Kickstand Question

I just finished putting Burly slammer shocks on my 82 xj650. I have noticed that now it will sit on the kickstand still but it looks a little wobbly. I've read on here that a few people have done this same thing and was wondering how much I need to cut off of my kickstand? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

Take it off, heat with a torch and gently bend it a bit. Study it beforehand to decide where and how much. That way you won't lose the "foot" and the "deployment knob."

Or take it to a fab shop and have them section an inch or so out of the middle and weld it back together.

 

Thanks for the info bigfitz.

 

On my 550 i used the heat & bend method, on the 650 I couldn't find my torch so I cut out a 1"-1.5" section between the "deployment knob" & "pad" and then welded it back together. The "pad" doesn't sit completely flush on the ground but it's not that noticeable.

 

Just an added tip - cut a spent edger blade in half, weld to the "foot" to triple the "footprint" allowing you to park anywhere, even in Florida!!

 

That's a great idea.

 

Up here, our "big water" is surrounded by rocks. No "footie" needed. (Granted this was taken on the centerstand but look what it's sitting on.)



Sand is overrated. Warm weather year round, not so much.

 

If your Side-stand is "Wobbly", ... give it a close inspection.

Make sure that the entire area of the Frame, ... where the Side-stand assy. is welded-on ... is still structurally sound.
The Frame might be fractured or weakened, ... rusting from the inside - out.

 

I bears repeating, if you live in the high latitudes, use an inspection mirror to check the bottom of your frame. Water can infiltrate the XJ frame, it happened to the bike I bought in Minnesota, and the water froze during one of those infamous Winters and the result was a freeze crack right below the shifter on the very bottom of the frame.

 

good call, i will have to check mine as we are pretty close geographically....

 

When I cut my shocks down to 11", I sectioned 1.5" out of my kickstand and welded it back up. Works perfect. Don't forget to bevel your edges before you reweld.