Kickstand length fix?

[Monkymate]

I have changed a few things on my 2003 Tourer and now find that my kickstand and lean angle are not right. (Too upright and unstable). Things changed are
-Front Tire (Running a rear tire as front.) As described eleswhere in the forum.
-Dark Side (This made the largest difference in the angle)
-Air shocks (This improved the angle some but still not like when it was all stock sizes and parts)

So do I heat and bend? Shorten and weld? Shim bracket underneath? Is there a replacement? What has worked for everyone else? My other option is waiting for a used RIVCO center stand to show up but a center stand is not always the answer to stable parking.

Thanks for your input.

Greg

[pancho]

It is a bit hard to comprehend tires that are so low profile that the bike will not lean over on the stand Greg. Before I bent or cut the stand, I would be inclined to get the bike back to the proper riding height. Did you go to very low profile tires and shorter shocks?? what tires and what length shocks??

[Gryphon Rider]

I haven't needed to do this, but here's what I would do if I had to:
1. Purchase a used sidestand. (I'd rather have a good one on had in case I screw up the modification, or if I want to put everything back to stock.)
2. Place plywood shims of equal thickness under the front and rear tires until I get the lean angle that I want.
3. With the bike still on the sidestand, mark two points on the shaft of the sidestand, the VERTICAL distance between the points being the same as the thickness of the shims.  The actual distance along the shaft between the points will be greater than the vertical distance, of course.
4. Remove the marked sidestand and chop it, removing the material between the marked points.
5. Have a welder weld it back together.
6. Get it finished however I like and re-install.

[PAVALKER]

I haven't needed to do this, but here's what I would do if I had to:
1. Purchase a used sidestand. (I'd rather have a good one on had in case I screw up the modification, or if I want to put everything back to stock.)
2. Place plywood shims of equal thickness under the front and rear tires until I get the lean angle that I want.
3. With the bike still on the sidestand, mark two points on the shaft of the sidestand, the VERTICAL distance between the points being the same as the thickness of the shims.  The actual distance along the shaft between the points will be greater than the vertical distance, of course.
4. Remove the marked sidestand and chop it, removing the material between the marked points.
5. Have a welder weld it back together.
6. Get it finished however I like and re-install.

Exactly....    Key point is getting a good one as a back up I think.

[Ricky-D]

I feel that shortening the side stand will make the bike less stable.

On the other hand bending the side stand will maintain the stability

question while allowing the bike to lean over more.

I have seen many bikes with a modified side stand, modified by

heating and bending.  Naturally the final product's efficacy will be determined

by the forethought invested in the project.

***

[Gryphon Rider]

If bending the sidestand, be sure to consider how it changes its retracted position.  This also applies when shortening it; the stem that your foot uses to extend/retract the sidestand may not fit in the little notch in the exhaust anymore.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Must have a 55 series on the back? I think I would switch to a 60 or 65 unless you need the shorter height to reach the ground.