Side stand question

I've never heard of anyone cutting down or otherwise altering their side stand. If your preload is cranked up, that raises the rear of the bike. I think the real problem is the ST's weight. There were times when I could barely get the bike up off the sidestand (i'm 5'7 and weigh less than 1/5 what my bike weighed). This was especially a problem on highly crowned roads or when parking in a lot with a pronounced grade.

I would have to say, yes, this is normal. I did make a shoe for my ST so that it would not sink into hot asphalt or dirt, but found that the 3/8" thickness made the bike sit too upright in some situations. I remember one where I could not get off the bike, I had to ask a friend to hold the bike while I got off, then the two of us pulled it backward out of the sloped parking space so that I could turn it around.
 
Tazguy said:
Is it normal for the st1300 to lean at such a big angle.
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Pretty much yeah. You might check the stand to see if it's bent or if the clevis end is splayed open allowing for a greater lean angle. You might consider a bolt-on foot pad used to keep the side stand from sinking in soft earth or gravel. Some of them are probably add 1/2" or more which would make a noticeable difference. This can work against you though. Situational awareness when parking your bike is a big help. So are highly tuned quads.
 
+1 on the side stand mounting bracket being bent, or, someone may have put an aftermarket rear shock or spring on it making it taller etc.
As far as raising the bike up after your sitting on it, try turning your bars to the right, as you lift the bike up, this will help you raise the bike.
:WCP1:
 
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SMSW said:
I've never heard of anyone cutting down or otherwise altering their side stand. If your preload is cranked up, that raises the rear of the bike. I think the real problem is the ST's weight. There were times when I could barely get the bike up off the sidestand (i'm 5'7 and weigh less than 1/5 what my bike weighed). This was especially a problem on highly crowned roads or when parking in a lot with a pronounced grade.

I would have to say, yes, this is normal. I did make a shoe for my ST so that it would not sink into hot asphalt or dirt, but found that the 3/8" thickness made the bike sit too upright in some situations. I remember one where I could not get off the bike, I had to ask a friend to hold the bike while I got off, then the two of us pulled it backward out of the sloped parking space so that I could turn it around.
Click to expand...
I am 5ft 6in 29in inseam
 
ST Gui said:
Pretty much yeah. You might check the stand to see if it's bent or if the clevis end is splayed open allowing for a greater lean angle. You might consider a bolt-on foot pad used to keep the side stand from sinking in soft earth or gravel. Some of them are probably add 1/2" or more which would make a noticeable difference. This can work against you though. Situational awareness when parking your bike is a big help. So are highly tuned quads.
Click to expand...
I have not checked to see if it's bent but will later today. As far as quads go, I have a lot of work to do on them. Lost a lot of the strength in the left one after my left hip replacement. I think I will cut a board and attach a string to it to straighten up ST a little bit.
 
Igofar said:
+1 on the side stand mounting bracket being bent, or, someone may have put an aftermarket rear shock or spring on it making it taller etc.
As far as raising the bike up after your sitting on it, try turning your bars to the right, this will help you raise the bike.
:WCP1:
Click to expand...
I had all fluids changed but never thought about the preload fluid and it is definitely low. Would that make any difference? Is there any easy way to check if it has an aftermarket shock or spring. Thank you for responding to my questions.
Frank
 
Tazguy said:
I am 5ft 6in 29in inseam
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Same inseam here. But as I got older, I got shorter and the ST became too much for me to horse around with the engine off, either in parking lots or at home in my driveway. I mounted my bike by standing on the left side peg, then sort of dropped onto the seat to settle (and lower) the suspension at the rear. This helped somewhat. I also had a couple of 'feet' for the side stand (one was a full 3/4" (maybe 7/8") with string attached that I put under the sidestand when parking on sloped grass - for camping. I found it nearly impossible to get the bike upright with full panniers and a duffle on the pillion without that wooden 'puck'. I also had an electrical box cover plate and a telescoping magnetic pickup tool for asphalt parking lots. Easier than kicking the plate under the stand. And yes, all had fluorescent string attached.
 
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Tazguy said:
I had all fluids changed but never thought about the preload fluid and it is definitely low. Would that make any difference? Is there any easy way to check if it has an aftermarket shock or spring. Thank you for responding to my questions.
Frank
Click to expand...
A working preload will RAISE the rear of the bike if you add preload to the spring. Preload will level or return a heavily laden bike to the stock attitude, since raising or lowering the rear affects the trail of the forks and thus the handling. Adding preload will exacerbate your problem. To determine the spring rate of your shock, check the sag. With rider aboard in full riding gear (with your regular load in the panniers) sag should be in the neighborhood of 1/3 of the total travel (I forget what it should be). Preload should be backed all the way off when checking sag. @dduelin can probably help you with this.
 
SMSW said:
Same inseam here. But as I got older, I got shorter and the ST became too much for me to horse around with the engine off, either in parking lots or at home in my driveway. I mounted my bike by standing on the left side peg, then sort of dropped onto the seat to settle (and lower) the suspension at the rear. This helped somewhat. I also had a couple of 'feet' for the side stand (one was a full 3'4" (maybe 7'8") with string attached that I put under the sidestand when parking on sloped grass - for camping. I found it nearly impossible to get the bike upright with full panniers and a duffle on the pillion without that wooden 'puck'. I also had an electrical box cover plate and a telescoping magnetic pickup tool for asphalt parking lots. Easier than kicking the plate under the stand. And yes, all had fluorescent string attached.
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I am 67 and probably shrinking also and definitely not as strong as I use to be. I also mount using left peg. It's so much easier.
 
Turning the bars full lock right as you raise it will help.
 
5'8", 29" inseam - 210lbs.

So, the second time I dropped my bike in the garage - I was being cocky and stepped on the right peg while leaning on the right bar to swing over. I had done this several times when the tank was at least half full without issue and just caught the bike on the way up. I was down to about a quarter of a tank and this time I didn't get settled fast enough, the bike just kept right on going in a slow motion drop to the right that I could do nothing about.

Thankfully, those little plastic covers are about $18, but still embarrassing. Nothing else was hurt but my pride (again). Left side peg mounting for me now, or a very undignified scramble over the right side if I am too close to something. ;)

To comment on your actual problem, I have had the opposite worry that my kickstand is too long and if I have to park on a slope I normally will choose the side that puts more lean on the bike just because I do not want it to fall over. I would think that your kick stand or suspension is out of spec/changed if it is leaning too far. I will say that I normally try to use mostly my legs to put the bike upright (just push against the seat/tank with my thigh), so maybe mine just doesn't seem as settled as you are describing.

Good luck, hope you find a solution. :)

-Ryan
 
Sparky1971 said:
Can you send a print of this to be produced again? #tournut
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Was no print , I just eyeball it as I make it in my garage , wait a bit , I will take another photo straight down on it , you can compare sizes to the foot on your ST.
B.T.W. - The back edge was bent up about 20° to clear exhaust pipe . ( & stiffens the plate )

In this pic it is a few years older , & dirtier .
 

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