TOPIC:

A question for you engineers: will unbending a kickstand weaken it further, such as when bending a spoon handle too many times?

The BRAIN-I-AC P.O. left it parked on the side stand for 40 years.  It now leans so far that I don't feel comfortable using it without placing wooden blocks underneath to shift the weight more onto the wheels.  I may be paranoid, but fear it will bend or break if left leaning as such an angle.  If unbent, should it be reinforced?

Been down this road with a CBX. Everything I've read says no harm no foul if stand is NOT heated prior to reshaping on a press. My neighbor has a very nice hydraulic press... so far I've reshaped both a KZ and CBX side stand with no issues.  

Just be careful to not over do it....

And remember that shoelaces are your friend for reinstalling the spring!

Good Luck!

Carbon steel will yield a lot before fracturing if in fact it did bend. No fear here.

Tighten the bolt first to tighten up the u shaped bracket, then loosen off the bolt just enough for the arm to move. I've yet to see a side stand bend. Usually the mount has opened up because the bolt backed off and the arm is flopping in the bracket too much.

Kawboy wrote:

Tighten the bolt first to tighten up the u shaped bracket, then loosen off the bolt just enough for the arm to move. I've yet to see a side stand bend. Usually the mount has opened up because the bolt backed off and the arm is flopping in the bracket too much.

Good point! I've closed the gap on that section too. I don't get guys that mount up while on the side stand. On the CBX, which is painfully beautifully OEM stock, I'm looking for a spare stand to re-enforce. But won't do that to OEM part.. It's all about originality these days.

The CBX forums had good pics showing how the stand looked OEM then after years of stress. The bow is pretty strong. 

Okay, I'll check out the bolt first.  Thanks guys.

And, if needed, you can close the "U" gap by placing it into a vice..