Better sidestand for the V50

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

One thing I've grown to loathe about my V50 III is the sidestand. It was basically useless - besides being spring loaded, it was nearly impossible to deploy while seated. I decided to do something about it. On one of the forums (maybe here?) I read about fitting a stand from a Kawasaki Z750, so I decided to give it a go. Bought one on ebay for $50 delivered and set about making it fit.

First, the exhaust needed to come off for access, and of course, one of the tiny 6 mm header studs decided to snap off even though I applied heat and penetrating fluid liberally to the nut. 

The Z750 stand mounted easily via longer M10 centerstand bolt through on the hole in the bracket. I drilled another hole for an M8 bolt and a hole in the frame tab which I then threaded. It had a lot of excess metal, so I marked off and cut away a big chunk. Smoothed it out, gave it shot of paint and mounted it up. Rolled the bike off the lift today and it's perfect! Nice lean, but not too much. Stands don't interfere with one another. Success! I still need to heat and bend the deployment loop back into shape once the muffler is back on.

Where it will mount.



Longer centerstand pivot bolt securing it to the frame.


Figuring out the forward angle it needs to be at for the leg to clear the muffler.


The white dot was just a guess, second bolt needs to be a bit farther to the right. The blue tape denotes all the excess to be cut away.


Drilled and tapped.


Rear view.


Cut and smoothed a bit.


One last test fit.


A little paint so it won't rust.


First "test park" - perfect!


The stands don't even interfere with one another! 

 

[Scout63]

Nice mod Charlie. I didn’t like the fact that my v50ii side stand tang was so close to the shifter.

[SLDMRossi]

I just use the Centerstand. After tracking down an NOS sidestand (since my original was missing), I've since thought about taking it off again and throwing it in the garbage...

Steven Rossi

[pehayes]

Ask Curtis Harper.  There was a time when Harper's made a special sidestand for V-50.  Sort of a mini-copy of the big LoopFrame stand.  I have one of these on Regina's Monza.  No longer in production.  No longer available.  I doubt if Harper's has any specific original dimensions or drawings.  I doubt that they would care if you copied it.  I have a PDF with dimensions and pictures.  Available if someone wants to try.  PM me.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

One thing I've grown to loathe about my V50 III is the sidestand. It was basically useless - besides being spring loaded, it was nearly impossible to deploy while seated. I decided to do something about it. On one of the forums (maybe here?) I read about fitting a stand from a Kawasaki Z750, so I decided to give it a go. Bought one on ebay for $50 delivered and set about making it fit.

First, the exhaust needed to come off for access, and of course, one of the tiny 6 mm header studs decided to snap off even though I applied heat and penetrating fluid liberally to the nut. 

The Z750 stand mounted easily via longer M10 centerstand bolt through on the hole in the bracket. I drilled another hole for an M8 bolt and a hole in the frame tab which I then threaded. It had a lot of excess metal, so I marked off and cut away a big chunk. Smoothed it out, gave it shot of paint and mounted it up. Rolled the bike off the lift today and it's perfect! Nice lean, but not too much. Stands don't interfere with one another. Success! I still need to heat and bend the deployment loop back into shape once the muffler is back on.

Where it will mount.



Longer centerstand pivot bolt securing it to the frame.


Figuring out the forward angle it needs to be at for the leg to clear the muffler.


The white dot was just a guess, second bolt needs to be a bit farther to the right. The blue tape denotes all the excess to be cut away.


Drilled and tapped.


Rear view.


Cut and smoothed a bit.


One last test fit.


A little paint so it won't rust.


First "test park" - perfect!


The stands don't even interfere with one another! 

Thanks for this Charlie!  I read the same thread, and I purchased one off ebay as well. My v65 is kind of languishing at the moment, so I have not even looked at fitting it yet, but the original poster didn't include any information on how he fitted it. this is very helpful!

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I just use the Centerstand. After tracking down an NOS sidestand (since my original was missing), I've since thought about taking it off again and throwing it in the garbage...

Steven Rossi

I have been too, but holding the bike up while swinging my leg up and over the seat and luggage isn't exactly my idea of fun. With the Z750 sidestand I can simply flip it down and step off, no pivoting on my left foot while kicking high like some aging ballerina. 

Ask Curtis Harper.  There was a time when Harper's made a special sidestand for V-50.  Sort of a mini-copy of the big LoopFrame stand.  I have one of these on Regina's Monza.  No longer in production.  No longer available.  I doubt if Harper's has any specific original dimensions or drawings.  I doubt that they would care if you copied it.  I have a PDF with dimensions and pictures.  Available if someone wants to try.  PM me.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

No need, I'm finished now and prefer the more rearward position of this stand vs. the original mounting position.

[larrys]

I modified the stand on Mrs larrys' V50II. I moved the pivot pin on the bracket that the springs attach to and used just one spring so the stand would stay down when deployed. I welded an extension on the existing pin on the stand so Mrs larrys could reach it with her foot.
Larry

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I modified the stand on Mrs larrys' V50II. I moved the pivot pin on the bracket that the springs attach to and used just one spring so the stand would stay down when deployed. I welded an extension on the existing pin on the stand so Mrs larrys could reach it with her foot.
Larry

I thought about doing both, but an extension on the deployment tang would interfere with my foot during shifting. Not good.

[RinkRat II]

      Nice mod Charlie I had to come up with somethin similar on my V11 sport as I discovered the 6mm threaded boss on the sump was cracked.  So after a couple iterations I found a Panigale side stand and had to shorten it a bit and built a bracket to fit on the porkchop lower mount . Works great.






        Paul B

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

The centerstand is better than the sidestand, but mine at least isnt a super stable rock-steady option, especially on any type of slope.

This is an awesome, cheap and effective mod Charlie. Beside one hole drilled in the centerstand mount, it could be easily reversed if you wanted to go back to stock.  But I can't imagine anyone pining for a stock smallblock sidestand... it is a complete piece of $#*+

[Frenchfrog]

great mod...the original was even worse than the T 3 variant !

[Chuck in Indiana]

Attaboy, Charlie..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

A couple more things pertaining to the installation.

I cut off the stud that the sidestand switch connected to.




When I mounted up the headpipes, I found that the left one contacted the stud that the springs connect to. I tried just grinding the domed head flat.



That wasn't enough, so I cut off approx. 1/4" of it, threaded it and installed a washer and nut, Loctited in place.




That was barely enough, might have another go at it later. The rear drive started leaking on my last ride, oiled the rear disk and pads. I resealed that, cleaned the disk and installed new pads. Should have took it for a test ride, but took a snack break instead. When I came back out to the shop, it was pouring down rain. 

[SED]

Thank you for the detailed write-up Charlie.  The Monza needs this mod or something similar.  Patrick, I'll pm you.

I finally modified the side stand on the LMIII so that it is longer and stays down - it is much happier. Just need to do the Monza...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thank you for the detailed write-up Charlie.  The Monza needs this mod or something similar.  Patrick, I'll pm you.

I finally modified the side stand on the LMIII so that it is longer and stays down - it is much happier. Just need to do the Monza...

The Z750 stand in my photos works great - easy to flip down and up from the seat, bike is very stable on it. Well worth the effort, will make the bike much more enjoyable for me.