Installing a Sidedstand From Beemerrich

[Crossrodes]

Steve, Richard has contacted me.  He is sending a longer stud.  It looks like the problem will be solved.

Mike

[NC Steve]

Steve, Richard has contacted me.  He is sending a longer stud.  It looks like the problem will be solved.

Mike

Good deal [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Rich seems like a pretty stand-up guy, so I figured he'd fix you up.

I've been at work all day and am just leaving, so had planned to measure the old stud and get back with you tonight, but apparently no need now.

[Crossrodes]

Well here I am again on the same topic.  To make a long story short I have been away for the winter and just returned in April.  A couple of weeks ago I got back to installing the sidestand again....

Horror of horrors it turns out that the motor mount stud that Rich sent me is shorter than the one that was installed before (I need a longer one to accommodate the addition of the sidestand).  I've tried to contact Rich via email and he is not responding.  I've also tried to find a local metal shop where I could buy some 12 mm rod to make my own motor mount stud and no one carries metric rod.  I don't want to install an SAE size because it will probably cause problems down the road because of a sloppy fit.

There are a number of possible solutions:

1. Does anyone have a current email address or phone number for Beemerrich (The email I have may no longer be current and that may be why he is not responding).

2. Does anyone have a 12 mm motor mount stud they will sell me.  It will need to be a minimum of 13 1/4" long.

3. Does anyone know of a mail order place where I could order 14" of 12 mm rod.

If anyone has any other suggestions let me know.

[NC Steve]

Wow Mike, you've really had your share of problems with this stand! I feel somewhat responsible, but also know several folks who ordered the same stands, including myself, and everything went smooth as silk.  I had problems once with Richard's email address too, but the one I have now is         beemerrich_49503@hotmail.com, which is slightly different than his older one. No phone #, sorry.

I just pulled out my original BMW mounting bolt and measured it, and it comes in at exactly 12".
I'm not sure why yours would need a bolt 13 1/4" long, but unless someone else here steps up with a solution, try your local Ace Hardware, which has lots of stuff the big-box retailers don't stock.
Also, you may want to try Southern Fasteners, http://www.southernfasteners.com/index.htm , or Automotive Fasteners, http://www.automotivefasteners.com .

Good luck, and please keep us posted.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Crossrodes]

Hi Steve.  

Yep I've had more than my fair share of problems with this bike.  It originally came from Germany.  The owner brought it with him when he emigrated here apparently.  That certainly explains some of the differences I have come across...but for the frame to be that much wider doesn't make sense to me.  I measured the original stud again.  It is 12 13/16" long and believe me there are not enough threads left to fit the side stand onto that stud.

The email address you posted is the one I have been using and I do recall that Rich at one time said he doesn't check it too often because it's the one he uses for his Paypal???  I tried another one I found by doing a Google on his name this morning.

Anyway I hadn't tried Ace hardware.  It's just a small store here but it's worth a try.  Failing that I'll try some of the other internet sites you posted.

Thanks for the leads.  I'll let you know what happens.

[NC Steve]

Mike, I'm sending you a PM that will hopefully help.

[Crossrodes]

Got it Steve.  Thanks.  I've found a place that will order 12 mm Drill Rod for me ($50 for a meter)...but I'm inclined to do that rather than persue this further with Richard.

Thanks again for you help.

[Justin B.]

You don't need drill-rod, just steel rod.  You can get a six foot hunk of carbon steel for $30 and the same length of chrome-moly for about $30.  

[Crossrodes]

I'm sure you can pay that price in the US but here on Vancouver Island you pay more....I did in fact get it ordered for $44 (I ordered drill rod....someone in a steel shop told me that's what I needed).

[MPKaier]

Hi All,
I just thought I would show anybody interested how I mounted my brown side stand so that it would work with the Reynolds ride off stand.  I mounted it to the front engine bolt, not the rear one as instructed.  Then I tilted it down as far as possible.  I then used a small fabricated bracket to go from the front hole to the bottom bracket of the engine guards.  This way It clears the center stand when the side stand is up.  Maybe this will help.

Mike

[MPKaier]

Here is another angle.

[Justin B.]

Mike, that's slick.  I'm glad you took the initiative to solve this issue instead of just whining about it like I do!    So, no physical modification to the actual stand?  I don't have bars on my '81 R100 so will have to fabricate something to tie the front of the Brown mount to but that shouldn't be too hard.  Eeeew, would that be a coathanger wire shift linkage underneath that rubber boot?  

Crossrodes, the prices I mentioned were internet/mail-order prices from one of the pricier (but reliable) suppliers so that levels the playing field, unless shipping is exorbitant to your neck-of-the-woods.  Do you have the threading dies and such?  If not, Wholesale Tool has fair prices on taps and dies.  http://www.wttool.com  Looks like they have an adjustable 12mm die for $10.50.

[MPKaier]

Justin,
No it's not the coat hanger.  I put the upgrade on, not as good as yours, I must say.  I just covered it up with the original boot.  It was a real pain to get on, but makes it look stock.

[Crossrodes]

Mike that's really interesting.  I think I'll take a look at mine to see if it would be better in my situation...although mine is not a Brown stand but probably a good copy.  

Justin, yes I do have two sets of dies...I'll be OK with that.

[Justin B.]

Mike, you have far more patience than I!  I thought about doing that on the R65RS when I put on the one-and-only stock replacement I've ever bought.  After fiddling with it for a few minutes I decided that the bike would look just fine with a nekkid linkage.  Now, I can see why folks would like to cover up the wire and I'm quite sure that BMW probably used the boot in the beginning to hide the linkage from the hyper-critical motorcycle press.