What is the deal with Chinese dual sport kickstands?

[Dusman]

Hello there,

Longtime Chinabike owner here. I have the venerable Hawk 250, and it's been gold for the past 12,000 miles. However, the one thing that just bugs the mess out of me is this:

Why in the world do the Hawks, TBR7s, Brozz 250s have kickstands that are too short? What is up with that?

If anyone has any legit insight on this issue, I'm interested in hearing it.

[TominMO]

If they were built for bikes with smaller tires, and then taller tires were put on in a later model year or different version without altering the kickstands, that would explain part of it at least. But yeah, it's weird that you see so many factory pics of Chinese bikes using something under the kickstand to make the bike more vertical.

[JerryHawk250]

What's crazy is that the Kickstand on my KPX250 seem almost too long. The bike almost stands vertical and it a taller bike.

[Bill Hilly]

IMO .The kickstand on my Brozz 250 that I had seemed about right,but that was a 2020 model, and the kickstand on the TBR7 that I now have is actually too long. I don't have trouble getting on the bike, but it stands nearly straight upright, with so little lean that I sometimes think a strong wind could knock it over. The Chinese bikes are not the only bikes with poorly thought out kickstands. I have a small Yamaha Virago, and it leans so bad on flat ground that it almost wants to tip over . I have a 1" block in the building specially for parking the Virago, and another in the driveway.

[TominMO]

What's crazy is that the Kickstand on my KPX250 seem almost too long. The bike almost stands vertical and it a taller bike.Yeah. same here. The floor in my 1926 dirt-floor garage is not perfectly level, slightly higher on the left side, so I actually use a ratchet strap to make sure the bike can't fall over to the right when parked there.

Maybe they likee mess with big-nose foreign devils.....

[letsride]

What's crazy is that the Kickstand on my KPX250 seem almost too long. The bike almost stands vertical and it a taller bike.

Same here too, ya gotta watch where you throw that stand down. If you breathe on the thing it will fall over. Not a big deal though I just watch where I put the stand down. I do prefer the KPX kick stand over the Brozz I had.

[Boatguy]

The xpect doesn’t seem to have this issue

[miraclepieco]

I lengthened mine by about 2 inches.

[Captcj68chris@aol.]

Hi all, 2020 tbr7. I've lowered my bike as much as I can because I'm short. Lol forks 2 inches up, rear shock preload backed all the way down. I cut about 1.5 inches out of my stand and it still sits too vertical for me. I can't cut any more out. Is there a replacement stand that can be used that is shorter and a direct bolt on? ( I.E. RM80?) I've looked on Amazon for one, however what the have looks weak and flimsy, with terrible reviews.
Christopher

[CheapThrills]

My TBR7 kickstand is too long.

[buzz]

Mine too, just shorten and good to go.easy fix.

[Megadan]

Random parts bin bikes. Gotta love them.

[zero_dgz]

I had to shorten the kickstand on my RXB. The thing made the bike stand nearly vertical even when unloaded. With the slightest amount of luggage it would have tipped over to the right. Meanwhile, Orion's product pictures all show a block of wood under the kickstand to make it stand more upright. My only conclusion is that the lengths of the kick stands must be complete random.



Fun fact: I discovered that the kick stand on the RXB is solid steel. Not a tube. Son of a bitch has to weigh at least five pounds. Perfect for motocamping in the woods, I guess, if you find yourself needing an emergency back up weapon to fend of a bear. Or maybe you need to temporarily hold up a bridge.



Strangely, the stand on my Bashan Enforcer is just about perfect. Even has a little rubber anti-vibration thingy on it.

[TominMO]

There is a simple and very effective solution to all this. Just carry an 8ft 2x6 board with you when riding. When you park it. put the board on the ground and ride up onto it. Then the kickstand will effectively be about 1 3/4" shorter. If that's too short, get an 8ft 1x6. Possibly you could get by with a 6ft length. Problem solved. You're welcome.

Or just park with the left side downhill.

[PhoenixX2]

The kickstand on my 2021 TBR7D is the perfect length, but I've seen several comments around talking about TBR7 kickstands being too long. My guess is they just throw whatever kickstands they can grab on them at the factory regardless of fit.

[Amateur-Samurai]

Also, can anybody tell me what the function of the little rubber tongue is at the end of my Brozz kickstand?

[Hunnicutt]

The kickstands on my three TT250's are the perfect length. When I park the bikes on dirt or sand, I toss a crushed soda can on the ground before dropping the stand on them. The stands hold the bikes just fine on hard surfaces as well.

[Boatguy]

Also, can anybody tell me what the function of the little rubber tongue is at the end of my Brozz kickstand?

This is a really good question.

I have never known with my little rubber tongue was for either. It kind of just touches the ground. It deforms ever so slightly. It doesn’t seem to serve a purpose.

[Bill Hilly]

This is a really good question.

I have never known with my little rubber tongue was for either. It kind of just touches the ground. It deforms ever so slightly. It doesn’t seem to serve a purpose.
I asked someone that question when I had my Brozz, and was told that it actually provides some grip on hard surfaces, to prevent rolling forward and folding the kickstand up enough to fall

[J4Fun]

If I had a guess it would be a helper to get the kickstand down. Big boots or passenger peg down, it would probably help. My ‘20 Hawk DLX has that rubber too and the kickstand is about the perfect length also. My observation:)

[zero_dgz]

Also, can anybody tell me what the function of the little rubber tongue is at the end of my Brozz kickstand?


From what I understand it's supposed to be a vibration preventer, to help keep the bike from walking around if it's idling with the kickstand down and no one on it.

[buzz]

its on there so you don;t bust your teeth from kick stand.

[old_airhead]

Also, can anybody tell me what the function of the little rubber tongue is at the end of my Brozz kickstand?

Actually, that's something Honda added to their side stands many years ago. If you take off and forget to put the side stand up the rubber will touch the pavement and flip the stand up. That's the theory, anyway. Yes, I have tested this once ( not intentionally). It works.

[CheapThrills]

Tried again, ordering a shorter kickstand that might work for my TBR7, but Amazon said it was lost and issued a refund.


That was my second attempt, my first was so sad it looked like my TBR7 was embarished for what I did to her( https://mymotorcycleblog.com/tbr7-kickstand-upgrade-fail/ ).



My current kickstand is the stock, which is too long. Another issue, I actually had the bike roll forward once and drop because the kickstand didn't 'lock-up' right.


Sorry long story, looking for suggestions, what kickstand worked for you guys?


thx,

[TitusvilleRmiles]

What's crazy is that the Kickstand on my KPX250 seem almost too long. The bike almost stands vertical and it a taller bike.
I just got my KPX250 yesterday and haven't been on a bike in 45 years and when I sat on this for the first time I said uh oh. I can't seem to get off this bike safely as it might tip over and was like everyone said....almost vertical. Sadly I told my wife, " I need to CUT.. THEN WELD ..on a brand new bike. I cut exactly 1 inch top to bottom and brazed a new pad on there and works perfect.
I could get on the bike standing on the peg but, couldn't get back off in fear of tipping over and it would have believe you me.

[J4Fun]

Actually, that's something Honda added to their side stands many years ago. If you take off and forget to put the side stand up the rubber will touch the pavement and flip the stand up. That's the theory, anyway. Yes, I have tested this once ( not intentionally). It works.

I know and old post but if the they intended to raise the stand up with the rubber strip, why wouldn’t it be on the front side of the kickstand? I’m still sticking with the thought on post #20…:yay:

[ChopperCharles]

This is a really good question.

I have never known with my little rubber tongue was for either. It kind of just touches the ground. It deforms ever so slightly. It doesn’t seem to serve a purpose.

That rubber bit is a safety device. It's there for when you forget to put the stand up. The rubber hits the ground before the metal, with the intent that the rubber hitting the pavement while moving will flip the stand up before the metal part touches down. However, poorly lubricated kickstands and aged, worn rubber parts make this less effective.

Until safety switches became the norm, all bikes had these. There might have even been a law or regulation mandating it, not sure.

Charles.

[ChopperCharles]

I know and old post but if the they intended to raise the stand up with the rubber strip, why wouldn’t it be on the front side of the kickstand? I’m still sticking with the thought on post #20…:yay:

Because of physics. When the rubber is on the backside, when it hits the ground it deforms away from the stand, and ideally kicks the stand up before the metal bits touch down. If it was in front of the stand, when the rubber deformed it would deform into and under the kickstand (technical term is "jam up"), which would then have a similar impact to the case where just the metal touches down.

My guess is that it was tried both ways and they picked the one that worked better in real life.

Charles.

[J4Fun]

Just 4 Fun, that maybe there intention for that rubber piece. On my 12/20’ Hawk DLX it is totally useless for that as it is about even with the bottom of the kickstand and hangs out about half inch, so the kickstand would grab first if moving forward. This is just my observation and looking and seeing how they can’t even get the kickstand height right on a lot of these bikes it maybe helpful to lower the stand. The rubber on my bike even has a taper on the tip? Again why would the rubber help, or why can’t the kickstand hit the ground and raise itself? Just thinking out loud…

[Do©Hawk]

The stand on my 2022 Hawk DLX seems a little short. I got over it. A little chunk of 2x4 eases my nerves when it's on soft ground.

[J4Fun]

The stand on my 2022 Hawk DLX seems a little short. I got over it. A little chunk of 2x4 eases my nerves when it's on soft ground.

My kickstand is approximately 13.5” from center of mounting bolt to center bottom of the pad. It seems like the stand is about perfect, what’s your measurement? Thanks mine was built 12/20’ and is a DLX

[Thumper]

I know and old post but if the they intended to raise the stand up with the rubber strip, why wouldn’t it be on the front side of the kickstand? I’m still sticking with the thought on post #20…:yay:

I have another theory:

A kickstand has play. The foot can slide away from the bike when you lean it over onto it.

This creates stress on the outer leaf of the kickstand mounting fork, and also allows the bike to sag over farther. The rubber helps plant the kickstand, preventing both of these things from happening, which reduces degradation of the kickstand mounting fork and keeping the bike more upright.

Regardless of whether this was the reason for the rubber foot augmentation, these are facts. Maybe the rubber foot assistance does more than one thing?

[TheBeardedVagabond]

What's crazy is that the Kickstand on my KPX250 seem almost too long. The bike almost stands vertical and it a taller bike.

100% this. If the ground is perfectly level or sloped left I can't even stand the kpx up. I have thought about getting a slightly shorter one, and then just keeping the OG as a back up.

[Do©Hawk]

My kickstand is approximately 13.5” from center of mounting bolt to center bottom of the pad. It seems like the stand is about perfect, what’s your measurement? Thanks mine was built 12/20’ and is a DLX

My stand measures the same 13.5". It's not as if the Hawk is gonna fall over, but, to me, it leans quit a bit. The Hawk is my 1st motorcycle, ever, so I have no comparisons.

[ChopperCharles]

Perhaps it's shock preload that makes the difference?

[Do©Hawk]

Perhaps it's shock preload that makes the difference?

Could be, but I have mine basically bottomed out so I could get a bigger patch of foot on the ground. I would think that would have it leaning less. Now that i've got a little bit of riding experience, i may adjust it back a little to smooth the ride.

[old_airhead]

I have another theory:

A kickstand has play. The foot can slide away from the bike when you lean it over onto it.

This creates stress on the outer leaf of the kickstand mounting fork, and also allows the bike to sag over farther. The rubber helps plant the kickstand, preventing both of these things from happening, which reduces degradation of the kickstand mounting fork and keeping the bike more upright.

Regardless of whether this was the reason for the rubber foot augmentation, these are facts. Maybe the rubber foot assistance does more than one thing?

Folks, the internet and Google are amazing things. Just a short 10 second search yields several sites selling the rubber bits for older Hondas, describing them as safety devices.

Here is a quote from the Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa (?!): "Older bikes have a rubber ‘finger’ extension at the tip of the stand that will wear over me. The purpose of that little ‘finger’ is to grab the road surface before the metal part of the stand itself does and ATTEMPT to pull the stand out of its locked position before it hits. There is a wear marker on these rubber extensions and when yours gets worn to that point it should be replaced because it no longer reaches the ground before the metal part of the side-stand."

[Thumper]

There are potholes and pavement anomalies in most parking lots, or maybe you can usually find sloping pavement.. Also, a 4 inch long section of 2x4 under the rear tire would also work. That is easy to bring along.