Deploying side stand on R100RT

This is my 4th BMW, but my first airhead. I have problems deploying the side stand while sitting on the bike. My boot heel seems to get caught on the lip of the side stand tang. Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy method for getting the side stand down?

I don't know what year RT you have, I have a monoshock (1988 version). I get off the bike first, then deploy the side, if I decide to use it. Probably not the answer you were looking for.

One of the first modifications off most Airhead owners is to change the side stand. You will find that most use Brown or Farley sidestands, although Brown's sidestand is probably the most often used. I have one on each of my Airheads.

I have a Brown now and removed the stock side stand all together...

But before that, I was like Jeff. I would dismount with no stand
and then use the centre stand. Got used to it, anyone else that
rode my bike (and that's a short list!) found that odd. Having the
Brown is so much better, especially when the bike is loaded down
for a trip.

The technique I had heard was to keep you weight on the right side
as you blindly fish around with your left toe to extend the stand.
Then with your left foot holding it fully deployed, cautiously transfer
the weight to the left.........makes me shudder just talking about it

Repsycle good source for AirHeads

http://www.re-psycle.com/eshopitems_cat_205-1350.70_Accessories.htm

Some like BMW side stand, most do not I believe. One of BMW's mistakes on the AirHead. Great MC's but few things need fixing to make it better

The most dangerous time on a BMW Airhead is mounting and dismounting the bike deploying and retracting the springloaded sidestand for the new unsuspecting rider.

aklepacki said:

This is my 4th BMW, but my first airhead. I have problems deploying the side stand while sitting on the bike. My boot heel seems to get caught on the lip of the side stand tang. Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy method for getting the side stand down?

Click to expand...

Yes.

During the 28 years I rode my '84 R100RS I reached down and deployed the sidestand with my hand.

With the much wider bars of the RT it should be a lot easier, to the point you might be able to get off the bike first.