modified Brown side stand

[redrider90]

I know this subject was covered almost a decade ago.  I am pulling out my Mille and putting it back on the road after a 7 years illness that I am recovering from. I have kept the bike running all these years and managed some updates during that time but am now at it with more time and strength on my hands. These 95-100º days are good for working on it in my A/C shop. In in the 90's I replaced the exhaust with SS Agostini system. Its headers were a bit larger than stock. Also the stock side stand tab had bent slightly from traveling with a lot of gear on it. So the tab on the anchor bracket  moved closer to the larger header and I could not put the stock side stand back on it after installing the Agostini exhaust. So I lived with it just using a center stand. Now I am 74 and still recovering and would like a side stand. I am tearing into the externals of the bike and cleaning and repairing all things needed. I pulled out the stock side stand and laid there on the floor looking at it and the tab.  I suppose I could try and open that tab away from the header and see if I could install the original side stand.  Then I remembered the modified Brown sold by Boxerworks. He still sells them at a whopping $345. But Nathan claims he has had only one not fit in 10 years.
So I have seen the tread from 10 years ago but now I ask the question has this stand performed well for you guys over the years and with stood day to day use and also any tips about installing not included in the thread from years ago. Thanks
BTW I do have a side rail from a Cali with the front mounted side stand on it. I could modify it and paint it red. All I need are the proper nuts and bolts to attach it and cut off all the extraneous tabs that would not be needed on the Mille.   

[Frenchfrog]

I'd go for the cali stand.
Got a G 5 style one on mine after experimenting with other options and it's the bee's knees. Plus factory too..

[Guzzistajohn]

  I have a Brown side stand on this bike. It works really well. Highly recommended.

[guzzisteve]

At that price i'd go with a SP3 stand. I need also cause my LM3 can not have a center stand, 160/18 doesn't go in.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I am probably the one Nathan refers to.  Bought one and tried to fit it to a customer's SP. Something was definitely "off" - the stand drooped at approx. 40 degrees from horizontal when retracted and was not confidence inspiring when deployed. Also, I felt that for the $345 price, they could have at least zinc plated the bracket, but no - it was bare metal.

I installed the factory mid-mount stand instead, and while not perfect, was much better than the Boxerworks stand.
https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=5094

[BMCMOTO]

I have a Brown side stand on my Mille, works OK, interferes with centerstand (must be deployed to use centerstand). I had the mid-mount Guzzi sidestand. The Brown and the Guzzi both leave the bike too upright for my taste. I shortened the Guzzi stand some but it still felt insecure, tucked under the bike too much when deployed, didn't feel trustworthy. The Brown being out farther from the bike feels more trustworthy but the bike remains too vertical for me. I might modify the Brown mounting bracket some to change the angle, just been too lazy so far. I bought my Brown used for a lot less than they want now. I don't like the forward mount California stands cause I'm short legged and cannot reach them without difficulty,  I do like the way they lean the bike, just right, looking to get that angle from a mid-mount sidestand. I also put a deployment peg midway along my Brown side stand for easier deployment.

Brian

[Ncdan]

Any stand has to be better thought than my 02 Stone. I’m 5’10” with a 30” inseam and one of these days I’m going to lose my balance and fall over trying to reach it🥵😡

[berniebee]

I installed the factory mid-mount stand instead, and while not perfect, was much better than the Boxerworks stand.
https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73&products_id=5094

I bought and installed a mid mount this May. Some pics and description here:
https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=105762.60
Scroll about half way down the page.

[Cam3512]

I worked with Nathan and Scott (Guzzi guy) at Boxerworks to develop the modified Brown for Guzzi Tonti’s.  Got the idea from Billy Joel‘s mechanic Alex, but he doesn’t sell anything.  The prototype is on my V7 Sport.  Retracted stand is perfectly parallel with the flat exhaust.  I love it, and I couldn’t even deploy the stock spring loaded stock stand while sitting on the bike.  I know they’re pricey, but what’s it worth to prevent you picking the bike up off the pavement one day?  True, it conflicts with the center stand, but not an issue with me.  Side stand out, retract the center stand.  Side stand in.  Then reverse.

Cam

[Scout63]

I think the G5 stand is the best ever, with maybe the Airhead Brown a close second. Worst is v50, Lemans 1, stock Airhead and 860GT, they all beg centerstand use and carrying a stand plate in my jacket.

[bigbikerrick]

I had a Browns from Boxerworks on my 85 LeMans 1000 . It was a huge improvement over oem. There are two things in life you should never trust.....A Guzzi neutral light, and a spring loaded, Tonti kickstand!
Rick.

[Scout63]

I had a Browns from Boxerworks on my 85 LeMans 1000 . It was a huge improvement over oem. There are two things in life you should never trust.....A Guzzi neutral light, and a spring loaded, Tonti kickstand!
Rick.

Big roger that.

[Tom H]

Any stand has to be better thought than my 02 Stone. I’m 5’10” with a 30” inseam and one of these days I’m going to lose my balance and fall over trying to reach it🥵😡

If your Stone has the big side stand, try using your heel to retract it. Much easier this way, at least for me. I also use only one spring.

Tom

[Cam3512]

On my V7 Sport…

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

On my V7 Sport…

If only the one they sent me fit that well... Of course, I was "installing it wrong".  I don't know how that's even possible.

[Anomaly]

.A Guzzi neutral light, and a spring loaded, Tonti kickstand!
Rick.

Big roger that.

Whoa, you guys are scaring me- I just acquired an 81 T3 California and used the side stand extensively during my long ride through half of Italy. Was I just lucky? Please expand upon your dire comments.

[Frenchfrog]

Don't worry...you could land an elephant on the cali sidestands and then some ! The other ones are best taken off though as even strong ish wind will make them trip and then the bike goes down.

[Anomaly]

Don't worry...you could land an elephant on the cali sidestands and then some ! The other ones are best taken off though as even strong ish wind will make them trip and then the bike goes down.

Whew! Thanks!
On the side stand, about halfway home on the delivery ride:

[Scout63]

Whew! Thanks!
On the side stand, about halfway home on the delivery ride:

That is the good side stand. Not only is it super stable, but it locks when you put weight on it.  Also finally a good picture of your new bike. What a looker.

[Denis]

I want to revisit this thread.

All of the replacement side stands (Brown, the modified Brown from Boxerworks, Farley, Stein-Dinse, etc.) developed or modified for use on Tonti frames are those which mounted near the center of the frame, such as the Le Mans 1000.

I have an '87 SP II, which has the front mounted side stand. It's the worst side stand ever. Has anyone developed a better side stand which mounts in this location? To make it more fun, my SP still has the lowers on it, making space a premium.

I'd love any suggestions which keeps the sidestand mounted at the front.

Thanks,
Denis

[guzzisteve]

Weld on a better foot, there are no others cept police stand.

[moto]

...
I have an '87 SP II, which has the front mounted side stand. It's the worst side stand ever. Has anyone developed a better side stand which mounts in this location? To make it more fun, my SP still has the lowers on it, making space a premium.

What Guzzi Steve just said is basically right.

If the self retracting feature bothers you, you might try mounting the later dual spring bracket that fits on the upper end. When I use this bracket for my mid mount stand, I was able to use one spring each on the front anchor and the back anchor, both being studs with grooves in them. This way, my side stand, which is the same item as the original front one, stays extended, and also stays retracted when pulled back. This makes planting the stand on the asphalt much easier.

The front stand may have an advantage that is overlooked. Namely, it would be much easier to deploy when the rear tire is flat. It's location is so far forward that the bike is less likely to tip over because of the flat tire. This is the only reason I can suggest for the engineers' decision to place the stand so far forward.

But it's just a speculation that came to me while I was trapped, holding my T3 up with its flat tire at the side of an old-fashioned thruway in Iowa, wheeled Death speeding by inches away.

[Denis]

What Guzzi Steve just said is basically right.

If the self retracting feature bothers you, you might try mounting the later dual spring bracket that fits on the upper end. When I use this bracket for my mid mount stand, I was able to use one spring each on the front anchor and the back anchor, both being studs with grooves in them. This way, my side stand, which is the same item as the original front one, stays extended, and also stays retracted when pulled back. This makes planting the stand on the asphalt much easier.

The front stand may have an advantage that is overlooked. Namely, it would be much easier to deploy when the rear tire is flat. It's location is so far forward that the bike is less likely to tip over because of the flat tire. This is the only reason I can suggest for the engineers' decision to place the stand so far forward.

But it's just a speculation that came to me while I was trapped, holding my T3 up with its flat tire at the side of an old-fashioned thruway in Iowa, wheeled Death speeding by inches away.

On an SP with the lowers on the bike, it's not possible to deploy the forward side stand with your foot without being extremely pigeon-toed and having a shin that's hinged above the ankle. It doesn't have an extended tab for your foot to catch either. I bought the bike new and have always leaned down and deployed it with my hand, then leaned the bike over onto it long enough to put the bike on the center stand.

Because of the fairing a police or Cali side stand can't be used either.

I'd really like to find a side stand that's functional. I wonder if an SPIII stand could be modified for a forward mount.