So why do BMWs lean so far on their sidestand?

[motoedde]

You'll notice that his bike is Royal Blue. That's the secret - that color K75S can go about anywhere.

Shh...its our little secret

http://www.sensationalcolor.com/content/view/1055/144/

And check out what it says in the section..."When You Buy a Blue Vehicle"...Nice!

 

[mrbreeze]

I like the hockey puck idea, but how do you attach it? I have a 2001 R1100RL.

 

[MOONDOG59]

I like the hockey puck idea, but how do you attach it? I have a 2001 R1100RL.

I'm not sure what the bottom of your side stand looks like but mine is a couple inches square. I drilled a couple holes in the plate and then used two self tapping screws into the hockey puck. One hitch though with mine is that the side stand must be down when I come off the center stand. If not then they get hung up on each other and I can't get the side stand down next time I stop. I then have to get off the bike without dropping it, put it on the centerstand and then put the sidestand down. It has happened a couple of times but now I have trained myself to have the side stand down all the time. Works for me and cuts the lean in half for me.

 

[cjack]

Ok...now you've done it! BMW will read this thread and the 2010 bikes will have computer controlled, by canbus, hydraulic side stands which will all be recalled because they will misread the terrain causing the bikes to lean to the right...unless they are the ones that leak, then way way left.

 

[mXarad]

get the puck out

You don't need the puck on solid ground if you
turn the handlebar full right. Measured at the
rear latch of the system bags, the difference in height
is one-half inch depending on which way you turn
the bars. Full right also allows you to use the
steering lock, suggesting that is the way it was
designed to be turned.
mXa

 

[Sailingfool]

I've figured it out!

They lean so far over in case you have the bike on the soft shoulder but want the stand on the hard! Got to be it, right?

 

[rbertalotto]

Without a luggage load, my BMW Rockster leans quite a bit, but not even close to going over. With the suspension compressed with a load of luggage and camping gear, the lean is much less. I think BMW engineered the bikes to usually be loaded down.

My V Strom and my VFR, when loaded, are nearly upright. Many time I have to dig a hole for the side stand to get them to lean more, especially on the side of the road where the bike might be an inch or two below the crest in the road to begin with.

Down in Daytona a few years ago, at the BMW dealership, a fellow was showing an ingenious adjustable side stand. With your toe you could easily change the length for various conditions. I'd buy one in a heartbeat, but I never saw or heard anymore about it........

 

[tourunigo]

I always carry a 7" X 3" wooden wedge with me when traveling with bike fully packed. This allows me to adjust (0 to 2") to just about any terrain when parking. That stock lean on the sidestand give me lots of latitude. (there was a time when I could just lean down and pick that wedge up while sitting on the bike. Now that little string pulls it up) -Bob

 

[rbertalotto]

That's just the opposite of what most folks need. Usually you need the sidestand shorter, not longer.

My bikes never fall over on the side stand side...........Always the other way.....