is this centre stand normal

DogT said:

But then I never put it on the centre stand except in the garage, and I've been starting it off the prop stand for 14K miles now to no bad effects. I wouldn't mind having a little longer prop stand, I usually carry around a 1x4 to put under it, it leans too much to start without it and I seem to have to get up on the pegs to start it, I can't get enough leverage with my left foot on the ground.

Dave
69S

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Hi Dave
I don't suppose you have any inclination to strip your bike down any time soon, after having done a major restoration already, but if you did, you could upgrade to the long (post - 72) sidestand.
My bike is an early model too, and has not had a sidestand since I bought it in '83. So my choice was easy: go for the long stand.
However, doing it was not quite so easy. I bought a sidestand kit, including the weld - on frame lug, from Norvil. That was OK, except that the fitting instructions consisted of little more than a couple of photos showing one in place. I had to guess what angle to weld it at. Later on, I found a link through this forum to Old Britts' sidestand upgrade, complete with Andover engineering drawings and a template. It seems that my guess was pretty much spot on.
But before doing that, I had to add a cross - tube near the front of the frame. Curving the tube was a bit difficult in my garage, with a rough fixture and much heat, leverage and swearing.
The good thing is, it's done now and the bike is coming together (slowly).

Martin
70 Roadster Metisse (mongrel)

Martin,
Well, it's a bit late now and function is OK for me, so it's not a big priority. I doubt if it will ever get done by me, but it's a good idea. Same thing with the prop stand, upgrade to the 72 stand, but it involves welding on the frame, and that too is probably not going to happen. I don't mind having it in original configuration.

Dave
69S

Dave, my 1968 had the short upright style side(prop) stand, same as yours. I found my bike leaned over way too far as well. I noticed that the horizontal frame tube the stand attaches to was bent upwards, contributing to the lean. But fixing that in situ is not an easy solution. So I cut the stand in half, and lengthened it until I got the correct angle of dangle. Pretty easy really, requiring no mods to the frame.

Stephen

Actually I'd like to keep the original stand, but I'm keeping my eye out for a BSA stand that has the same tongue fitment, but is about 4" longer and would be easy to adjust so it works. I'm just trying to keep my bike in original state as much as possible, so the block of wood doesn't bother me that much. I guess it's become habit too. Just another procedure I have to go through.

Dave
69S

Josh Cox said:

Hi Macca, I was talking about the side stand I had, it was the wrong one in the first couple of photos.

Norvil have the ones you are after.

Side stand http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/060766.htm

Centre stand : http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/061116.htm

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great thanks Josh we have a guy here in adelaide that has a Alladians cave full of brit bikes parts so ill try him first if no good ill go to norvil or one of the other mobs recommended by the other guys . i did manage to get it up and down on the stand yesterday without to much hassle due to a post recommended 2 x 1 inch bits of wood but as im currently doing 12 hour shifts 1am to 1pm im a bit tuckered out in the arvos so once i swing into my break ill get into it
thanks to all for the info
cheers 8)