Katana kickstand creeping...

[Dualsport]

Hey All!
I have had my 06 Kat600 for a few weeks now. As you may remember this is my 7th bike so I'm not a newbie to the sport. I must say that the Kat is much heavier than my ninja but for what I bought it for (touring in style) it is a great bike. I can definitely feel the weight difference between it and the Ninja though. When I go from riding the Kat to the Ninja it feels like I have changed from a motorcycle to a ten speed.
Anyway, I degress. One thing I have noticed with this bike is that when I put it on the kickstand I have to be extremely careful about placement. It definitely has a tendency to creep forward and fall off the stand. Since this ain't my first rodeo I try to pay extra attention to these kinds of details. I have found that if I leave it parked in first gear pushed to the most forward point it has helped. My ninja fell on me one day after a ride. I had just dismounted on a windy day and was removing my helmet with my back turned to the bike when the wind blew it over onto my legs. I was wearing full gear so I was not injured but I WAS pinned under the bike on my stomach. I was out by my shop in the back yard and was laughing because I could not move. Eventually I was ablt to wiggle my way out from under it. Thank God no one saw me. I have learned to be very careful about these things!
Y'all have a great day!!!
Dualsport.
P.S. It was 29 degrees last here in Mobile, Alabama. I feel for you guys in the frigid regions. I count myself lucky to live in the south. Yesterday was the first day that it was too cold to ride. By next week it wil be back in the 70's! Thank God!!!!

[loudnlow7484]

I actually had a similar problem with my kat being unstable on the side stand. I fixed it, accidentaly, though. I changed my front wheel by putting the bike on the sidestand, and ratchet strapping the throttle side handle bar to a wall, so the whole bike was balancing on the kickstand and the back wheel. When I was done..... voila! The kick stand has bent over a tad, so the bike sits real solid to the side. Hasn't been the slightest bit shaky since.

[teddy]

Similar problem here with my 06 as well, dropped in the garage. I have fixed mine also, I tend to 'spin' the bike around on the kickstand every now and again, which has bent it to just the right position...

[BobKat2002]

Just leave it parked in gear.
And with the front wheel on a bit of an elevation.

They certainly do like to roll though.

If you get an opportunity, take a look at the stand on this years GSXRs.
They should be a model for all stands. 8)

[DOCTORNITRO]

I had mine fall over at the gas pump....grrr
removed it and ground about .020" off of the front edge to allow it to kick a little further over center...works great!

my $.02

THE DOC

[2000kat600]

,,,I've dropped her like that too a couple times,,, notice that it only happens when you're not looking!!! Then BAM!!! Too late!.

Darn cold blooded sneaky Kats!!!

They should've named her Suzuki Rattlesnake 600, or sidewinder 600... hehehe

[etcthorne]

I've noticed the same thing. I'm with BobKat2002 - I ALWAYS click it down into first gear when I use the kickstand, regardless if I have a good parking angle or not. Even if you're parked on perfectly level ground, all it takes is a incidental nudge from the back to tip it over.


Leave it in gear - problem solved.

[Dualsport]

What about centerstand???

I am kinda surprised that I have heard no one suggest using the centerstand instead?
Dualsport

[teddy]

Uh, your comment was about the sidestand creeping.... and you are also assuming that we all have centerstands, or that we know you still have yours...therefore we tried to give you solutions pertaining to just the sidestand...

[Dualsport]

Easy teddy....just making an observation...........

[Mojoe]

never had that probelm....although I always leave my bike in gear when I place it on the sidestand...which you are supposed to do, btw.

[versionpardner]

Since someone brought up the centerstand...is parking using the centerstand more stable in the wind or less? I've just been wondering which was a better practice. Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread it just seemed the appropriate place to ask.

[Black_peter]

I always give the bike a shove to get the tires to shift a bit to the right. It increases the lean and settles the whole magilla. And yes I to park it in gear 90% of the time.

[teddy]

Dualsport, My last post was not intended to be harsh in any way, forgive me, I am at work... You are correct though, the centerstand is the ideal solution...

[The CyberPoet]

Since someone brought up the centerstand...is parking using the centerstand more stable in the wind or less? I've just been wondering which was a better practice. Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread it just seemed the appropriate place to ask.

The centerstand is always more stable than the sidestand -- concrete, sand, aspault, you name it. When it pivots, the front wheel rises, but the rear wheel touches down. It's also a lot safer if you park anywhere kids (or adults acting like stupid kids) might climb on the bike.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet