Who's got kickstand woes?

[Minimichael]

You know what I'm talking about.

They're all so short it's like they expect we're all riding on 6" wheels. And the "extra long" version is just about an inch bigger. Might be good for 8" wheels...

I ride on 10 and 12 inch wheels but can't find a decent replacement stand for the minis I'm building. Even those marketed as "motorcycle" stands are just looking too flimsy for my precious, fly rides.

And you can't carry a milk crate everywhere you go. Has anyone found a solution they like?

 

[Minimichael]

I could fit more in my collection if they'd stand up a bit straighter!

 

[JimN]

Cut that sucker in half and weld a piece of black pipe in between. That's what I did.
I do wish I would have made it a 1/4" shorter than what it is now, A stiff wind on level ground will push it over. A liitle to close to the center of gravity.
I may cut it down over the winter but I'm on the lazy side of things and I can always find a slight downward slope to park on out here in the country.

 

[sparkwizard]

I have used old bicycle stands, but don't tell anybody.

 

[JimN]

 

[Minimichael]

Cut that sucker in half and weld a piece of black pipe in between. That's what I did.
I do wish I would have made it a 1/4" shorter than what it is now, A stiff wind on level ground will push it over. A liitle to close to the center of gravity.
I may cut it down over the winter but I'm on the lazy side of things and I can always find a slight downward slope to park on out here in the country.

For sure I'm always tripping over random blocks of wood in my garage. Or should I say parking blocks?

I do have one I'm working on now and stressing about getting the bracket welded onto the frame in just the right position. This of course depends on the final kickstand size and foot shape etc.

Btw I've ordered and mostly returned several of the standards found online, including the hollow pointers, solid rods, rods with the extra foot lever, and the robotic space-lego kind. All either too cheap or hard to modify or just not the look I'm looking for.

 

[Minimichael]

I have used old bicycle stands, but don't tell anybody.

I did buy some half inch steel bar thinking I could just bend the ends with my sledge and bench vise. Yeah right!

 

[Mr. Pink]

Yeah, not the prettiest weld, but I shortened and re-welded this guy.
Used a piece of PVC to come up with the correct length.

 

[sparkwizard]

Mike, just cut that half inch round stock, grind a bevel on the end, cut your kick stand and weld the bar into it.

 

[Minimichael]

The problem I'm grappling with is a work in progress here, as I'm first trying to fashion the weld-on bracket from scratch ... 10ga steel coupon.

 

[Minimichael]

Yeah, not the prettiest weld, but I shortened and re-welded this guy.
Used a piece of PVC to come up with the correct length.

View attachment 319078

That looks real nice and thought out, Mr. Pink. I see you have the correct bracket mount, too. I didn't see these available individually so I decided to fashion my own. Also wanted to work with thinner steel so I can get good weld penetration the first time, and not gobb up the frame. I'm leaving room for adjusting set screws in either side of my mount bracket, too.

 

[Minimichael]

View attachment 319076 View attachment 319077

Hey that's nice work, Jim N. I see you've got the standard bracket, too. Nice welds!

 

[Minimichael]

View attachment 319076 View attachment 319077

Kick ass bike, btw. Is that a custom frame?

 

[Minimichael]

How it's fitting the stand I'm working with..

 

[sparkwizard]

Awesome work, Sir!

 

[JimN]

Hey that's nice work, Jim N. I see you've got the standard bracket, too. Nice welds!

Thank you. I copied that style to make the bracket. Monkey see, monkey do.

Is that a custom frame?

Yes sir, I guess you could call it the bastard love child of a gratton hound dog mated to a coleman rb200 with a little leading link gene splicing from the dna below.

 

[Minimichael]

Thank you. I copied that style to make the bracket. Monkey see, monkey do.



Yes sir, I guess you could call it the bastard love child of a gratton hound dog mated to a coleman rb200 with a little leading link gene splicing from the dna below.

Man, that's cool. I love seeing scratch builds like yours. You should be proud. I'd also say you need another one for riding with a friend

 

[Minimichael]

Awesome work, Sir!

Thanks. It's rough but getting prettier as I go. And at this point, it seems the steel has become easier to bend and shape the more I've cut and drilled and beaten it. Now if I weld it onto the frame, it'll be going on soft. @sparkwizard, do you think I should first heat and quench it once, before tacking into place?

 

[sparkwizard]

That steel looks pretty thick to me. I think if you weld both sides, like you beveled it, it should be strong enough to last a long time.

 

[Minimichael]

So while I continue to tweak my kickstand design solution off camera, part of that project includes this sideshow of old world metalsmithing. Thought the site could use some new pictures, so here I am starting some additional rough-hewn, exclusive and limited edition weldable brackets, complete with natural defects. Having the first one hammered out, it's time to make a few more while I'm at it.

Each of my bikes have the same bracket/frame attachment profile, so I'm really striving for consistency in this run, and maybe even come away with three that are superior to the prototype.

The original cardboard template got me this far so I plotted out four more, and this time I drilled holes at key points to make the bandsaw cuts easier. Next, I'll be hammering and filing these into their basic shapes.

It's slow going, but I'll be back.