Fixes for notorious sidestand?

[Ida]

Hi all.  I just bought an 84 R65.  It's the nicest bike I've ever owned, but the sidestand is a pain!  Most people on the web recommend getting a replacement sidestand.  which I'll probably do in future.  I did find one website describing how to adjust the sidestand, then promptly lost it.  Does anyone know where I can re-find this info?

[Justin B.]

Welcome!  Maybe others will chime in but I'm not sure of any way to "adjust" the pitiful factory sidestand.  I have added a Browns to all of our riders and can personally vouch for the design.

[thrang]

The best course it replacement with an aftermarket jobbie. I use a surefoot which bolts on to the rear engine mount. They are not particularly pretty being rather utalitarian but work brilliantly. There are afew piccy from when I fitted it here.. http://www.thrang.freeserve.co.uk/stand.htm

[not-so-fast-ed]

Welcome aboard Ida.  Post a picture when you can.
Enjoy the "Kline Boxer"!
Ed

[steve hawkins]

I replace my stand with a surefoot.  I do not run a centre stand.

My original stand collapsed, dropping the bike over, onto my children's pushbikes.  I now sport some large dents in the tank and am looking for a repair/respray.  However, this was after 106,000 miles.

The surefoot is also adjustable, but as thrang mentions, it is a 'piece of kit' and there is no hiding it!  As with all of these types of stand.

However, my bike now sits more upright and I can now get a full tank of gas in it!

Cheers.

[suecanada]

Not sure if you generally dislike the stand because it is flimsy OR because you have one that retracts once the bike's weight is lifted??

If it is the latter you need to figure out how to arrange the springs such that they PULL straight ALONG the axis of the sidestand when deployed. The springs must be parallel to the deployed sidestand NOT on some whacky angle that forces the sidestand to retract. The spring attachment plate at the top needs to be reversed MAYBE...It's too long ago that I did mine and I had 2 sidestands to choose from with 2 different top spring plate attachments. There is a metal welded-on STOPPER of some sort at the top that STOPS the spring attachment plate from rotating forward enough..I THINK that is why the springs get cocked and thus pull the sidestand back.

Does it sound like I am at least trying to help here?

[Bob_Roller]

I don't think there is much to be done on making the side stand more user friendly, other than replacing it with a Brown side stand.

I too had the side stand break, just as I was putting the bike on the side stand, fell over on me, thankful for the 'crash bar' and cylinders sticking out the sides.

One of the 'ears' on the stand broke off where the bolt goes through .

[steve hawkins]

That is exactly where min broke, I was taking my exhaust nut of at the time and was taken a little bit by surprise....

[steve hawkins]

That is exactly where min broke, I was taking my exhaust nut of at the time and was taken a little bit by surprise....

[nothing]

 I did find one website describing how to adjust the sidestand, then promptly lost it.  Does anyone know where I can re-find this info?

Is this site which you seek? http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/sidestand.htm

[Melena]

Hi Ida,  Welcome.

I put a Brown side stand on my '83 and I absolutely love it.  Works great!  The old one was left there but it was in the way as it was flopping around.  The bolt was loose, but couldn't come out as it was blocked.  That was the only thing keeping it on at all.  Finally cut it off a couple weeks ago.     [smiley=clap.gif]

Let us know what you decide to do.

[Ida]

Hi.  Thank you for the information.  I had a lot of trouble using the stock side stand when I went to look at the bike before buying it.  The bike was almost perfect otherwise.  On hearing of my trouble, my smartass mechanic merely chuckled and welcomed me to BMW Airhead ownership (he has two).  Glad to hear about the Brown replacement stand, my husband mumbled something about making it an early birthday present, so I guess that takes care of that!

[Altritter]

From the research I did before buying my '81, I concluded that the sidestand would have been a "must-replace" item, along with the OEM rear shocks (mine has two). (I was lucky: When I purchased, the bike had both a Brown and a pair of Konis.) The R65's center stand also appears to be open to some question. I've seen some postings stating that all center stands (including the Reynolds Ride-off) are lousy, and counseling that one should become resigned to having the factory center stand re-welded every so often. Others advocate the Reynolds.

I like the Brown. I use it (with baseplate & the bike in gear) a lot when I'm parking for a short period on good ground. Don't know if every dealer stocks it, but I've seen it in Bob's BMW's catalog.

Good luck.

John