How does the Side Kicker work?

I fail to understand why folks are so defensive on the issue.

The video is just what I do. Yeah right. :rolleyes:
If only we were all that good :bow and if only we all had enough space every time. Next vid - what he does at traffic lights. :eek

I climb on the bike using the LHS footrest (as does my 6ft friend). Its the easiest way and avoids boot scuffs on the seat. Then I haul it upright, start the engine and drive off. 50 yards along I stop at the main road junction.

I have access to engineering equipment so £50 is probably more than I need to budget. But would not be doing anything fancy and have no idea how they lock the sliding part so I'll probably put up with it.

Paying top dollar to have something made that probably wont work is just daft. A no-brainer surely?
 
Bendy toy said:
I climb on the bike using the LHS footrest (as does my 6ft friend). Its the easiest way and avoids boot scuffs on the seat. Then I haul it upright, start the engine and drive off. 50 yards along I stop at the main road junction.
Click to expand...

I guess you don't know that GS side stands snap easily :(
 
Bendy toy said:
If true, it supports my point about the design. Too much lean puts more stress on any side stand.

Is that GS or GSA side stands?
Click to expand...

Both mount plates are the same, IIRC that's the bit that gives way

Do a search in the 1200 section

I would never advise, jumping on the l/h footpeg (sidestand down) to get on the bike - especially when the bike is fully loaded

If I have to get on that way (having a bag on the pillion seat) I always use the centrestand to do it, (2 points of contact)

In fact I hardly ever use the sidestand (initially when I get off or briefly to take a quick pic......obviously)

Straight onto the centre stand asap
 
It's a lot easier to lift the bike upright and then throw a leg over. Never understand why people do it any other way
 
APE said:
Never understand why people do it any other way
Click to expand...
It's so they can put excess pressure on the sidestand every time they do it - eventually leading to a bike that leans over far too far :D
 
APE said:
It's a lot easier to lift the bike upright and then throw a leg over. Never understand why people do it any other way
Click to expand...

One accidental kick of the seat and the bike's fallen over, dragging you with it.
My technique is to get on the bike while on the side stand, turn the bars to the LEFT. Keep turning while putting pressure on the seat with my LEFT inner thigh and the bike pops up easily.
I don't put any pressure on the pegs while doing this.

5'8". 30" inside leg. 9st8lb weakling...


Maybe the OP could try these...

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325500
 
one of the reasons i bought a sidekicker was that when fully loaded up & getting on the bike my fecking foot slipped lifting the bike,thank feck for ali side box or i would have been fecked. now i fully extend the sidestand and the bike is almost vertical, yep some folk say its an expensive gimmick, well cheaper than the fecking damage from dropping a loaded bike or being off work with a broken leg.for me it works and works damn well.don't faff with trying to re-invent the wheel or sidestand in this case,buy it you won't be disappointed.:thumb2
 
Unfortunately I got a bike with ESA so the Wibers will have to wait. They are on my list of things to have but seriously not cheap. To be fair I got the bike for a good price with a nearly new rear shock so not complaining.

@Miff, I haven't tried the handlebar turning idea you posted. Will give that a go. Thanks

I dont stand the bike up first, since I dropped my Diversion 900. That one is plenty low enough but its all too easy to get it wrong. >1/4 of a tonne doesn't stop falling once its on the way. :eek

I now have some numbers with a spirit level angle finder.

Diversion 900 leans 15 degrees
BMW GSA leans 20 degrees.

Only 5 degs difference but its enough to make a real difference in use and a sloping road makes a serious difference.

30mm of packing takes the bike to 10 degrees. 20mm about 15 degrees so the hockey puck option has more legs than I expected.

The side stand brackets are all clean with no paint cracking and the stand retracts neatly between centre stand and footrest. That said the GSA side stand kicks out further than the straight standard GS stand so has to put more leveraged force onto the bracket.

@Morty. Thanks for the information.
 
As I have already said on this thread I think the side kicker is a great bit of kit. I need it because of a problem with the frame and without it I can't use the side stand.

Despite all the naysayers who think it's useless bling, if it eases your biking experience then it's a good thing and money well spent. Why struggle because an internet warrior thinks it's just a waste of money?

I've had mine on since last easter and it's done 18,000 miles through some of the worst shite you can imagine and it's yet to go wrong. I just blast some WD40 into it occasionally and it's as smooth as they day it was built.
 
Its expensive but something that needs that little attention is worth a big chunk over even the most basic cost. As Bilco says if it avoids dropping the bike once, its paid for.

Generally I'm ok though the excessive lean angle is annoying. My struggles the other day on a hill and LH cambered road proved how inadequate the standard GSA side stand is. To be fair any large bike would have been difficult but this was in a whole new league.
 
Buy an X country, then the bikes weight is taken out of the equation, and the side stand is the correct length.
 
mmmm what about a side car???:D:D my bars were fecked & my ali box is nearly the same shape after attacking it with a leather mallet
 
AdamA said:
Yeah bit a small scratch on the engine bars will cost £250+ to repair yeah?:augie
Click to expand...

Yeah right. Its an Adventure bike. They are meant to be dropped.

Here's one I prepared earlier:

7_zps29e7e0fc.jpg
 
i'm surprised that cover did as well as it looks,usually disintegrate if you look at them the wrong way:D
 
Here's another one binned by yours truly...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bgHdumYV3bg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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