The Last Stand!!

[perfect]

Evening all,

For those of you who are interested, I have taken some pictures of my bike showing the original side stand, I have also attached a couple of pictures of AF1's bike with the new and clearly revised side stand.

I can't believe I have failed to mention this before! The side stand on my bike is really difficult to lower when you are sat on the bike, you can't reach the hook as the foot rest gets in the way.:WTF:

No lies I nearly dropped it one day as I was struggling to rest the side stand down and lost my balance.

The worst thing is two of my biker buddies who rode my bike loved it apart for when they pulled up both of them couldn't put the stand down!!

Both times I had to help them lower the stand.

Yet again they seemed to have rectified yet another issue a replaced it with a redesigned side stand. The new one appears to point upwards more and has a much longer hook so you can reach it better.

Something else I will have to buy by the looks of things, I suppose this is the risk you take when you insist on having one of the early bikes.

I think I'm riding a prototype and I very much doubt I'm the only one with an early stand?? You can quite clearly see from the pictures why the changed it.

Am I the only unlucky owner with this problem or has anyone experienced this misunderstanding??

It may seem I'm being a bit petty here BUT I seriously disagree. You should be able to put the stand down with ease. I certainly don't enjoy fumbling around trying to lower my stand! Yet again have to ask, what's next??

Perfect, or not so perfect as it happens:bond:

[makrand]

It's a little difficult at first but I soon got used to it.

And NOBODY else gets to ride my bike EVER.

[Ed / AF1 Racing]

The USA does get a different sidestand....we get our own, all other countries gets the other one.

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=1320

[perfect]

It's a little difficult at first but I soon got used to it.

And NOBODY else gets to ride my bike EVER.

I wish I could tell you I have got used to it Makka, yeah OK a couple of times I have got lucky and caught it right but 9 times out of ten I do struggle.

I agree I am reluctant to let people ride my bike, the two friends I did allow I trusted completely to respect it, PLUS and more importantly I got to ride their bikes, both of which are more expensive than mine so it seems they were taking the greater risk, especially as I'm a new rider!!

Dan

[perfect]

The USA does get a different sidestand....we get our own, all other countries gets the other one.

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=1320

It looks like I will have to modify my own then, I don't see why I should have to struggle.

Thanks for replying.

Dan

[burty]

I can't say I've really had any problems with mine. But I do recall a few thoughts on the lines of "that's a bit shit".

[Motofrog]

Never thought about it ! Now will it turn into a major headache ? You could make a little extension , think I seen one on those BMW GS things . Could be worse you could have a BMW like mine . Center stand foot lever thing is between the footrest and gearlever. ALLWAYS turn the engine OFF before deploying the stand .
It's interesting when you stand on the gear lever with the engine going!!!!!
Just been out to look at the thing ..Tis neat and unobtrusive IMO

[n3ophile]

Interesting that you have trouble getting the stand down...i'm the other way. I could get it down by flicking the peg up with the back of my heel then catch the stand with the heel on my sole, but getting the damn thing up? Not a chance!

Being a bit of a shortarse (5'7 at a stretch) I can only really get one toe down at a time, so when i get on the bike, i'm over on my right. My left foot is at least 10cm from the stand.

The bike has to go back in shortly to get the remap and a couple of other things sorted and they've promised to weld on a peg for me while it's there.

Meantime, i just have to hope i don't need my 10mm spanner for anything...

http://www.apriliashiver.net/misc/shiver_base1.jpg


:rolleyes:

[makrand]

:):):):):):)

[burty]

great pic n3ophile

[perfect]

to be honest I feel a bit of a knob moaning about it now as typically yesterday i managed all day, i did have to look down and aim for it but it was much easier than the times before.

I almost want to take it back, perhaps I was more frustrated by the fact they had redesigned it.

I am a 5.7 too and it was stretch for me untill I took 4 turns off the rear spring tension, yesterday was spot on, left foot flat on the floor everytime I stopped!

It makes a huge difference to your confidence, especially during low speed maneuvers.

Perfect:)

[n3ophile]

I am a 5.7 too and it was stretch for me untill I took 4 turns off the rear spring tension, yesterday was spot on, left foot flat on the floor everytime I stopped!

It makes a huge difference to your confidence, especially during low speed maneuvers.

Perfect:)



Hmmm... but surely (and i'm applying car knowledge here) the 'spring tension' as you call it is actually the pre-load which can be quite a critical setting with regards to suspension configuration?

I was aware that it was adjustable, but didn't really consider it an option just to lower the bike, much as I would like to!

I'd rather have to be careful with my balance at slow speed (I get lots of practice with a 5 mile central London commute twice a day) than have wayward handling on a backroad at speed.

Can anyone more 'bike' mechanically minded comment?


Cheers,

Adam

[perfect]

Hmmm... but surely (and i'm applying car knowledge here) the 'spring tension' as you call it is actually the pre-load which can be quite a critical setting with regards to suspension configuration?

I was aware that it was adjustable, but didn't really consider it an option just to lower the bike, much as I would like to!

I'd rather have to be careful with my balance at slow speed (I get lots of practice with a 5 mile central London commute twice a day) than have wayward handling on a backroad at speed.

Can anyone more 'bike' mechanically minded comment?


Cheers,

Adam

It did cross my mind but I was working on the principal I weigh about the same as a a couple of bags of sugar.

I figured a few turns wouldn't hurt, I did ask around and bike garage folk seemed to think it was ok to do?

It seems to handle ok, and I have taken pillion since too.

We need a suspension guru

Dan:)

[makrand]

Get yourself onto the Superbike forum.

There are a few people on there that know everything about this kind of stuff and would be only too happy to help.

It's my other regular with this one (now it's taken off) and is full of good sorts (and a few Trolls)

[burty]

I bunged a load of info on suspension set up in this thread here: http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145795

I hope it helps.

I've been meaning to do mine for a while.

[perfect]

Thanks Burty, I will have a read