Side stand questions

[herc770]

Several months ago I purchased my 97 Valkyrie. Even though it had been many years since I owned a motorcycle, the kick stand doesn't seem like it's working correctly.
The way it is currently, I have to carefully wedge and angle my foot so I can continue to push and hold the kick stand in place while I tip the bike over on it.
Next, if I sit on the bike and lift it upright the kick stand will immeditately snap upward to the pipes.
So my question, is this normal?

Question #2, has anyone changed one of these springs?
Seems like it could be kinda tough, any tricks on installation?

[John U.]

Sounds like something is out of whack. The kick stand should stay down by itself once pushed down all the way.
Others have had problems with a bent crossmember that the kickstand mounts to, or the stand itself may be bent.
They are regularly available on Ebay. You may be able to compare the pics posted in the Ebay listing with the stand on your bike to see if it's bent. Also check the micrefische on Honda Directline's website. Of course a minor bend might be hard to notice.
You can bend the spring and insert nickels on opposing sides to make the spring longer. That has worked for me.
Good luck and congrats on your "new" Valk.

[BonS]

No, your's is not normal. This link will give you some valuable insight into the kickstand, spring and assembly pictures and drawings. Hope it helps.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,39381.0.html

[RonW]

The way it is currently, I have to carefully wedge and angle my foot so I can continue to push and hold the kick stand in place while I tip the bike over on it.
Next, if I sit on the bike and lift it upright the kick stand will immeditately snap upward to the pipes.

The swing of the kickstand has a half-way point where it either swings fully down or retracts fully up. Once down it should stay down. That's what hte safety interlock system is there to prevent (bike won't start with the kickstand down). The positive side is that after many years away from riding it won't slip your mind to put your kickstand down. 800 lbs of bike. The bad news is that while your foot is on the kickstand to keep it from springing back, I imagine you have to let the weight of the bike drop down on the kickstand the last inch or two. That'll bound to damage the kickstand bracket or bend the kickstand.

[mchapman]

Does anyone know if there is a longer side stand that will work on the Valkyrie. It seems to lean a little to far over which makes it a little harder to get upright when you thro a leg over. I would think one a couple of inches longer would make that much easier to right the bike for us short legged folks.

[Daniel Meyer]

Does anyone know if there is a longer side stand that will work on the Valkyrie. It seems to lean a little to far over which makes it a little harder to get upright when you thro a leg over. I would think one a couple of inches longer would make that much easier to right the bike for us short legged folks.

You don't want to get it too far upright or it will fall over if it gets a flat (particularly a rear flat). But you could add a pad to the bottom of your current kick stand. I think Rivco used to make one?

[BonS]

Big Mike of ValkyrieBlingAndMore.com, a VRCC Sponsor, had some made just like the Rivco's. I don't know if he has any left. It can't hurt to drop him an email to inquire. (Mike is freshly out of the hospital and may be a little slower than usual to get back to you.)

[John U.]

Mike made a volume deal for a special run by Rivco. I got one of them, it's definately a Rivco pad. They do stand the bike up a bit but also spread the load so your bike won't sink into hot asphalt like my I/S did before I added he pad.
I think he has a few left but I don't know for sure.