Ever since I put forward controls on my Train, I haven't "trusted" my kickstand. I usually keep my foot pushed against the stand as I make sure its stable before I dismount, well Saturday I got a little slack and kicked the stand down and climbed off the bike, took one step away and the bike started to fall. Luckily I grabbed the bike but it was already past the point of return and it went down slowly. A friends wife was next to it and stuck her steel toed boot under the gas tank. Her husband and I quickly picked the train back up right and I "planted" the kickstand. Thanks to her and my slowing the fall there was No damage! Except for ego and a few snickers from ******** in the grocery store parking lot where it happened. From now on I'll take my time and make damn sure its stable before leaving my bike.

 

ego's are easily fixed ...

 

why does having the forward controls mess with the kickstand?

 

I have 3” extensions on my Custom and don’t have any kickstand issues at all.

 

Softails have a lot of play in the kickstand. It's a function of the key on the kickstand being almost 1/4" smaller than the keyway notch in the frame base. Just have to make sure you have the kickstand locked fully forward before leaning the bike to the left. I make a point to pull the bike backward as I lean over. That naturally pulls the kickstand toward thr front and lock in place. That ensures the key gets into the keyway.

Of course, like you found out, sometimes all the precautions in the world still fall short of making it 100% cetain a mishap will not occur. Glad you saved your paint.

 

WOW...thats something new to me...i never had that happen, but i will be sure to double check from now on when i get off the bike. i like the pulling back idea. i always park my bike in neutral, is that bad to do?

 

The movement of the stand was the hardest thing to get used to for me. None of my past bikes (all metrics) had a kickstand that would move so much when down. My practice is to kick it down and make an exagerated frontal movement to push it as far forwads as possible and then when dismounting I take it easy. I dont have forward controls soam not sure what the difference is but of all the things I do I take it slow on the mount and the dismount.

By the way, good catch and f--- the people who thought it was funny. Rent a big truck and put a big old ding in their door and then snicker when they see it.

 

Im always alittle nervous about my stand especially on soft surfaces

 

Mine has the same notch when leaning it over. I always set my foot and pull back on it to make sure it is locked.
MikeM

 

I know that I really appreciate my Springer's kickstand.

My Triumph's kickstand used to have a habit of falling off when I pulled it up. Nothing like sitting there ready to ride and holding my kickstand. A little spot weld and a BSA stand finally fixed the problem.