K11 Owners Group

BMW_Mick · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:35 am Post subject: 1100 LT side/kick stand question

Hi,

Is there a longer version of this damn thing, as the bike leans so far over it's sometimes almost impossible to pick it upright. As a disabled rider I have trouble anyway, but I don't have a choice about using it to get off the bike as I can't hold the bike up until I can get it on the main stand.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:42 am Post subject:

I chopped down a hockey puck and bolted it on. You have to trim the rear of it down so it doesn't contact the exhaust when the side stand is up.

If I were disabled then I probably wouldn't bother putting a K bike on the center stand.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Saltcreek · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:06 am Post subject:

I've been trying not to use the sidestand because it sucks but a couple of my more experienced rider friends have pointed out that I'm asking for a tip over getting on or off. I was just looking at bolting a 1/4" steel pad to the bottom of my stand for a little larger contact and a little less lean. Then I think of the times I've parked on a crown and the sloppy stand barely lets the bike lean enough that I'm not worried about it going the other way. I guess the bottom line for me is even on my flat concrete floor it leans to far so I think I will either add the pad or look in to adding shims where the stand intersects it's fork. This looks a little like something that could spring parts all over the barn when you take it apart so I'm going to wait to see what others say.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

carp · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:23 am Post subject:

Mine was a bit loose. Took it off and my dad used an iron press and pinced the upper "fork" closer together. That helped some. Couldn't somebody make an after market one?
_________________
93 K1100LT
07 Bandit 1250S

Off the grid · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:39 pm Post subject:

I rarely used my sidestand unless it was on some sort of slope or I had to and I always put it in gear first and walked it forward and "engaged" said gear.

That said, the K11s are not ideal for those that are older or disabled, imo. They are too top-heavy and porky at slow speed.

Plus if they fall there is NO way you are picking it up alone.

(not to mention if it does fall all you have is a flimsy crashbar to protect thousands of dollars in plastic, and no crashbar on the RS)

Your mileage may vary. In 3 years mine went over 2x. Once was my fault, right side of center stand was not on solid ground and thankfully it went over on grass/bushes, (no damage, just 2 scuffs one on the mirror and one on the bag) the second was in the garage while I was taking it out for a wash/demo to a buyer. Wasted the rt side panel. 200 bucks to put a new one on.

One of the reasons I painted my mirrors and side cases black and always left them on...the side cases make great buffers for the bike, and the black is very easy to touch up.

I am not a small man by any means, and was a former bodybuilder and college football player. When my bike fell on the grass I simply could not gain enough leverage to pick it up myself.

It scared me. It also told me that my bodybuilding days was many years and hundreds of cheezeburgers ago. Crying or Very sad

Again, YMMV.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject:

My LT went over last year. I was riding down the curvy road to Stinson Beach and wanted to stop to get something out of my tank bag. I stopped in a place with weird angled pavement. When I put my left foot down on the downhill side and felt gravel under my boot I knew the bike would be taking a nap so I did what I could to give it a graceful letdown.

Of course I'd just filled it up with gas so it started pissing a puddle right away. All of my luggage was full with my camping gear strapped to the passenger seat. I thought there was no way in hell that I'd be able to pick it up, especially since it was leaning downhill a little. Amazingly, without even using the back against the seat technique I just reache dunder and picked it up. Shocked

It must have been the sight of gas pissing out and the adrenaline from being so mad at myself for being so stupid. Rolling Eyes

Minor mirror scrap, bag scrape and the attaching latch popped off of the left bag. I bungied the left bag to the bike, bought riveting stuff at the next hardware store and repaired the bag latch.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Saltcreek · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject:

So I'm looking at mine again, trying to decide whether to take it apart or not, and I see a little bend in it, maybe 4 or 5 degrees, about an inch down from the posts where the springs attach. The one in the parts fiche looks straight.

I'm thinking of straightening it and having some reinforcement welded on. Anyone ever removed one of these before? I'm a little worried about the small spring #15.

_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject:

Not really a big deal to disassemble and put back together. I've done it several times. In fact I just did one last week as I wanted to put a K1100 center/side stand assembly on my "new" K75 since the center stand doesn't have a tendency to rust and collapse, forcing your bike to take a nap. Before I installed it I took everything apart and got it as clean as could be. Not hard to put back together.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

rkildu · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:28 am Post subject:

In some situations it just make sense to use the sidestand instead of the center.

Something I have done to straighten up the lean angle is to cut a 3/4 piece of oak to about 3 inches square and drill and screw an eye screw into one edge. I then finished it with polyurathane (sp?). I attached a string to it and keep it in my fairing pocket. When I park at a spot that has too much lean for comfort, I just take it out and hook one end of the string to my left grip and drop it to the ground and under the foot of the stand. Of course I make sure it's in gear and the stand is fully extended. Then when ready to ride off, I just pull it up on the string, wind it around the pad and put back in the pocket.

Something else, my 97 had an aluminum bracket that had a tab that went between the sidestand and it's stop. It prevented the stand from deploying all the way forward and I had the stand 'auto-retract' on me a couple of times. It's part number 16 in the diagram above. I just cut off the tab. This lets the side stand deploy a bit further forward for more stability. I think the part is a left over from the linkage that automatically retracted the sidestand when the clutch lever was squeezed in older models.
_________________
Rod Kilduff
97 K1100LT HighLine
82 R100Lufty

Saltcreek · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject:

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject:

I carry a 4" round electrical metal box cover on a string for parking on soft stuff. Asphalt in the summer, gravel, dirt, etc......
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

RobWheatley · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject:

So far (touch wood) I have not had a problem with the side stand, apart from when got on the bike, stood it up, forgot something and went to get off forgetting that i had lifted the stand up already, luckily she only went as far as the side case, breaking one of the locks off and tearing the hinge, DOH.
As far as the bike rolling off it, i only ever park facing up hill, that way it can't roll forwards.
I have noticed that the stand doesn't seem to go very far past the centre line and wondered if it could be altered by cutting a little bit of the stop off so it would have to lift the bike to retract.
I do use a block under the stand in the garage but thats just because on the limited space in there to get her on the centre stand (note to self, MUST clean the garage out) otherwise she will smoke in the morning.
Rob
_________________
1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

Johnny just has Micki hold the bike vertical while he goes in and eats. Twisted Evil

_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Saltcreek · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

Not to doubt Tim but can anyone else confirm that it's supposed to be bent? It looks very straight in the picture and other parts that are bent are shown as bent. Does anyone have a straight one?
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Off the grid · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject:

Every one I have ever seen has been bent.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Mystic Red · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject:

Jim, I just checked both jo's and mine and they both are bent exactly the same.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Saltcreek · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks, guys. I'd consider that settled. Saves me some work. Now if I just knew how much play to take out if I shim it. I figure it's supposed to have some play that the two long springs control.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Mystic Red · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject:

I'd take it out until, when you flip it up, it hits the rubber rest square. Mine misses and I can set it in there by hand when on the centerstand. Understand?
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466