Fabricating a motorcycle kickstand

[RcRacer]

I've been toying with the idea of making an extended motorcycle kickstand for my '81 Harley XLS. The one installed by the previous owner is a little short and the bike leans more than I am comfortable with.
Does anyone know what type of steel is used in making a kickstand?

[Hotfoot]

You could fab a neat "spacer pad" to tack onto the bottom, depending on how much longer you want it. Also, on bi twins (don't know about the sporties) you can modify the frame mount bracket with a wedge. they do it routinely on lowered bikes so they can use the sidestand. Are you sure the frame isn't cracked where the stand mounts (caused by folks sitting on the bike while its on its stand). I had a chunk break out of the frame on my BMW R90S due to this. We just welded it all back up.
Post a picture of that stand, I might have one longer that I can send you. Post the dimensions, including the diameter, when you put the picture up.

[RcRacer]

Hotfoot,
It's a stock XLH sportster kickstand. The tab on the frame is fine. My bike is actually an XLS roadster that has factory stock +2" front forks. The roadsters sit slightly higher. When I place a 2x4 block of wood under the stand, it sits a more normal looking lean. So a spacer under the "foot" would have to be pretty hefty.

There are aftermarket stands that will fit that era that can be bought at an extended length to accomodate longer front forks but I just thought it would be a fun project to do. I did a lot of googling and have not found anything that indicates what these stands are made of.

I'll take a pic of the stand tonight and measure it.
Thanks
Dom

[whateg0]

Can you cut it and put a sleeve over it to make it longer? Seems to me the hard part is getting the geometry at the top of it right, so if you can eliminate that part of the fabrication, I think it'd be pretty easy. As far as what they're made of, I'd bet they're nothing fancy, so they should probably weld pretty easily. Could be wrong, though.

Dave

[RcRacer]

Can you cut it and put a sleeve over it to make it longer? Seems to me the hard part is getting the geometry at the top of it right, so if you can eliminate that part of the fabrication, I think it'd be pretty easy. As far as what they're made of, I'd bet they're nothing fancy, so they should probably weld pretty easily. Could be wrong, though.

Dave

I have thought about adding a section to it but then it still boils down to knowing the strength of the material required.

[Hotfoot]

I don't think the concern is so much the strength of the filler piece, so much as the loss of any temper in the metal, making it bend where its been welded. I made a snazzy tool to pry body panels from the back. I made it from one of those flat nail/ pry bars, extended it to about 24"...went to use it, and my weld points bent like cardboard.

[Mr Jimi]

Here is one that a member did to his Harley





If you need more info just PM me
Jim

[RcRacer]

Mr. Jimi,
That looks like a clean and easy solution. I think that is what Hotfoot had in mind in one of his previous suggestions.

Is that aluminum?

[RcRacer]

Here's a couple of pics of the bike and how it leans with a piece of 2x4 under the stand.






I may try a pad of some kind like Mr. Jimi posted before I start welding an extension on. Now that riding season is starting in these parts of the country, it's hard to work on stuff instead of ride

[folmonty]

Extended stand....

Dom, did you ever try Mr Jimi's idea or are you still riding? I've also got a 91 XLH but not quite as long a front end as yours. My kick stand issue is with a 1970 Yamaha custom street tracker which also requires the 2X4. So what if anything did you do?

[imagineer]

Does anyone know what type of steel is used in making a kickstand?

I can't say for sure what material they use, but if I were making one, I'd use 4130 or 4150 steel. Both are weldable and impact resistant. They're a little tough to machine unless you use coolant. I'd buy small stock quantities like this from McMaster-Carr.

[JoeS]

I would be hesitant to modify the kickstand by lengthening it. That piece is tempered/heat treated so it can flex. If you've ever seen a full dress or fatboy with a 'fat boy' on it, you would see how much it flexes. If the alloy you use isn't right, I'd be worried, plus the weldment would change the temper. The nice aluminum knob looked cool. I can't remember how the stand attaches, maybe you can use a spacer under the mount for the stand? sure, it might stick down farther, just have to be careful laying the bike down in a left turn.....

or just carry around a 2x4" chunk with you. I've seen guys carry a small peice of plate to prevent rollover on soft asphalt. my dad had a soft bag that mounted to the front of the fork near the triple-tree. nice for storing small tools, etc.

[RcRacer]

Dom, did you ever try Mr Jimi's idea or are you still riding? I've also got a 91 XLH but not quite as long a front end as yours. My kick stand issue is with a 1970 Yamaha custom street tracker which also requires the 2X4. So what if anything did you do?

I have been riding and ( knock on wood ) not wrenching much on the old ironhead. If I do anything, it will be during the winter. I'm having too much fun

[RcRacer]

I can't say for sure what material they use, but if I were making one, I'd use 4130 or 4150 steel. Both are weldable and impact resistant. They're a little tough to machine unless you use coolant. I'd buy small stock quantities like this from McMaster-Carr.

I had considered using the materials you mentioned but for the cost, I can buy an aftermarket kickstand that will correct the stance for less money. I'm sure it would be a fun project but the old scoot is gonna need other fixes by the end of this riding season

[RcRacer]

I would be hesitant to modify the kickstand by lengthening it. That piece is tempered/heat treated so it can flex. If you've ever seen a full dress or fatboy with a 'fat boy' on it, you would see how much it flexes. If the alloy you use isn't right, I'd be worried, plus the weldment would change the temper. The nice aluminum knob looked cool. I can't remember how the stand attaches, maybe you can use a spacer under the mount for the stand? sure, it might stick down farther, just have to be careful laying the bike down in a left turn.....

or just carry around a 2x4" chunk with you. I've seen guys carry a small peice of plate to prevent rollover on soft asphalt. my dad had a soft bag that mounted to the front of the fork near the triple-tree. nice for storing small tools, etc.

There's no way to space the mount. The aluminum knob is the simplest idea but I decided not to add any weight to the end of the stand since the spring is just strong enough to hold it up along the frame when riding. I'd be afraid that with added weight, the stand might extend when hitting a bump

What kept me from modifying the existing stand by extending is length is exactly what you said ... not knowing what the temper is. The OEM stand looks like its forged and must be heat treated to take out the brittleness.

Luckily, there are a few parking spots at work that are reserved for motorcycles and they provide plywood pucks for that purpose.

I have a tool bag on my front of my bike. It's filled with tools and emergency repair stuff. With a 27 year old bike, you don't leave home without it