Ride off stand vs. tires

[puccini]

My 77 R75/7 came with a reynolds ride off stand and continental tires

I will want to get new tires in the near future
and I was told not to change brands of tires
because even a slightly taller tire can cause
the ride off stand to not support the bike correctly.

Any comments?

gerry

[lkchris]

Baloney

[vanzen]

I've used countless tires and different brands on my Bxrs, and most have had ride offs.
There is SOME truth to what you have heard...
however, tires, regardless of brand,
but having the SAME width and aspect ratio,
will have SIMILAR diameters.
Problems usually only happen when size changes are made.
Remember, those ride off stands were sold for Bxrs
and who knows what tires were fitted at the factory.
Several brands were used and recommended in the service manuals.
my '78 had Metz, my '81 Contis, have used Michelins,
and liked Dunlop 591s,
–– all worked with the reynolds
If in doubt about your new tire choice,
measure its dia or circumference and compare to your Conti.
close should mean "no problem"

[puccini]

If so,
Why do they come in different lengths for the same bike?

Gerry

[lkchris]

If so,
Why do they come in different lengths for the same bike?

Gerry

News to me, although since I would never use one I can't claim to be best informed.

[20774]

What do you mean by not support the bike correctly? The basic concept of the ride off stand is to let both wheels touch the ground when on the center stand. If you want to, you can then "ride off" but IMO I'd suggest not doing that...that can be another thread for posting. But it would take a whopping difference in tire sizes to make an appreciable difference in how the tires contacted the ground. If the tires were so large in diameter to cause one of the tires (probably the front) to come off the ground, wouldn't that essentially be the same as the stock stand? Is that an "incorrect" way to support the bike? I believe there were different ride off stand models depending on the bike model because of different dimensions between the stand lugs and the ground as well as other issues with silencer crossovers, swing arms, etc. I wouldn't worry about the diameter of the tires... I don't think you'd find much difference using the sizes meant from your bike.

Kurt in S.A.

[lorazepam]

What do you mean by not support the bike correctly? The basic concept of the ride off stand is to let both wheels touch the ground when on the center stand. If you want to, you can then "ride off" but IMO I'd suggest not doing that...that can be another thread for posting. But it would take a whopping difference in tire sizes to make an appreciable difference in how the tires contacted the ground. If the tires were so large in diameter to cause one of the tires (probably the front) to come off the ground, wouldn't that essentially be the same as the stock stand? Is that an "incorrect" way to support the bike? I believe there were different ride off stand models depending on the bike model because of different dimensions between the stand lugs and the ground as well as other issues with silencer crossovers, swing arms, etc. I wouldn't worry about the diameter of the tires... I don't think you'd find much difference using the sizes meant from your bike.

Kurt in S.A.

Hey Kurt, if the tires are large enough, it is concieveable (sp) that the center stand could not touch the ground, rendering it useless. In order for the wheels (tires) to come off the ground, the stand would have to increase in length, or the tires to become smaller.

[20774]

DOH! My bad... I was thinking the other direction. Anyway, my /7 settles down quite a bit on my Reynolds ride off. Still seems to me that there would have to be quite a large increase in diameter to create the situation where the center stand doesn't touch the ground. I suppose the situation gets a little worse when the ground is soft and the stand doesn't provide firm footing. I've rarely encountered that though...if I have, I usually find a different spot to park or use the side stand.

Kurt in S.A.

[vanzen]

a 120/70-18 Dunlop 591
mounted on a 2.75 snowflake
is tall enough to:
1. almost correct the speedo error, and
2. make the reynolds not even touch the ground
except precariously on one side


...was not aware they came in different lengths for the same model

[puccini]

Theoretically, the reynolds ride off stand will support the bike so that 3 things touch the ground evenly.
The front tire, the rear tire and the stand.
If there is even a 1 inch difference in the diameter of the tire, maybe even a 1/2 inch difference, then the center point, the stand will not sit flat on the ground.

If the suspension is set on soft, maybe yes, but at over 230lbs i run my suspension on stiff which won't let the bike settle down far enough to make up for larger tires.

The Continentals are mostly flat where the Metzlers and others are crowned. That could create problems,
Capisce?

gerry

[vanzen]

If in doubt about your new tire choice,
measure its diameter and compare to your Conti.
Capisce?