Centerstand again

[badgertom]

My centerstand on the R65 1982 has been the source of frustration for a long time. Recently I somehow managed to bend the footlever so that the bike partly rests on the lever. Anyway it seems I have two choices. 1) I could try to bend the lever back to its original by using a blow torch to heat it and then bend it back; or, I could tryy to remove it and replace it ( weld it to the centerstand)  with a newer and longer lever. This option might help me get more leverage when lifting the bike. For both options, though, I am concerned about weakning the centerstand. ( too much heating and welding may compromise the steel(?)> Any better suggestions or solutions to my problem?

[Barry]

The tang or foot lever wasn't really designed to be stood on as an aid to getting the bike on the stand and the fact that you do need to do that indicates that the stand might be going too far over centre. You should be able to bend the tang back with some heat and it doesn't necessarily need to be red hot as steel beings to weaken from 400 Deg c onwards.

If the stand doesn't sit at the correct angle the real repair is to weld up the tips to correct it. I have to say it was best thing I've done to my bike in terms of easing daily use. If the stand is badly worn as mine was it really will be a transformation.   Pic below should give you an idea what the angle of the stand should be.  A search will also bring up several threads where members here have done a similar repair.

[montmil]

Tom, Do you have the tang with the "Civil War mini-ball" on your stand? You know, the one that works so hard to ruin the sole of your boot?

My '81 came with this terrible design and I soon replaced it with an eBay-sourced stand for a later model R65. IIRC, BMW Motorrad redesigned the geometry of the earlier stands and added a proper foot pad to later models. Best $35.00 bucks I spent and the bike is happier too. My '83 R65 came with the newer design stand and that was the motivation to make the swap.

And as Barry mentioned, if your bike passes well over-center, the stops on the stand and/or chassis may need some weld and grinding or the curved, ground contact points may be worn near flat.