Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: GSS on January 27, 2012, 10:02:36 pm
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Friends,
Has anyone modified their original C5 sidestand to a longer length? With my new 19" front wheel and a larger 18" in the rear, the slightly concerning lean with the sidestand has now become downright scary!
Short of buying an adjustable stand, I was wondering if anyone has cut/elongated the OEM on a C5. Another option might be to add a 1" foot under the flat part of the sidestand. Any thoughts, ideas would be greatly appreciated. I couldn't find much info online. Thanks.
GSS
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I'm stock and I like the way it leans but I can see how any more lean would be precarious.
The stock unit is pretty simple and I'd bet you could ge t a welder to fabe one up just the way you want it for not too much.
A less expensive solution would be something like these:
http://www.billmallin.com/motorcycle/images/maintenance/hockey_puck/index.htm
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1302490751/0
A hockey puck trimmed to shape makes a nice extension. Cheap, non-slip, easy to shape any wayy you like and mount yourself. What more could you ask for?
Scott
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Scott,
Thanks. Exactly what I had in mind. I picked up a brass 3/4" pipe plug and a matching brass cap earlier today, along with a stainless steel hex head bolt to make a 1" "foot". I will try to post a picture after I find time to put this together......
GSS
Meanwhile there is a T20 sprocket hibernating in my garage......hopefully will find time to drop it in before spring!
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I tried to get the adjustable stand last year and was informed that they are no longer available. I, too, think the bike leans over way too far, and that's on a G5 with stock sized tires. I was thinking about sawing the stand in half, below the spring attachment and getting a piece of tubing and a smaller diameter piece that's a little longer than the outside piece that will telescope inside the stand tubing for reinforcement and welding it all together.
The hockey puck idea isn't bad but it would be harder to put on the new sidestands and look right
Bare
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Bare, that'd be my next best suggestion if you have some metal working skills. I wouldn't bother making it telescope. Just pick the length you want, flatten and bend the end like the original, and weld it to the original hinge.
Scott
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Nah, I wasn't going to make it telescope, the inner tube is just for strength at the new welds.
Bare
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Ah! That'll do.
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See STORE FEEDBACK for the best remedy yet.
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Yeah, but you have to get down there and rub it! ;D
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Scott,
Thanks. Exactly what I had in mind. I picked up a brass 3/4" pipe plug and a matching brass cap earlier today, along with a stainless steel hex head bolt to make a 1" "foot". I will try to post a picture after I find time to put this together......
GSS
Scott,
Here are pictures of the components and the assembled product. Little black ring is just an o-ring to "hide" a couple of uncovered threads. Hole required in the OEM sidestand was 3/8" or 9.5mm.
End result is extremely solid, stable and neatly tucks out of the way....bike is now restored to OEM lean. Gained about 1 3/8" in height.
GSS
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May I ask as to why the stock side stands are so short? I get a lot of comments about how far my B5 leans when I stop to get fuel.
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May I ask as to why the stock side stands are so short? I get a lot of comments about how far my B5 leans when I stop to get fuel.
Undoubtedly inadequate thought put into optimizing sidestand function prior to manufacture.
Slap on some plumbing parts and the conversation will switch to....why does it have a copper foot???
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May I ask as to why the stock side stands are so short? I get a lot of comments about how far my B5 leans when I stop to get fuel.
So you can park on a uphill slope to the left ?
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Grounding for lightning strikes in the monsoon season ;)
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The Side Stands are short for 2 purposes:
A. So oil will run into sump instead of blocking window after adding.
B. Bike is tall enough to be difficult to mount, deploying side stand is like getting the Elephant to lie down in order to get on.
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Just a thought here....
Couldn't you cut off the 'foot' of the stand, then find an appropriate size tubing to fit inside what's left, then get a new foot welded to that? Then you just slide it in or out to your desired height and either weld or drill and through bolt it in place. Seems a pretty easy way to get exactly the length you want.
Scott
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It's not as easy as it sounds. The lower part of the stand isn't round. If you do it on the upper part, then you also need to reposition the spring retainer. I've thought about it, but just haven't pursued it. My welding shop here is rather lacking in a good spot to do it.
Bare
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Ah! I know they pinch the end to make the foot, I didn't realize it was ovalized as far down as the spring mount.
Scott
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My C5 seems pretty stable on the stock side stand configuration; I don't see the need to change it.
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Mine didn't lean too bad with the 18" OEM Avons, but when I slapped on the much larger rear 4.0x18 and front 3.5x19 Dunlop K70s, the tilt definitely looked excessive, and there was a lot more torque on the sidearm mount.
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I found a 1976 Kawasaki Sidestand that should fit perfectly & look like a factory job. Soon as the weather gets to cool to ride often, I'll install it & send pix. Cheers, Craig