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Well my 2003 Sporty didn't have issues, nor did my 2006 Street Glide....My 2000 Springer is as stable as can be .....but this PIG of an Ultra wants to roll no matter what.... the FLHXi did it once and I about fainted..... so not really ...old guy with old bike ... with a question to see if it was common amongst the 800lb bikes..... New to the site though
Been racing dirt scooters for the past 7 years and decided it might be time to slow down....let me rephrase that...be more comfortable and less competitive in my riding preferences .....
Spend a few years kicking over big inch stroker motors any worry about the kickstand are a non starter, you kinda have to get violent with some of the bigger hi-comp engines to get them to roll over. Kickstands have dealt with that kinda abuse for decades without fail.
And I hear you with the comfort thing, my daily was one of those big inch had to kick it bikes, then I went to a 17 Road King, poor shovels doing a lot of sitting these days.
Thanks foxtrapper, we're pushing forwards on both history and an understanding of the jiffy! US Police-spec Kawasakis and Moto Guzzis have both used a similar design in the past. I'm mystified by new owners not being able to understand just how wonderfully robust and dependable a thing a jiffy is. Just get off and walk away!
Some while ago, in a similar thread, a member described visiting the MoCo factory and seeing them being made. He was impressed and stated he would never doubt their robustness ever again! I bought my first new Harley in 1974 and the dealer would jack a Glide onto it's jiffy using an auto trolley jack, to remove one or even both wheels.
Its interesting to contrast the HD locking stand with various others.
Like Moto Guzzi and their darn near auto retract design, which is notorious for dropping bikes.
Or Honda and their rubber tab, designed to flick the stand up should you ride off with it still down.
Yamaha and others with the kill switch on the stand, letting you start the engine in neutral with the stand out, but killing the engine should you put it in gear.
as well the degree of lean, or not. The size of the footprint.
Youd think someone by now would have figured out a way to combine the best of these features to make a superb side stand by now. Aye, Harleys is arguably one of the best, when deployed on a parked bike. But ride off with it extended and dive into a left hand turn... not so nice now that locking tab.
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