So why do BMWs lean so far on their sidestand?

[Sailingfool]

I cannot get used to it. It looks so close to going over, I never use it! :dunno

[rmarkr]

You will learn to put it down on a hump or on an upward slope

[Mudbug]

I cannot get used to it. It looks so close to going over, I never use it! :dunno

It depends on the model and nobody knows for sure. It must be some kind of secret.

[rinty]

1. They want you to always think you're on the starboard tack.:laugh

2. So that after you put the Fatfoot on it, you'll still have enough lean left.

Rinty

[SIBUD]

1. They want you to always think you're on the starboard tack.:laugh

2. So that after you put the Fatfoot on it, you'll still have enough lean left.

Rinty

Very funny answer. Of course, starboard tack has right of way.

[moondog]

Attach a hockey puck to the side stand plate. I did on my K1100 and it took alot of the lean out of it. It will probably help the stand last longer.

[rinty]

...starboard tack has the right of way...SIBud

In addition to the inherent right of way all BMW's have over other vehicles.:)

Rinty

[johnpeter]

Prolly because the early K bikes stand tall and leaning them over that far makes it easyer for the short legged to get over them.
Just my guess.

My old Guzzi has an untrustworthy side-stand that does not even get close to the lean of my K75S.

[cjack]

I cannot get used to it. It looks so close to going over, I never use it! :dunno

Many models do. Especially some of the early K bikes and all the GS bikes. I see why on the GS, the suspension is long and the bikes are parked in all sorts of uneven terrain. As for the K bikes...maybe to park it on a crowned road, you need a little more lean. I have never seen one fall over if the stand was in good repair.

[motoedde]

I cannot get used to it. It looks so close to going over, I never use it! :dunno


Have faith...if the stand is in good operating shape...it can take a heavy load!

[BEEMERDOG]

What about the surface? I am new here want to say "Hello'' Just moved from HD's, for a looooong time, and am loving the LT...I have been registered for all of 5mins. and this thread caught my eye. The only problem so far has been when i park an asphalt and see the base of the stand sinking. Yes, I was in the shade and I live in Chicago, so I am a little concerned. The bike shop said at delivery that i was prolly used to the HD stand and told of the pitfall of this bikes stand. I still wonder why, I like the hockey puck thing though, hafta try that...

Anywho, I am David and happy as a pig in poo to be riding this awesome machine. Look forward to getting to know her and all you guys and gals here at this site.

Cheers,
David

Used to be Harleydog, Now Beemerdog....:wave

[moondog]

Welcome David!!!!

[rocketman]

What about the surface? I am new here want to say "Hello'' Just moved from HD's, for a looooong time, and am loving the LT...I have been registered for all of 5mins. and this thread caught my eye. The only problem so far has been when i park an asphalt and see the base of the stand sinking. Yes, I was in the shade and I live in Chicago, so I am a little concerned. The bike shop said at delivery that i was prolly used to the HD stand and told of the pitfall of this bikes stand. I still wonder why, I like the hockey puck thing though, hafta try that...

Anywho, I am David and happy as a pig in poo to be riding this awesome machine. Look forward to getting to know her and all you guys and gals here at this site.

Cheers,
David

Used to be Harleydog, Now Beemerdog....:wave

Hello and welcome to the fun house!

As for the LT side stand I haven't had a problem with my 03 sinking at all, its got a very large foot, my problem is that there is so Little lean that I can't comfortably park it on the side of the road on a two lane blacktop because is has so little lean its pretty much vertical, I find that a real PITA as I like to stop often for photos and have a hell of a time finding some place flat enough to park!

RM

[osbornk]

Prolly because the early K bikes stand tall and leaning them over that far makes it easyer for the short legged to get over them.
Just my guess.

My early K bike leaned way over, my later K bike leaned way over, my Airhead leans way over and even my very low seat CLC leans way over. Never had one fall over (except the time I forgot to deploy the sidestand) but makes me really nervous.

[rinty]

I never had problems with either of my boxers falling over when using the sidestand. You just have to take care that you are parking on a surface that will support the stand, and that the front of the bike is level with, or slightly higher than, the rear, to eliminate the possibility of the bike rolling forward through the axis of the sidestand pivot. But leaving the bike in gear will prevent the roll forward.

When I got my oiler, the centrestand was so easy to deploy that I rarely used the sidestand. But using my airhead centrestand was a real weight lifters' exercise.

Rinty

[PAGoldsby]

When I got my oiler, the centrestand was so easy to deploy that I rarely used the sidestand. But using my airhead centrestand was a real weight lifters' exercise.

Rinty
I have the exact opposite experience. The center stand on my '77 R75 is very easy to use, but I rather dread putting the '04 RT on the center stand. I must work on my technique.

[rinty]

I have the exact opposite experience...PAGoldsby

It may have been that the one on my airhead, which had over 100,000 km on it, needed attention. But it's been sold.

Rinty

[RJM2096]

I have a HD Dynawide glide and it also seem like the stand is going to let if fall over.

Imagine someone bumping your cycle in a parking lot. If the hit it from the right the cycle will not fall over easily. If you prop up your bike so it seems more straight a hit from the left may easily topple it over.

I have to trust the engineers that it is the best angle for 2 directional stability. Just make sure you park on solid ground.

[john1691]

I have a '00 K1200RS with the opposite problem, unless I park it on a slight hill, it doesn't lean far enough, and will tip over. I hardly ever use the side stand for fear it will be laying on the tupperware when I return.

[35634]

Translation misunderstanding. BMW engineers knew we Americans wanted a bike
that could do a smokey burnout, but got confused and designed a bike that could do a smokey start up. Silly Germans. At least the spark plugs stay well lubed.

[GregFeeler]

Translation misunderstanding. BMW engineers knew we Americans wanted a bike
that could do a smokey burnout, but got confused and designed a bike that could do a smokey start up. Silly Germans. At least the spark plugs stay well lubed.

:rofl

[rlswim]

Have faith...if the stand is in good operating shape...it can take a heavy load!

I still can't believe you took your K75S around the world. Makes my journey on mine next week up to Gillette seem like a ride down to the local convenience store.

[GregFeeler]

I still can't believe you took your K75S around the world. Makes my journey on mine next week up to Gillette seem like a ride down to the local convenience store.

You'll notice that his bike is Royal Blue. That's the secret - that color K75S can go about anywhere. :brow

[motoedde]

You'll notice that his bike is Royal Blue. That's the secret - that color K75S can go about anywhere. :brow

Shh...its our little secret;)

http://www.sensationalcolor.com/content/view/1055/144/

And check out what it says in the section..."When You Buy a Blue Vehicle"...Nice!

[mrbreeze]

I like the hockey puck idea, but how do you attach it? I have a 2001 R1100RL.

[moondog]

I like the hockey puck idea, but how do you attach it? I have a 2001 R1100RL.

I'm not sure what the bottom of your side stand looks like but mine is a couple inches square. I drilled a couple holes in the plate and then used two self tapping screws into the hockey puck. One hitch though with mine is that the side stand must be down when I come off the center stand. If not then they get hung up on each other and I can't get the side stand down next time I stop. I then have to get off the bike without dropping it, put it on the centerstand and then put the sidestand down. It has happened a couple of times but now I have trained myself to have the side stand down all the time. Works for me and cuts the lean in half for me.

[cjack]

Ok...now you've done it! BMW will read this thread and the 2010 bikes will have computer controlled, by canbus, hydraulic side stands which will all be recalled because they will misread the terrain causing the bikes to lean to the right...unless they are the ones that leak, then way way left.

[mXarad]

You don't need the puck on solid ground if you
turn the handlebar full right. Measured at the
rear latch of the system bags, the difference in height
is one-half inch depending on which way you turn
the bars. Full right also allows you to use the
steering lock, suggesting that is the way it was
designed to be turned.
mXa

[Sailingfool]

They lean so far over in case you have the bike on the soft shoulder but want the stand on the hard! Got to be it, right?

[laterider]

Go here for the answer. If it's a k12gt.

http://www.motorradzubehoer-hornig.de/en/023_02509__BMW_K_1200_GT_06_NEW__Sidestand_foot_en largement.html

[pffog]

Ask a Ducati owner, they are all jealous of the stability BMW side stands give. A moderate breeze will blow over most Ducatis, that is if the small footprint of the stand has not allowed it to sink into the pavement and already be laying on its left side.

[kgadley01]

I cannot get used to it. It looks so close to going over, I never use it! :dunno

a bike that leans way over may concern some, but it is more stable in high wind. there were a few bikes blown over in Gillette that were left on their center stands. :whistle

[EBDMAINE]

I attached a hockey puck on the sidestand of my 95 GSPD and the lean is reduced a lot, but there has been one time the pavement was warm enough so that the puck left a dent in the tar. I just wish it was a little easier to put that spring loaded stand into position. I added a small piece of metal to the stand on the 1100RS and it seems to work ok for the last 8 years. As a last resort we could always lean them up against a tree or whatever is nearby.

[osbornk]

Took a piece of 1/2" thick aluminum, drill press, a little epoxy and about half a hour. Made a world of difference.

[35634]

Nice piece of work for a hillbilly! I might try that-either my K is leaning more
or the rest of the world is getting more vertical. And I don't trust my centerstand
anymore after reading all the threads about those things failing.:banghead

[LTOwner]

Don't know about other models, but the LT doesn't lean over too far. In fact, some times I have the opposite problem. It doesn't lean over anywhere near as far as an HD.

[randytruball]

My 07 LT dosen't seem to have a problem ether. I did dump it when it was brand new by letting it idle while opening the barn door. I don't think I had the side stand all the way down. It made me sick, but not much damage was done to the bike. I am afraid to use the side stand now.
Live and learn:
Rvs
violin

[brickrider]

Randy,

Yup, that's what you did - not fully deploy the sidestand. It's very easy to do, and I've "almost" done that same thing lots of times. [Knock on wood].

Each time I enter a parking lot or driveway, the first thing I do while riding slowly is to scan the immediate area for the "perfect" place, or best place, to land.

Each time you park the bike, be fully cognizant of the incline of terrain; i.e. never park on a downhill slant or too vertical a stance. Then take your time to fully extend the sidestand. Check it again to be sure.

The K-LT's sidestand is rock solid and has never let me (or the bike) down.


Ride Safely,
BrickRider

[nfowler]

Here's a positive experience with the weird leaning BMW side stand.

A few weeks ago some HD riders (friends!) and I went up the Mt. Washington auto road. Somehow, I got to lead the procession. After paying the fee at the guard shack at the bottom, the nice lady handed me this bumper sticker that said "This Bike Climbed Mt. Washington!" I had all my gear on and didn't want or need this stupid sticker, but I took it and then tried to put it into the left pocket of my 1990 K75RT's fairing. Apparently I didn't get the pocket cover on right because about a 1/2 mile up the auto road, it blew off and landed in the roadway. http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/images/smilies/banghead.gif

The road at this point was still tar, about a 20%+ grade, and very narrow (15 ft?). Not wanting to have to do an eBay search for a replacement, I pulled to the side of the road (!), put the bike in first gear, shut it off, and put it on the side stand, facing up the mountain. I gingerly got off the bike, and there it sat. http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/images/smilies/whistle.gif

The thought of a parking brake crossed my mind several times but it held in first gear! I raced down the hill, retrieved the cover, and got back on the bike just as my laughing HD friends came up behind me.

This weird side stand worked great in that situation, and the bike looked strangely secure, leaning over wickedly while also headed up a steep hill. Thanks BMW!

N. Fowler

[mrich12000]

I installed Bilstien shock to raise the bike 3" and that gives her a precarious angle but I usualy set her on the centre stand.

<img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/mrich12000/IMG_0017.jpg">

This shot was taken at the shoot out in nothern Pikering ,Ontario 2006

Pardon the cigy..:stick :gerg :ca

[rbertalotto]

Without a luggage load, my BMW Rockster leans quite a bit, but not even close to going over. With the suspension compressed with a load of luggage and camping gear, the lean is much less. I think BMW engineered the bikes to usually be loaded down.

My V Strom and my VFR, when loaded, are nearly upright. Many time I have to dig a hole for the side stand to get them to lean more, especially on the side of the road where the bike might be an inch or two below the crest in the road to begin with.

Down in Daytona a few years ago, at the BMW dealership, a fellow was showing an ingenious adjustable side stand. With your toe you could easily change the length for various conditions. I'd buy one in a heartbeat, but I never saw or heard anymore about it........

[tourunigo]

I always carry a 7" X 3" wooden wedge with me when traveling with bike fully packed. This allows me to adjust (0 to 2") to just about any terrain when parking. That stock lean on the sidestand give me lots of latitude. (there was a time when I could just lean down and pick that wedge up while sitting on the bike. Now that little string pulls it up) -Bob

[rbertalotto]

That's just the opposite of what most folks need. Usually you need the sidestand shorter, not longer.

My bikes never fall over on the side stand side...........Always the other way.....:hungover