How does the Side Kicker work?
- Thread starter Bendy toy
- Start date
Bendy toy
Registered user
After my Diversion 900 fell off its stand and trashed the fairing, I welded brackets to frame to take crash bungs. Later loaded up to the gunnels, I pushed it off the centre stand and it fell away from me. Oops. A couple more scars on the side case but nothing more.
But the cases were £175 the pair. Folks are asking £800 for used adv cases!
TBH I should have known better the bike had already lifted the front wheel off the side stand, but it is close to the centreline compared to a Beemer.
Side cars? They really are dangerous. Three wheels and they fall over very easily.
But the cases were £175 the pair. Folks are asking £800 for used adv cases!
TBH I should have known better the bike had already lifted the front wheel off the side stand, but it is close to the centreline compared to a Beemer.
Side cars? They really are dangerous. Three wheels and they fall over very easily.
Deleted account 211025001
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iand46
Registered user
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.
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.
It may be obvious but is the ESA on it's lowest setting, eg no pillion with no luggage & not set for off road.
KevinW
Registered user
As per another thread I've had 15mm lower WESA shocks fitted to our GSA. The GSA side stand then kept the bike too upright, a GS stand was too short and, after resisting for a while because of the price, I eventually bought a GS Sidekicker. I wish I'd done that from the beginning as it solved the issue immediately and is a great bit of kit.
Kevin
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
It sounds like a great product, I'd certainly pay the money for it once I have funds available.
How much value do I put on a pulled back muscle or the fractures that could occur if the GSA came crashing down on me?
Reference an earlier posting - I too am guilty of owning a machine that is too heavy for me but aren't they hard to resist?
How much value do I put on a pulled back muscle or the fractures that could occur if the GSA came crashing down on me?
Reference an earlier posting - I too am guilty of owning a machine that is too heavy for me but aren't they hard to resist?
WindyChuffer
Registered user
Sounds like you are riding the wrong bike if you really think that is a risk of getting a 1200GS off the side stand !
certainly sounds like it.
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
I'm not denying it but I do tend to park it on the opposite kerb or against the traffic flow.
I'm just guessing but I imagine the stands are calculated for countries that ride on the right and how I park is how they are intended to park (if you get my drift)
A fully fuelled GSA has a lot of weight up top and although I can cope with it unloaded I'm not sure how I'd get on with the panniers fully loaded.
I have no problems at all with my r100r but the GSA does require a higher degree of concentration from me. Maybe I am being over cautious.
The GSA is a magnificent bike and perhaps with more miles under my belt and the snows gone I will feel more positive about it.
I'm just guessing but I imagine the stands are calculated for countries that ride on the right and how I park is how they are intended to park (if you get my drift)
A fully fuelled GSA has a lot of weight up top and although I can cope with it unloaded I'm not sure how I'd get on with the panniers fully loaded.
I have no problems at all with my r100r but the GSA does require a higher degree of concentration from me. Maybe I am being over cautious.
The GSA is a magnificent bike and perhaps with more miles under my belt and the snows gone I will feel more positive about it.
The other problem, or design fault, with the GS stand is that it's not angled far enough forwards. Parking facing even slightly downhill is a risk. And I have the scraped rocker cover to prove it.
I reckon bike manufacturers give side stand design to the work experience student. Are you listening Ducati, this means you as well.
I reckon bike manufacturers give side stand design to the work experience student. Are you listening Ducati, this means you as well.
you blokes must have a totally different bike to the 2 i've owned
the stands on both my GSAs were neither too short, or prone to rolling off if correctly used.
i have never had a problem lifting it upright or mounting (and i have short legs).
it is possible for the bike to stand upright on the sidestand when not fully extended. at a glance, the stand can appear to be correctly deployed, then it is possible for it to roll off forward at a later point.
Put the fecking thing in 1st gear before you get off, if there a hint of downhill and the bike is facing downhill
Commonsense really - gravity and all that
Facing uphill, no problem
If you want a bike that really leans at 45 degrees on the sidestand, ride a 1150GSA
Hockey puck, job done for about a tenner
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
Even my missus can pull hers off the sidestand fully loaded. Man up
That's reassuring to know and no I haven't taken offence, thank you for asking
(Of course I haven't met your missus)
If your missus really does ride a fully loaded Adventure I'm genuinely impressed and reassured.
Last year I sold an Adventure and bought an F650GS. Two months later I traded it back in for another new Adventure so I can assure you I'll try really hard to make this one work. I am 62 and my biggest problem is a dodgy right knee joint that collapses without much warning - perhaps I should keep the BMW sidestand and have the Sidekicker fitted to my right leg instead.
WindyChuffer
Registered user
That's reassuring to know and no I haven't taken offence, thank you for asking
(Of course I haven't met your missus)
If your missus really does ride a fully loaded Adventure I'm genuinely impressed and reassured.
Last year I sold an Adventure and bought an F650GS. Two months later I traded it back in for another new Adventure so I can assure you I'll try really hard to make this one work. I am 62 and my biggest problem is a dodgy right knee joint that collapses without much warning - perhaps I should keep the BMW sidestand and have the Sidekicker fitted to my right leg instead.
Jesus H Christ. You are on the wrong bike with your dodgy knee. Do your wife / kids / family and other road users a favour and give up or gey a smaller lighter bike.
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
He he. I ride it on a good day, for the rest of the time I ride the r100r which does not give me a problem.
The more time I spend in the gym the better chance I have of sorting it. (I actually wrecked it running the London Marathon in 2010, I got away with it in 2005 but my luck ran out in 2010)
GSAs are truly superb bikes, I'm very reluctant to give up on it
jThat's reassuring to know and no I haven't taken offence, thank you for asking
(Of course I haven't met your missus)
If your missus really does ride a fully loaded Adventure I'm genuinely impressed and reassured.
Last year I sold an Adventure and bought an F650GS. Two months later I traded it back in for another new Adventure so I can assure you I'll try really hard to make this one work. I am 62 and my biggest problem is a dodgy right knee joint that collapses without much warning - perhaps I should keep the BMW sidestand an have the Sidekicker fitted to my right leg instead.
I was saying it partly in jest. No offence meant. Does sound like you may have a problem though. Maybe as some one else said try a standard one, unless you are planning a long tour somewhere you don't really need the extra tank range, mind you I wouldn't want a standard one myself. Hope you find a solution sir.
By the way here she is somewhere in the alps. My bike in the background.
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
Yep! I'm genuinely impressed
I have owned a standard (06) GS and this is my third Adventure. I never managed to wear any of them out (my polite way of saying the mileages were all low) but that was more lack of time - caring for my parents, parents in law etc plus I am a St John Ambulance volunteer and duties have to take priority over biking. When I was sourcing this bike I road tested standard v. GSA and the Adventure won. Possibly not most rational decision.
If I had a week spare and some funds I would not do a biking trip, I'd jump in the camper van and be off somewhere with my wife (she will not go on the bikes)
I did manage a weeks tour to Garmisch with World of BMW, that was on an 1150RT and I have been given permission by SWMBO for this year's Garmisch
I need a few weeks in the gym before I can make that decision.
I have owned a standard (06) GS and this is my third Adventure. I never managed to wear any of them out (my polite way of saying the mileages were all low) but that was more lack of time - caring for my parents, parents in law etc plus I am a St John Ambulance volunteer and duties have to take priority over biking. When I was sourcing this bike I road tested standard v. GSA and the Adventure won. Possibly not most rational decision.
If I had a week spare and some funds I would not do a biking trip, I'd jump in the camper van and be off somewhere with my wife (she will not go on the bikes)
I did manage a weeks tour to Garmisch with World of BMW, that was on an 1150RT and I have been given permission by SWMBO for this year's Garmisch
I need a few weeks in the gym before I can make that decision.
The 1200 sidestand isn't straight (what a sh1t design), perhaps to OP's habit of putting his full weight on the stand whilst mounting has bent the stand even more.
Might be worth checking the angle of the bend on bikes that seem to lean too far
Might be worth checking the angle of the bend on bikes that seem to lean too far
