Surefoot side stand Paralever

[Blythe59]

Hi each,
Has anyone else on the forum bought the recently introduced Surefoot for a paralever from Motorworks? I’m having the devil of a job to get it to fit on a 93 gs pd, I have a new exhaust collector box fitted which cost a small fortune and the side stand bracket clashes with it, in addition the engine mounting stud is not long enough to accommodate the very substantial bracket and continue to do its original task. Motorworks have been less than helpful so far advising me to measure the stud, but this doesn’t address the exhaust collector/sidestand clash.
When offered up to the gs it also looks very out of place, easily accessible, yes, but it hangs in the air like something of an afterthought.

Could I also ask, while I’m on, has anyone got a front mudguard extender for the front of the high guard on an air cooled gs, not bothered about colour or scratches etc, as long as it’s in one piece.

Thanks in advance

 

[Gelandestrasse]

Sorry, not an answer, but I fitted a Surefoot to my R80G/S and it fouled both the kickstart throw and the gear lever, making both inoperative. I got creative with the gear lever but if I had to kick the bike over I'd have needed to remove the stand. So thumbs down on Surefoot.

BTW should you identify the length of engine stud you need I have a few and could help out.

And I have a Siebenrock stand (I think) on my GSPD which doesn't stay down but sure is easer to put down than the standard one. It's shiny, too, always a good sign!

 

[Blythe59]

Hmmmm shiney

Unusual for Motorworks to be like this, but I’m not going to trash nearly £500 worth of collector box just to make this fit, and the pivot point appears very low, for the gs I’m sure it could be an inch higher and tuck the stand in more, it would still operate the same. Anyway thanks for the reply, I’ll have a measure up.

 

[Mad Hatter]

The best one I found having tried a few is the one from motorenisrael in Germany which is very well made and doesn’t interfere with anything. It looks similar to the siebenrock one but it is slightly different and doesn’t foul anything. I’d be sending yours back to Motorworks

 

[Blythe59]

You’re correct, it’s on its way. Just out of interest, which department are you in in France? I have a pal who I ride down to visit annually in Dordogne, just south of the river near to Gourdon, anywhere near you??

 

[Mad Hatter]

You’re correct, it’s on its way. Just out of interest, which department are you in in France? I have a pal who I ride down to visit annually in Dordogne, just south of the river near to Gourdon, anywhere near you??

We’re near Bourges, right in the centre

 

[Blythe59]

Quick update,
Motor works accepted the return, no fuss, but I do think that when they designed the bracket the mule bike must have had a keihan pipe on not an original collector box?

 

[Steptoe]

Quick update,
Motor works accepted the return, no fuss, but I do think that when they designed the bracket the mule bike must have had a keihan pipe on not an original collector box?

The original Surefoot side stand was designed and produced by Bob Porecha, in the mid eighties.
The Motorworks and the Migsel side stand are copies based on the original.

I have an original

 

[sidkn33]

Hi each,
Has anyone else on the forum bought the recently introduced Surefoot for a paralever from Motorworks? I’m having the devil of a job to get it to fit on a 93 gs pd, I have a new exhaust collector box fitted which cost a small fortune and the side stand bracket clashes with it, in addition the engine mounting stud is not long enough to accommodate the very substantial bracket and continue to do its original task. Motorworks have been less than helpful so far advising me to measure the stud, but this doesn’t address the exhaust collector/sidestand clash.
When offered up to the gs it also looks very out of place, easily accessible, yes, but it hangs in the air like something of an afterthought.

Could I also ask, while I’m on, has anyone got a front mudguard extender for the front of the high guard on an air cooled gs, not bothered about colour or scratches etc, as long as it’s in one piece.

Thanks in advance

I have just fitted this stand to my R80GSPD without difficulty, but I have a Keihan y-piece not a collector box.
Where difficulty arises is in using the stand because aside from being adjustable and therefore allowing me to side-stand my GS more upright, it's awful to operate due to the interference from the main stand.
First you have to get off the bike to use it, just like with the OEM stand that people complain about but worse, you have to be off the bike, pushing the main stand down (which is sprung to move up!) out of the way, to put the "Surefoot" up or down.
It's like you need an extra foot, one to steady the bike, one for the main stand and one for the not-so-Surefoot.
On anything other than level tarmac, it's a pig and the OEM "suicide stand" is better.

 

[robertotoole]

I have just fitted this stand to my R80GSPD without difficulty, but I have a Keihan y-piece not a collector box.
Where difficulty arises is in using the stand because aside from being adjustable and therefore allowing me to side-stand my GS more upright, it's awful to operate due to the interference from the main stand.
First you have to get off the bike to use it, just like with the OEM stand that people complain about but worse, you have to be off the bike, pushing the main stand down (which is sprung to move up!) out of the way, to put the "Surefoot" up or down.
It's like you need an extra foot, one to steady the bike, one for the main stand and one for the not-so-Surefoot.
On anything other than level tarmac, it's a pig and the OEM "suicide stand" is better.

I have a Surefoot, and have learned to do a little dance to get it folded up correctly. I get on with it on the side stand, push the main stand down with my right foot, and balance on that foot. Then sweep the side stand up with my left. And then let the main stand come up fully.

This is with a replacement centre stand from Motorworks. It wasn't necessary with the original centre stand. Either that had a different design, or it had been modified when the Surefoot was fitted (by CW Motorcycles in 2001).

 

[sidkn33]

Thanks, maybe I need to review my technique, but maybe it's just that my main-stand is actually springing up correctly as designed (I had another GS and the main-stand had to be kicked upwards because the springs were shot) - the fact that I have to hold the main-stand out of the way with a separate appendage makes the Surefoot a downgrade from the OEM side-stand - especially on uneven ground.

 

[robertotoole]

I can remember now that before I changed the centre stand,I could retract the surefoot after the main stand and it would be tucked away properly. Now I can't. That means the new centre stand must be quite different in shape from the original.

 

[mikeyboy]

I could be mistaken,but all of the aftermarket stands that mount on the rear engine stud will interfere with the main stand on a paralever bike.
In the real world,it makes no odds,leave it resting on the outside of the main stand.
I’m a short arse ,so the ease of deployment is essential.

Edit,the migsel is the same iirc

 

[Steptoe]

Thanks, maybe I need to review my technique, but maybe it's just that my main-stand is actually springing up correctly as designed (I had another GS and the main-stand had to be kicked upwards because the springs were shot) - the fact that I have to hold the main-stand out of the way with a separate appendage makes the Surefoot a downgrade from the OEM side-stand - especially on uneven ground.

You’ve got it arse about face.
The main stand is designed to be “kicked up”.
You put the stand down and it stays down, enabling you to then place your foot onto the “pad” on the base of the stand, which you then put your weight onto and the bike goes onto the centre/main stand .. no pulling or pushing

 

[sidkn33]

You’ve got it arse about face.
The main stand is designed to be “kicked up”.
You put the stand down and it stays down, enabling you to then place your foot onto the “pad” on the base of the stand, which you then put your weight onto and the bike goes onto the centre/main stand .. no pulling or pushing

If only that were true on my GS: The main stand stays down about 30% of the time, the rest it returns to the upright position and closes around the Surefoot - acting like an auto locking mechanism.
I always use the main stand on my three Airheads with one foot in one movement - I don't put the stand down first and then use a second foot position, to lift the bike up/back.
I do recall that my previous 1993 GS main stand would have to be encouraged upwards with a toe-push, whereas on my current 92 PD it springs back up when only about 10-20mm from the ground - every time.
I will look at this and see if I can restrain it a bit - because it's making Surefoot impossible to deal with.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[Steptoe]

I always use the main stand on my three Airheads with one foot in one movement -

The amount of airhead main stand prongs I’ve had to weld back on, or in the case of the later bikes with their soft tabs, bend back into shape and strengthen due to owners not knowing how to use a BMW main stand.
Back in the day It even gave instructions in how to “operate” in the riders handbook

 

[Blythe59]

Well, I’m back to the original side stand, took the time to straighten/ clean up the crash bar, all works fine, my centre stand does as it’s says on the tin, flick down, stays down, weight on, hand on grab handle, push down and swing back, old man grunt a bit if on full tank.
I recall that on my old /6’s and /7’s if I loosened the side stand bolt and swung the stand towards the front of the bike, then tighten bolt it would stay down and not self retract. Years ago, I parked my 90s on Driffield Main Street in the approved style, back tyre to the kerb, on the side stand. While in the shop I heard a crash, some old numpty had reversed gently into my bike then driven forwards, CRASH, down went the bike happy days!

 

[sidkn33]

The amount of airhead main stand prongs I’ve had to weld back on, or in the case of the later bikes with their soft tabs, bend back into shape and strengthen due to owners not knowing how to use a BMW main stand.
Back in the day It even gave instructions in how to “operate” in the riders handbook

I do exactly as BMW instruct

 

[Steptoe]

I do exactly as BMW instruct

That’s just the very late airheads

 

[Steptoe]

Here’s the earlier versions

Use the prong/tang to lift the bike and after a while it’s a case of “ping feck it”
See the prong/tang to put the stand down, and the pad on the main stand which you put your weight on.
No need for any pulling by hand. Just put your weight on the pad and bike rolled back into the stand