Kickstand problem? question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,886
From: Newcastle, OK
, All of the above.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 9
From: Woodinville, WA
your gaydar is set at too high a setting.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
As taught in MSF, I always leave the transmission in first gear when shutting off the engine, put the stand completely forward, lean the bike onto the stand, and release clutch. The bike will not then not roll either forward or backward.
The design of the kickstands on many other bikes will allow them to fall over with just a little movement of the bike (unlike the locking stand on Harleys). That is why MSF teaches to leave the transmission in gear.
Upon starting the bike, students are taught to always "FINE-C," which stands for Fuel (turn on if petcock equipped), Ignition (turn on), Neutral (Put bike into neutral--with the ignition on you will now see the green neutral light come on) Engine Cut Off Switch (put in "run" position), and Choke and Clutch (choke if necessary if so equipped, and pull in the clutch). Start the bike and ease out the clutch, to make sure you are really in neutral.
I found out the value and strength of the Harley jiffy stand the first day I owned my Harley. With 106 miles on it, the distance from the dealer to my home, I was doing a walk-around, checking all the switches and lights. I inadvertently hit the start button instead of the right turn signal button. As I had the engine cut off switch in the "run" position and the tranny in first, the bike started and spun around on the jiffy stand about half way before the engine killed. A valuable first day lesson I never forgot!
I believe '06 was the last year a Harley tour bike would start in gear with the clutch out. From '07 on a neutral safey switch was added to prevent this from happening.
The design of the kickstands on many other bikes will allow them to fall over with just a little movement of the bike (unlike the locking stand on Harleys). That is why MSF teaches to leave the transmission in gear.
Upon starting the bike, students are taught to always "FINE-C," which stands for Fuel (turn on if petcock equipped), Ignition (turn on), Neutral (Put bike into neutral--with the ignition on you will now see the green neutral light come on) Engine Cut Off Switch (put in "run" position), and Choke and Clutch (choke if necessary if so equipped, and pull in the clutch). Start the bike and ease out the clutch, to make sure you are really in neutral.
I found out the value and strength of the Harley jiffy stand the first day I owned my Harley. With 106 miles on it, the distance from the dealer to my home, I was doing a walk-around, checking all the switches and lights. I inadvertently hit the start button instead of the right turn signal button. As I had the engine cut off switch in the "run" position and the tranny in first, the bike started and spun around on the jiffy stand about half way before the engine killed. A valuable first day lesson I never forgot!
I believe '06 was the last year a Harley tour bike would start in gear with the clutch out. From '07 on a neutral safey switch was added to prevent this from happening.
Stage I
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Cumming, Ga
Bought an '07 Softail Custom last March, and the kickstand has always bothered me. I too thought, that's just the way it is, but now I'm thinking something's wrong. I prefer the stand sit at a forward angle like my old Honda Shadow; the straight out HD style scares the crap out of me. Well, twice now, facing downhill, the stand DID collapse, and dropped the bike. That's Not acceptable. So, "learn to live with it" won't cut it anymore, so need advice on how to get the stand to kick forward, so I don't have to worry about it dropping when I get off, or recommendations on a replacement stand that won't want to collapse, especially on hills?.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
Bought an '07 Softail Custom last March, and the kickstand has always bothered me. I too thought, that's just the way it is, but now I'm thinking something's wrong. I prefer the stand sit at a forward angle like my old Honda Shadow; the straight out HD style scares the crap out of me. Well, twice now, facing downhill, the stand DID collapse, and dropped the bike. That's Not acceptable. So, "learn to live with it" won't cut it anymore, so need advice on how to get the stand to kick forward, so I don't have to worry about it dropping when I get off, or recommendations on a replacement stand that won't want to collapse, especially on hills?.
as far as deploying it properly, I've seen a guy who, somehow, managed to keep his bike balanced on the 2 wheels so that when he got off, the bike was upright and not leaned over, locking tab a into slot b.... the only difference is, in this case, his bike fell over, to the right.
deploy it like mgguitar says above and you will never have a problem.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 68
Likes: 6
From: Tuscola, Illinois
Bought an '07 Softail Custom last March, and the kickstand has always bothered me. I too thought, that's just the way it is, but now I'm thinking something's wrong. I prefer the stand sit at a forward angle like my old Honda Shadow; the straight out HD style scares the crap out of me. Well, twice now, facing downhill, the stand DID collapse, and dropped the bike. That's Not acceptable. So, "learn to live with it" won't cut it anymore, so need advice on how to get the stand to kick forward, so I don't have to worry about it dropping when I get off, or recommendations on a replacement stand that won't want to collapse, especially on hills?.
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