short guy problems with kickstand....

[abloom]

Hey,

So you all have been really helpful as I have pursued switching from BMW to getting a Guzzi.  I rode a 2002 California EV this weekend, and I was really in love with it.  But at 30.7" it was a bit high.  Balls of feet were down, and heels were only 1/2" from the ground.  I can work with this.  But the damnedest problem was reaching the far away kickstand.  In 27 years of riding, I have never encountered this problem.  My heel was 2 1/2" - 3" from the hook coming off it.  This is a dumb, dumb problem.

The bike I was on took off the floorboards, so I don't know if that moved the kickstand forward or not, but if so (we held them up parallel to the current set-up) it was only maybe 3/4". 

I am 5'6" but with shorter legs, but not THAT short.  I cannot be the first person to have this problem.  Any suggestions out there.  The only thing I could think of was having a custom hook/spur welded higher up on the kickstand.  It would require more muscle to pull it in with the lost leverage, but I cannot imagine that would be a problem.  Any other notions would be much appreciated.

This is a dumb, dumb, dumb problem....

Aaron

[Guzzi Gal]

Do a Google search for kickstand extension or extender.  One of these might solve your issue or give you a starting point to rig something up.  Don't forget to post a pic of what you came up with!

[guzzisteve]

Do you know someone w/a welder? Put a kicker on the stand where you need it.

[Testarossa]

It's a dumb dumb design to pivot the sidestand at the front of the lower frame rail. I had the same problem with the T. For years I kicked the sidestand up before straddling the bike.

Solution was to swap for a frame rail with the sidestand pivot mounted further back, like under the left footpeg -- that's where the sidestand is on my Mille and most late Tontis. Like this:

[tris]

As a "leg challenged" individual too, I've been there and done that

I found it all a bit inelegant but my solution was to slide up the tank as far as I could and with a bit of concentration it was do-able but even with practice it often took two goes

The side stand on my Breva 1100 is dead easy to deploy, but I've managed to drop that twice and never with the Cali

Make of that what you will

[Moto]

Guzzis are known for this "feature."

One thing not to do is use your heel. Depress the lever with the toe of your boot. This may seem obvious,
but I noticed in your photos and in your text the heel of the boot was being used.

Also, you may find that a little practice will lead you to shifting in the saddle to get more extension.
After a while it becomes second nature.

Guzzi expects us to accommodate them, not the other way around.

Moto

[AJ Huff]

I've got a 25" true inseam (30" inseam on jeans) and an 01 Cal Spec. You don't have a knob on top of your kick stand? I use my heel ortoe to hook the knob and kick it down. Use the back of my heel to kick it up.



-AJ

[fotoguzzi]

[Dharma Bum]

You can make it a lot easier to retract by removing one of the two springs.  I fashioned a new piece on the bottom that allowed the one spring to exert a little more "pull", otherwise the one spring will not allow the stand to retract fully.

I'm also 5'6" and also added an extension to the foot so that the bike would not lean over so far.  This helped a bunch getting the bike upright to retract the stand.

[Bill]

Not a fix but a work around. Get a long string/cord pass it thru one of the loops I saw in your picture on the side stand. Pull both ends of the cord and lay on the gas tank. Get on the bike and pull the side stand up with the cord. Release one end and pull cord up and put in pocket.
Bill

[wheaties]

Not a fix but a work around. Get a long string/cord pass it thru one of the loops I saw in your picture on the side stand. Pull both ends of the cord and lay on the gas tank. Get on the bike and pull the side stand up with the cord. Release one end and pull cord up and put in pocket.
Bill

That's brilliant Bill.  I may do something like this with a nice wooden handle, kind of like an outboard pull start, just for the convenience.  And I'm tall enough to reach the kickstand as is!

Matt

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

One thing I noticed from the photos is the stand seems to angle forward a bit more than it should (certainly more than my Convert). Looks like about 100-105 degrees vs. a nice right angle to the lower frame rail. Just that extra few degrees and the lack of the "knob" on top could make a big difference.

Is that the original stand? Kind of looks different than any Guzzi stand I've seen, perhaps off of a Harley?

[Dharma Bum]

My stand extending waay forward due to wear on the mount that bolts to the frame.  A careful spot of welding at the wear spot brought the stand back to where it was much easier to deploy and raise.

[abloom]

One thing I noticed from the photos is the stand seems to angle forward a bit more than it should (certainly more than my Convert). Looks like about 100-105 degrees vs. a nice right angle to the lower frame rail. Just that extra few degrees and the lack of the "knob" on top could make a big difference.

Is that the original stand? Kind of looks different than any Guzzi stand I've seen, perhaps off of a Harley?

No, you are exactly right.  This is the set-up he put on it when he took the floorboard off.  I am not sure where he sourced the alternate set-up on his bike.

[abloom]

I've got a 25" true inseam (30" inseam on jeans) and an 01 Cal Spec. You don't have a knob on top of your kick stand? I use my heel ortoe to hook the knob and kick it down. Use the back of my heel to kick it up.



-AJ

I didn't have any problem kicking it down when I stopped riding, which I suppose, if I had to choose, would be the direction I'd prefer to have be easy.  No, it was when it was parked, getting the stand retracted.  The spur (or whatever you call it) is the thing I am trying to reach for there.  In the pics I am extending my heel, but it was the same with my toe when pointed (insofar as you can with a boot). 

I just find it a hoot that so many tall guys complain about being cramped on the bike, but then the stand is clearly designed for someone who is tall.  I guess in Italy they are trying to make sure there is a little bit of suffering for everyone. 

[abloom]

Not a fix but a work around. Get a long string/cord pass it thru one of the loops I saw in your picture on the side stand. Pull both ends of the cord and lay on the gas tank. Get on the bike and pull the side stand up with the cord. Release one end and pull cord up and put in pocket.
Bill

I second Matt.  This is hilariously brilliant.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I just find it a hoot that so many tall guys complain about being cramped on the bike, but then the stand is clearly designed for someone who is tall.  I guess in Italy they are trying to make sure there is a little bit of suffering for everyone. 

You can't blame the Italians if it has Harley (or other aftermarket) parts on it. 

[AJ Huff]

I didn't have any problem kicking it down when I stopped riding, which I suppose, if I had to choose, would be the direction I'd prefer to have be easy.  No, it was when it was parked, getting the stand retracted.  The spur (or whatever you call it) is the thing I am trying to reach for there.  In the pics I am extending my heel, but it was the same with my toe when pointed (insofar as you can with a boot). 

I just find it a hoot that so many tall guys complain about being cramped on the bike, but then the stand is clearly designed for someone who is tall.  I guess in Italy they are trying to make sure there is a little bit of suffering for everyone. 

I'm curious with our different stand. See if you have the knob on top you can hook the top of you foot behind it and pull it up. It's even with the front foot peg so not that far.

-AJ

[Groover]

Alternate solution..... KISS style boots 

[Tom H]

On my '04, I removed one of the springs to make it easier to pull up. With the one spring in either of the stock holes on the stand pivot post, the stand was loose. I drilled a hole between the holes and it made the stand stay up fine and was easy to pull up.

WARNING....If you decide to just use one spring, remember, if that one breaks, there is nothing to keep the stand from coming down.

I have not tried this, but it may be possible to stretch the 2 springs to make them longer and remove some tension?

Tom

[EV11Jack]

I have a'98 EV11 and a 30" inseam. Initially had problems and even got a "Charlie horse" in my left hip when trying to pull p the kick-stand. For Christmas my wife gave me a pair of TCX Hero boots. They're somewhat taller and subsequently allow me to "grab" the kick-stand with the front of the boot sole & lift it easily. No "strings" attached and you get a new pair of really nice boots out of it!


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