Annoying sidestand

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I’ve just started to ride my recently recommissioned ’74 850 Interstate and I’m already really getting p’d with the sidestand. I’m 6’1” and with new forks and shocks and a good condition seat I’m finding it quite a tall bike. With both feet down it’s not heels down, and then when I try to push the sidestand out I can’t quite get it all the way, it just wants to spring back every time. I’m assuming that as it’s an Interstate, it’s got a longer tank and I’m sat a bit further away than if it was a Roadster. Is that the answer, put up with it? The stand has almost no slop as I’ve made certain that the pivot bolt is 100% square and unworn. Any thoughts, take the pee if you want
 
Roadster ain't much better... (6ft Mk3 owner) It's not very well thought out, you can only access the very tip from seated position, and given the length of the thing that soon swings out of reach. Outside of welding a tang further up the knack is to push as far as you can then kick it forward and hope it passes the point at which the return spring sends it clanging back. Budget for a few rubber stops, too :)
 
I’ve just started to ride my recently recommissioned ’74 850 Interstate and I’m already really getting p’d with the sidestand. I’m 6’1” and with new forks and shocks and a good condition seat I’m finding it quite a tall bike. With both feet down it’s not heels down, and then when I try to push the sidestand out I can’t quite get it all the way, it just wants to spring back every time. I’m assuming that as it’s an Interstate, it’s got a longer tank and I’m sat a bit further away than if it was a Roadster. Is that the answer, put up with it? The stand has almost no slop as I’ve made certain that the pivot bolt is 100% square and unworn. Any thoughts, take the pee if you want
I'm 6'1" and have a roadster and have the exact same problem. I long ago just gave up and learned to dismount first and put the stand down. Commandos are wonderful bikes, but there are many things that simply have no good explanation for why they are. The kickstand is a good example, and replacing the horn is a great example.
 
It's a knack sorta like kick starting - you learn how to give a good push with your leg. Keep your leg outstretched in case it comes back and catch it further up for the next try.

Someone here mounted a rubber bumper aka muffler mount to the frame to get the end of the stand a bit further out from the frame.
 
Mind you, keep the pivot bolt tight too, as any slack there and the spring will pull the whole affair further under the exhaust pipe making it even more of a joy use!
 
Roadster ain't much better... (6ft Mk3 owner) It's not very well thought out, you can only access the very tip from seated position, and given the length of the thing that soon swings out of reach. Outside of welding a tang further up the knack is to push as far as you can then kick it forward and hope it passes the point at which the return spring sends it clanging back. Budget for a few rubber stops, too :)

ah, rubber stop. I have a grotty original on it and I’ve just purchased a new one from AN, it arrived today.
However, as the rubber stop doesn’t quite hit the frame square I had a eureka moment. A piece of fuel hose is a very nice tight fit over the spigot, then over the top of that hose I put a 30mm length of heater hose, also a very tight fit. A cable tie below the spigot bulge anchors this elongated and larger diameter rubber stop. It conveniently makes the tang protrude a tiny bit more and makes it almost easier to get my boot on, and the extra length means it hits the frame nice and square.

I’ll persevere with the stand and probably end up dismounting and then put the stand down. But by then I’d rather use the centrestand.
 
It's a knack sorta like kick starting - you learn how to give a good push with your leg. Keep your leg outstretched in case it comes back and catch it further up for the next try.

Someone here mounted a rubber bumper aka muffler mount to the frame to get the end of the stand a bit further out from the frame.
Your reply came through as I was adding mine, yes I’ve done almost exactly that.
 
When I first got mine I could not believe how bloody awkward they are to use. I'm 6' 2" with a 32" inside leg and my seat seems to have been lowered but I still struggle. I was thinking of making some sort of cable operated system for it. When I get off my VFR750 or Enfield the side-stand is right were logic says it should be and my foot just goes straight to it. They are both about third of the length and works well.

Mind you I seems to be a glutton for punishment, although granted this one is the other way around..

 
Same issue here only I’m not quite 5’10” , what is really frustrating is the Griso is worse with same issue , plus no such thing as a center stand .....
 
Mine was gone when I got the old girl and just got around to getting one at the end of the year.... USPS lost the good one, so got another, but stop and foot lever missing. Made one from bicycle sidestand and shaped to suit.... Still a bit of a good shove gets it out there without the trouble all of you describe. It is a little longer and arcs around and up to clear things.... I like it and I'm 6' 1". I can touch the end with the bottom of my boot toes so its comfortable.
Annoying sidestand
Annoying sidestand
 
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When I first got mine I could not believe how bloody awkward they are to use. I'm 6' 2" with a 32" inside leg and my seat seems to have been lowered but I still struggle. I was thinking of making some sort of cable operated system for it. When I get off my VFR750 or Enfield the side-stand is right were logic says it should be and my foot just goes straight to it. They are both about third of the length and works well.

I’ve also got a Blackbird and a Hayabusa and on both of those I simply put my heel on the tang and down goes the stand - simples.
 
I'm barely 5ft 6" and manage okay. I tightened up the hinge/pinch bolt enough to just over come the return spring. I just lever it out as usual as far as I can. The friction in the hinge holds the side stand while I reposition my foot to swing it fully out. The side stand folds back as normal as once moving the spring and inertia take over.
I'm not sure If I shimmed the hinge to achieve this it's that long ago. It only need nipping up after a couple of seasons or so.
Dave
 
If the rubber stop missed the frame, it has wear, or is bent.

the technique I developed is grab the pointy tab with the area under my big toe joint, swing it out, and as it gets out, transition to the heal of my boot about halfway up the stand, allowing the reach to get it over center to deploy. One smooth dance move.
 
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Here’s where my lug stops

Annoying sidestand


it does look like the bike has been down in its side sometime in its past and repaired with new parts, maybe 20 odd years ago.
 
dismount hold Handel bars with both hands take toe of footwear and snag stand frawg gig tip move stand to earthward position
 
74 Inter and the side stand is just waiting to kill me Im sure. Five foot eight and I barely can toe the ground. Why are the later
brit bikes so high off the ground?
My Rickman has a good side stand and I can touch the ground seated. Must have been an accident.
 
I’ve also got a Blackbird and a Hayabusa and on both of those I simply put my heel on the tang and down goes the stand - simples.
The LOOOOONG side stand works well on soft earth, due to it’s leverage. Everything is a trade off...
 
I watched a Norton savvy shop tech deploy the SS....he just reached down with his hand while sitting on bike and swung it out fully. Mind you, he was also kick starting my bike while on the SS, so what did he know!
 
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