Kickstand “ENGINEERING CODE CRACKED”
I post this as a PSA because those of you who have “FixedYour Jiffy-Stands” may have also put your bikes and possibly your own health and welfare in harm’s way.
After some jarred memories, research and experimentation I have concluded the only problem with the softail jiffy-stands are folks (self included until moments ago) being unaware of the brilliance behind the jiffy-stand which is that when the riders weight is upon the bike at take-off from a dead stop?…the jiffy-stand will automatically kick itself back up into its rightful upright riding position (thanks to the ground interference engineered into the softail jiffy-stand) rather than allow the rider to hit the road with a still deployed kickstand which could in turn end all the operator’s life problems or at the very least all the ill-perceived problems with their jiffy stand since “THERE IS NO KICKSTAND SAFETY SWITCH” to prevent such from happening and I don’t know whether to consider this engineering brilliance or idiot proofing at its finest. LOL!
The cure: Is a method (process) of properly deploying the Jiffy-Stand which I discovered and perfected on my own just moments ago as follows….
Step 1: Place your right foot squarely and soundly on the ground.
Step 2: Find and position your left heel on the Jiffy-Stands extended deployment tang and finally…
Step 3: While holding the bike perfectly vertical…In one fluid motion raise your body weight upwards with your right foot while simultaneously pushing downward on the Jiffy-Stand with your left heel and you will find that as your body weight is lifted from the bike the bike’s suspension will raise the frame high enough that the Jiffy-Stand will easily swing out and into place unimpeded by the ground.
Ride Safe. Jinkster
After some jarred memories, research and experimentation I have concluded the only problem with the softail jiffy-stands are folks (self included until moments ago) being unaware of the brilliance behind the jiffy-stand which is that when the riders weight is upon the bike at take-off from a dead stop?…the jiffy-stand will automatically kick itself back up into its rightful upright riding position (thanks to the ground interference engineered into the softail jiffy-stand) rather than allow the rider to hit the road with a still deployed kickstand which could in turn end all the operator’s life problems or at the very least all the ill-perceived problems with their jiffy stand since “THERE IS NO KICKSTAND SAFETY SWITCH” to prevent such from happening and I don’t know whether to consider this engineering brilliance or idiot proofing at its finest. LOL!
The cure: Is a method (process) of properly deploying the Jiffy-Stand which I discovered and perfected on my own just moments ago as follows….
Step 1: Place your right foot squarely and soundly on the ground.
Step 2: Find and position your left heel on the Jiffy-Stands extended deployment tang and finally…
Step 3: While holding the bike perfectly vertical…In one fluid motion raise your body weight upwards with your right foot while simultaneously pushing downward on the Jiffy-Stand with your left heel and you will find that as your body weight is lifted from the bike the bike’s suspension will raise the frame high enough that the Jiffy-Stand will easily swing out and into place unimpeded by the ground.
Ride Safe. Jinkster

That sounds like a solution in search of a problem, the same as the Japanese motorcycles that kill the bike when you put the stand down. Who the hell tries to take off with the stand down? I'm sorry, but I don't think that is a realistic concern.
BTW: I have heard that Harley-Davidsons sold elsewhere also have this feature. I'm glad that our government hasn't decided we need to be protected from a non-existent problem by a pressure switch that if it fails, you will be stranded for 100% certain.
I'm really not sure why everyone is so irritated with the newest Softail jiffy stand because I don't own one, but if that many people are pissed off about it, maybe they should conform the design to the consumer's desires instead of trying to convince all those people that they are wrong.
BTW: I have heard that Harley-Davidsons sold elsewhere also have this feature. I'm glad that our government hasn't decided we need to be protected from a non-existent problem by a pressure switch that if it fails, you will be stranded for 100% certain.
I'm really not sure why everyone is so irritated with the newest Softail jiffy stand because I don't own one, but if that many people are pissed off about it, maybe they should conform the design to the consumer's desires instead of trying to convince all those people that they are wrong.
That sounds like a solution in search of a problem, the same as the Japanese motorcycles that kill the bike when you put the stand down. Who the hell tries to take off with the stand down? I'm sorry, but I don't think that is a realistic concern.
BTW: I have heard that Harley-Davidsons sold elsewhere also have this feature. I'm glad that our government hasn't decided we need to be protected from a non-existent problem by a pressure switch that if it fails, you will be stranded for 100% certain.
I'm really not sure why everyone is so irritated with the newest Softail jiffy stand because I don't own one, but if that many people are pissed off about it, maybe they should conform the design to the consumer's desires instead of trying to convince all those people that they are wrong.
BTW: I have heard that Harley-Davidsons sold elsewhere also have this feature. I'm glad that our government hasn't decided we need to be protected from a non-existent problem by a pressure switch that if it fails, you will be stranded for 100% certain.
I'm really not sure why everyone is so irritated with the newest Softail jiffy stand because I don't own one, but if that many people are pissed off about it, maybe they should conform the design to the consumer's desires instead of trying to convince all those people that they are wrong.
edited to include link…
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/2018-...kickstand.html
Last edited by JINKSTER; Dec 8, 2022 at 10:17 AM.
Some threads on here are real scary... Did you just say you pull out from a stop down on the stand?
Interesting thing is don't believe I have read in the operator's manual not to do that!??
Interesting thing is don't believe I have read in the operator's manual not to do that!??
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 8, 2022 at 10:20 AM.
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yea…thanks…I’ll be sure not to try an post anything helpful again…ain’t worth it
Just a little hard to understand since it appears that's what you were saying and I never ever thought about pulling out down on that angle . I would think if I did that, my bike would turn left
Harley has changed the stand in 2018. You are talking that new design. Just noticed that. It no longer drops in a pocket but is retained by the stop notch.
Sorry posting on this new design.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 8, 2022 at 10:34 AM.












