Hey guys, I recently started having an issue with my sidestand while riding. I have noticed it when I'm taking off from a stop and my foot isn't on the left peg. When I bring my foot into position on the shifter, my boot is pressing down on the little sidestand lever thing, and causing my bike to stumble. It happens if I'm not really thinking about it and just stick my foot into position. If I am careful, it doesn't happen, but that isn't something that I want to be worried about when taking off from a stop. Is there an easy fix for this? Am I the onyl one that has ever noticed this issue before?
Quote from: nmh5028 on September 10, 2013, 08:32:43 AM
Hey guys, I recently started having an issue with my sidestand while riding. I have noticed it when I'm taking off from a stop and my foot isn't on the left peg. When I bring my foot into position on the shifter, my boot is pressing down on the little sidestand lever thing, and causing my bike to stumble. It happens if I'm not really thinking about it and just stick my foot into position. If I am careful, it doesn't happen, but that isn't something that I want to be worried about when taking off from a stop. Is there an easy fix for this? Am I the onyl one that has ever noticed this issue before?
Picture of your sidestand from the top down? I can't see how you're hitting the switch with your foot unless your shifting technique is wrong.
I'm not hitting the switch, my foot is pushing on the little extension from the side stand that allows you to push it down with your foot. I'm just pushing it down far enough that the switch signals the bike to shut off for a split second
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Not sure if you're sidestand or footpegs have been modified, but on my bike, that little tab is almost directly beneath the footpeg, so I'm not sure how you would hit it while shifting unless maybe your shift lever is super low. I would have to put my foot almost straight down off the peg to hit the sidestand
I'll get a picture of it when I get home. It feels like it is right between the peg and the shifter (neither have been modified). When my foot is in the normal riding position, the bottom of my boot may just barely be touching it. When putting my foot into place after a stop, sometimes I end up pushing it down trying to get my foot in. Sounds like it might be in the wrong place, but I don't know if I can change that
I had an unrelated issue that caused a similar situation on the sidestand relay... I just stuck a rubber spacer on the sidestand piece that pushes the switch (aprox. 1/4" ID, 1/2 OD" x 1/2" long? dunno for certain really)... it was just something I had in the parts bin that fit right on there nice and tight, and gave it a little more clearance, but still kept the switch depressed. This way everything works as is, and you can return it back just that quick if you wanted to.
- Bboy
I have 'just' caught that little stick out bit a few times... With the heel of my boot when I ride with the footpegs under the rear sole... Kinda let the heel rest against the peg to stop boot from going forward ... Change up a gear, toes go up/heel goes down ...
My riding boots have a industrial/military GP style heel and tread on them ... :icon_rolleyes:
The little bit that gets caught is there so you can catch the stand with your foot easier to put it down ...
But also check that the springs that hold the stand upward are in good order ... Pretty sure I have the OEM spring and its a 'dual core' setup ... One spring inside the other in the centre coil section... Have seen a few bikes here and there with some other spring setup on ... And they do suffer a little with the stand wiggling down on bumps ... So then they bridge out the side stand switch .... Which sooner or later is gonna let them ride with the stand down .... Their choice I guess!
Wierd foot positioning problem u have.....u could heat & slightly bend that extension.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/11/du7e5ehe.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/11/5evypugy.jpg)
Does this look normal ?
Looks bent too far up to me. Doesn't look straight. I sometimes wear boots when riding and never had that issue.
Bend the pin back down where it should be.
It should come straight out, not up.
Just stood directly over mine with stand up ... And ok every bike a a tiny bit different .. But your side stand is sticking 'way out' ... On mine the base end of the rubber on footpeg and the rubber of gear lever ... Is more or less in line ... The very tip of that little rod bit ... Is 'just' outside that line ... By quarter inch? .. Your whole rod is outside that line...
With the side on shot .. The angle of the rod is pretty much the same... Mine is un damaged far as I know ... Im thinking your side stand is just bent out sideways maybe 10-15 degrees ... It should be parallel to the frame when up .. Give it a gentle whack with a lump hammer maybe? Or heat the mount end and apply pressure..
:thumb:
Noticed Addy's post 'while I was typing' prompt ... So maybe my rod is bent up a little ... But my stand is definitely not that far out sideways :thumb:
Just throwing this out there:
I added rearsets to my GR650 (a bike that was never meant to have them) and my foot caught on that little arm all the time. I ended up cutting that little extension off completely and painted over the bare steel. Granted, I have to angle my foot out and catch the kickstand with my heel to put it down, but it never catches anything by accident now.
But if your kicker is bent in any way, I'd fix / replace it before anything else.
Hi nmh, I think janx is on to something - I just had to replace the bent stand on my '90 gs, now when I look straight down (as in your photo) I can't even see the stand, only the tab. Is yours bent out or perhaps the joint has too much play? There was so much extra room in the "hinge" area that I slipped a fat washer in to shim it and it still wobbles some.
That is bent... whack it with a hammer a couple times till its straight, you will be sweet
I agree. Looks bent to me. I checked on mine and the little peg is pretty much in line an parallel to the side stand foot.
I would try bending it a little or swapping it out.
Surprised no one said to bypass the switch..... LoL
Thanks everyone, I'm going to try and bend it back so that it lines up with the frame tonight. I'll let you know how it goes
Quote from: weedahoe on September 21, 2013, 05:27:01 PM
Surprised no one said to bypass the switch..... LoL
whole liability issue there :icon_confused: ;)
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 23, 2013, 12:32:40 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on September 21, 2013, 05:27:01 PM
Surprised no one said to bypass the switch..... LoL
whole liability issue there :icon_confused: ;)
Nothing can compare to riding and making a left turn with the side stand down.
Do away with the switch and you're bound to eat sh** at some point I reckon.
Mm yup ... I have been slightly embarrassed a few times .. Click into first gear ... Engine dies.... :icon_rolleyes: :oops: ... Ummm side stand up ... Start bike again .. Ride time! .... Hell of a lot better than wondering why the hell I was suddenly on the ground! :thumb:
Man I've done it plenty. Makes you feel like a dork, but not as much as munching the pavement does!
Quote from: adidasguy on September 23, 2013, 02:38:25 PM
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on September 23, 2013, 12:32:40 PM
Quote from: weedahoe on September 21, 2013, 05:27:01 PM
Surprised no one said to bypass the switch..... LoL
whole liability issue there :icon_confused: ;)
Nothing can compare to riding and making a left turn with the side stand down.
cept a near lowside on the dragon where my fwd controls were tightened too far lol :oops: a pegscraper if you will
Quote from: Zookmang on September 25, 2013, 01:48:08 AM
Do away with the switch and you're bound to eat sh** at some point I reckon.
I'm not arguing this point at all, but I do want to share my view. I've never ridden a GS500 (or any other bike with a kickstand / kill switch), but I would think if the switch faults out in the middle of a good sweeper the engine cutting out could lay down the bike as well. Just from the surprise decelerating of the bike in a turn.
My 68 Honda only had a neutral light (not even an oil pressure light). My GS450 doesn't have any kind of kickstand light. And my GR650 had a kickstand warning light only - no kill feature built in. And I've never had an issue with the kickstand. Ok, the time the kickstand fell completely off my Honda while riding, but that's another story.......
In that case maybe I'm just the sort of guy they've invented the kickstand switch for! :D
Why not simply cut off the side-stand tang with a hack saw? My GS500's previous owner did just that, and I have never had a problem putting down the side stand. The pad of the side stand sticks out enough to serve the same purpose.