K11 Owners Group

mnb · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: sidestand or centerstand poll

As K bike owners, we've all probably heard the dealer recommend always putting the bike on it's centerstand. I asked why long ago and they said it's because oil drips past the rings causing it to smoke when you start it up. This is because the cylinders point down when on the sidestand. (Why BMW didn't flip the engine over is beyond me...)

I use the sidestand all the time unless it's going to be parked for a long time. If the bike has one, it should be ok for it to be used.

What are your feelings on the subject and how compulsive are you in using the centerstand?
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M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

Like many Ks, my sidestand is bent pretty good.

I heard they were an actual recall item back in the day for "low grade" steel.

I mostly use the center stand because I feel it is the most secure.
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Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject:

If it's going to be parked for more than a couple of hours, then I usually use the center stand.

I don't even bother trying to get the LT on the center stand if it's loaded up with 100 pounds or so of gear on it while touring. Too much effort required.

When I take ferries, I always leave my bikes on the sidestand and in first gear because it's most stable that way. I see lots of Beemers(mostly Rs) on their centerstands on the ferry - that's just asking for trouble if the captain hits too hard when docking.

My brother's K75 has the old rings - you should see the huge cloud it puts up after a ferry ride on the sidestand. Laughing

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BlackHoof · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject:

In the garage on level concrete, center stand.

On soft terrain or not level hard stuff, side stand.

Them's my rules...
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Kent

'93 K1100LT- Blurple Colored
Lucky # 887
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abreeze · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

i removed the center about 10 yrs ago, and never looked back......

besides its heavy, scrapes on the ground in corners and looks cluttered....

Before that I wouldnt buy a bike without one........

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject:

I use the centerstand for periods of a couple hours or more. Would rather use the side stand all the time, but hate the lean angle. Most of the time I slip a hockey puck under the sidestand.
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'93 K1100LT
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Jim · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:45 am Post subject:

I'll use the center stand in the garage at home and at the gas station when filling. Otherwise the side stand is ok for me. Very little smoking even after 8hrs at work.

Shoganai

michaelcurrin · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:52 am Post subject:

Stand???????? Laughing

I don't need no stinkin stands Laughing

Both were removed when the sidecar was mounted

However on the GTS I usually use the centerstand.

The Triumph sits so low I took the centerstand off, or it fell off, I can't remember, it was years ago.

Mike
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Mike Currin
20 BMW R1250RS
93 BMW K1100RS / EML Speed 2000
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jay k. · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

the bike just looks better on the center-stand. period.

chopper_harris · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject:

Like most of you, my side stand was bent beyond use when I first bought the old girl.

I'm loath to admit it, but as a K newbie, for the first week I was hauling it onto the mainstand by the rear passenger grab-handle.
I'm 6'1" and 16 stone, so it wasn't hard, but you could see the light-bulb over my head when I found the lifter. Ah, those Germans Cool

I even had to call Mrs H out from the house - her VFR800 doesn't have one of those (sports-tourer my ar*e).

This what I found when I dropped the stand assembly - I haven't seen corrosion like this since fettling a 1958 BSA Bantam.

The side stand was clearly bent (marked), and the top bush badly worn.
They blasted up nicely, and some heat plus a big hammer brougt the side stand back to its senses.

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Jim · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: sidestand

I believe they come "bent" from the factory... Both of mine have the same exact bend at the same exact place...
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
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chopper_harris · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:05 am Post subject:

Not sure if you are being ironic - more likely another BMW design flaw.

First, the bush will wear, allowing the bike to lean farther than intended. This in turn exerts a greater bending moment on the side-stand.

Any other LT owners got a bent side stand ? I would like to hear from the guys with late, low mileage bikes please.
_________________
C1 200 (2001)
R100 RS (1990)
NSU Quickly N (1964)
Honda 400/4 F1 (1977)
MotoGuzzi 1000C (1978)
Suzuki TL 1000 R (1999)
Kawasaki KLV1000 (2005)
K12R Sport (2007) - Wifeys

mnb · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

I've always felt the sidestand design was poor.

It doesn't come out far enough (towards the side) from the bike.

It doesn't go forward enough. This can cause it to fold up on the very slightest declines.
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M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

LordGondor · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:17 am Post subject:

I dropped my bike the first time I tried the centerstand. Since then I am terrified everytime I have to use it. Not to mention the sore back I get.
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93 K1100RS
60K miles now. 30K by me.

Moondog · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

drmalacarne · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:41 am Post subject:

And in my KLT the sidestand have a bend that makes the bike incline to the side in a way that mekes me worry if it can fall to the ground in most situations, except in very plane solid surfaces.
It is a feature present in all KLTs?
Guilherme.
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Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:40 am Post subject: