle from which it does it's job seems to me a bit "far"...
On top of that, the 650 had 2 springs on the stand, one to keep it up and one to keep it down, which I enjoyed very much. The 800 only one (up)

Which method do you use ?

Thanks for your feedbacks helping me solve this existential problem of mine

Cheers
Bernard

 

[ILMV]

There is no way in hell I would get off of a bike without the side stand down, especially the 800GS which is pretty heavy, I am a weak lanky bugger, so if the bike starts to lean I find it hard to bring it back.

Anyway, I put no more weight on the bike if getting off with the side stand, heres how:

1) Pull up to park
2) Put weight on right leg
3) Kick sidestand down
4) Lean bike to the left with my left leg following down to the floor
5) Right leg swings over

At no stage am I really putting any weight on the bike.


Ciao!

 

[Fanum]

I was taught to get off, then put the stand down........I've not done it that way since the day I passed though, and have never seen the need.

PS there's a certain moderator here who was in the habit of riding up to a group of people , kicking his sidestand down (which cut the engine), tilting it over onto the stand then vaulting flamboyantly from the bike, all without touching the ground until he landed. it looked silly TBH but I'll grant that it was vaguely impressive

I don't think I've laughed so much since the day I saw him failing to make it, with him and the bike ending up in a very undignified heap right in front of a group of us

Still makes me chuckle now!

 

[ide508]

Thanks for inputs.

As I said, I use to do exactly the same but I have read somewhere that Bmw recommend to get first out of the bike and then place the stand.
Kind of hard thing to do in regard of the 200 Kilos of the bike... certainly with practice

I've tried it on a straight & level floor, dunno if I could do that elsewhere

 

[Fanum]

Thanks for inputs.

As I said, I use to do exactly the same but I have read somewhere that Bmw recommend to get first out of the bike and then place the stand.
Kind of hard thing to do in regard of the 200 Kilos of the bike... certainly with practice

I've tried it on a straight & level floor, dunno if I could do that elsewhere

They also say you should never ride off the centrestand but then, the manual was written by a humourless German technician

 

[Morticia]

Hi Bernard,

I too have an 800 and i have always put side stand down first then get off the bike, its how i was taught 30 years ago and can't break the habit.

Happy Riding
Morticia

 

[ide508]

They also say you should never ride off the centrestand but then, the manual was written by a humourless German technician

I that think I have also read that and I guess that I will also keep my good old habits!

 

[chrisjk]

I'm preparing for longish european jaunt, sorting out tools, loading the panniers etc. and I was very concerned about the lean angle and I found my side stand had developed a lot of play but I also found the torx bolt was rather loose.

However, even after tightening the bike was still leaning over too far so I developed the hi-tech solution shown below. The cable ties are used so I can remove the wooden block easily before going off-road.

Now the bike has an acceptable lean angle.

That block is 5cm thick!