Murphster Posted May 14, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 14, 2009 This isn't particularly technical, but... I transitioned from Goldwings (1500 and 1800) to a 2009 RSV last fall and my wife and I are planning our first vacation on it. Both of my Goldwings' kickstands would sink into warmish asphalt like a hot knife going into butter. That resulted in a free show for bystanders who were treated to a vocabulary demonstration while I freed the 'wing. Eventually I opted for a plastic footprint looking thing which I left behind at a restaurant and then I used various pieces of metal designed to spread out the wing's weight. My question is: do I need one with the RSV? The RSV kickstand looks like it spreads out the weight nicely, but I don't want to take any unnecessary chances. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
similost Posted May 14, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 14, 2009 My Roadstar has the same kickstand the venture does... Every now and then on soft and fresher asphault it would sink in, but not bad. Just a little hard to get the stand out, but it never went so far as to fall over.. I figure the Venture is a little heavier, so I'm imagining it will.. I haven't had my Venture long enough to find out for sure though.. I do know they will sink so far into soft ground you'll be real happy so come back and see it laying on it's side... I won't go into how I know about that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friesman Posted May 14, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 14, 2009 My 85 G1 is as top heavy as your G2 venture and i have seen my kickstand an inch into soft pavement but not over. I took one of those cheap white cutting boards out of the kitchen and cut it into 4 pieces and drilled a hole in one corner so I could attach a string and a clip to it so when I park I clip it to my handlebars so I dont ride away without it. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eusa1 Posted May 14, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 14, 2009 Having the string attatched to it will serve double purpose 1 you don't forget it 2 you don't have to balance the bike while standing on your head to remove it from the ground. Works very well..mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvrT Posted May 14, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 14, 2009 While at Star Days a couple years ago, they were handing out round plastic side-stand "pucks". On my '87, I fashioned and bolted into place some material from one of those nylon cutting boards. That worked great. Another idea would be to take a hockey puck and slice it in half...then ya got 2 incase 1 gets lost... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes0778 Posted May 14, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 14, 2009 While at Star Days a couple years ago, they were handing out round plastic side-stand "pucks". On my '87, I fashioned and bolted into place some material from one of those nylon cutting boards. That worked great. Another idea would be to take a hockey puck and slice it in half...then ya got 2 incase 1 gets lost... :puzzled:What's a hockey puck??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvrT Posted May 14, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 14, 2009 :puzzled:What's a hockey puck??? LOL... hey, you guys have way more NHL hockey teams down thar than we do ... dontcha support them??? you should know what a hockey puck is! friggin Chicago beat us out :crying: (I know yer only ribbin me) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider Posted May 14, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 14, 2009 Use a metal electrical box cover - about $0.39 from your local hardware store. Tie a string or thin wire to it (I recommend the wire) that is long enough to wrap around your handle bars. This will keep you from forgetting it and provide a methodology to lifting it up after you have stood up the bike. Trying to reach down while holding up the bike can lead to a $5 donation to the website. There is a small thin mesh pocket on the inside of each saddle bag that works great for holding this with the wire wrapped around it. I usually carry 2 so I can give one away to someone who needs one and doesn't have one. (which reminds me - I need to get another one since I gave one away last fall). RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphster Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted May 14, 2009 Thanks for the info. Time to get an anti-sink device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WARider Posted May 14, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 14, 2009 These work really well and are cheap. Fit easily into you trunk. Click on the link and go to the accessories section. I have the kickstand pad. http://store.mm411.com/[url=http://store.mm411.com/catalog/index.cfmfuseaction=product&theParentId=176&id=1064][/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monsta Posted May 15, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 15, 2009 I try and park mine so that the kickstand is on a painted line. The footprint is pretty good and the leverage the bike puts on it doesn't seem as hard as other bikes I've owned where the stand is more vertical. That said, it is a good idea to carry something with you just in case. I always have a can with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoner Posted May 15, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 15, 2009 In a pinch, either on soft pavement or in grass thay may be soft I've used a flattened beer/pop can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mariner Fan Posted May 15, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 15, 2009 Use a metal electrical box cover - about $0.39 from your local hardware store. Tie a string or thin wire to it (I recommend the wire) that is long enough to wrap around your handle bars. This will keep you from forgetting it and provide a methodology to lifting it up after you have stood up the bike. Trying to reach down while holding up the bike can lead to a $5 donation to the website. There is a small thin mesh pocket on the inside of each saddle bag that works great for holding this with the wire wrapped around it. I usually carry 2 so I can give one away to someone who needs one and doesn't have one. (which reminds me - I need to get another one since I gave one away last fall). RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaking Posted May 15, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 15, 2009 You'll want to have something with you and use it when you think it is required, the blacker the asphalt the soft it may well be (fresh looking).. the older grey stuff can still be soft in the heat.. I purchased one of those aluminium plates for my bike.. nice kit, wide foot print to distribute the weight etc.. Unfortunately the kick stand punctured through it when it was resting on soft sod at a weekend bike rally.. Talk about a pain trying to lift a venture that's gone down deeper than the guards into soft sod.. The plastic cutting board material has thus far worked best for me.. tied to a red shock cord from inside my left bag.. I can still close and lock the lid and won't forget it when I leave.. best of luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vance Posted May 15, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 15, 2009 In a pinch, beer... can. Honest officer, it's an "empty", not an "open container". That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbug Posted May 15, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 15, 2009 I went to the harley store down from were I work and bought a good size kickstand thing for that for like 7 bucks and it works great! Its made of thick plastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithert Posted May 15, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 15, 2009 On my Venture I had the Utopia backrest. The pocket on the back of it was great for storing my kickstand puck. I had it on a string that I would look around the mirror. That way I could get it picked up when I forgot to when getting on the bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeS Posted May 15, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 15, 2009 Remove kick stand, take to welding shop, and have a piece of 1/4 thick Steel, about 1/3/4 wide welded to the footprint of the stand. I did this on my 89, works great, and don't have to look for a beer can. Also, bike does not lean over as much when on side stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvrT Posted May 15, 2009 Share #19 Posted May 15, 2009 Remove kick stand, take to welding shop, and have a piece of 1/4 thick Steel, about 1/3/4 wide welded to the footprint of the stand. I did this on my 89, works great, and don't have to look for a beer can. Also, bike does not lean over as much when on side stand. Or, do what I did (mentioned in earlier post) I heated the base of the stand so that it would "melt into" the nylon for a perfect, tight fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKRefugee Posted May 15, 2009 Share #20 Posted May 15, 2009 I use about a 5" across circle of aluminum with a small tab on it. Bent the tab upwards Hook one of those cords from the casino that they use for your slot machine card into the tab hook the other end across the gas tank to the right grip area. Store it in the left saddlebag in the mesh holder. I have never forgotten it when I left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick46 Posted May 15, 2009 Share #21 Posted May 15, 2009 I took one of those cheap white cutting boards out of the kitchen and cut it into 4 pieces and drilled a hole in one corner so I could attach a string and a clip to it so when I park I clip it to my handlebars so I dont ride away without it. Brian I like this idea over the metal box door cover, as the plastic won't scratch anything (like I'd really care about a scratch anyway), but also, the metal will get hot out in the direct sunlight...which is what started all this!...plus then you won't have to wear 'hot pad gloves' to handle it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvrT Posted May 15, 2009 Share #22 Posted May 15, 2009 I took one of those cheap white cutting boards out of the kitchen and cut it into 4 pieces and drilled a hole in one corner so I could attach a string and a clip to it so when I park I clip it to my handlebars so I dont ride away without it. Brian Not fair Brian... I have been about what the other 3 pieces are for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fardnarger Posted May 15, 2009 Share #23 Posted May 15, 2009 Down here in the south, we take our wives along to hold them up, while we are sipping cold ones. (LOL) OUCH OUCH STOP IT HONEY I WAS JUST KIDDING. (SHE RIDES HER OWN, AFTER THIS STATEMENT I WILL BE HOLDING HERS UP.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friesman Posted May 15, 2009 Share #24 Posted May 15, 2009 Not fair Brian... I have been about what the other 3 pieces are for? well.... they do bounce kinda nicely off cagers that do stoopid stuff in front of ya..... I always keep one in the leather pouches for emergencies like that. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yammer Dan Posted May 15, 2009 Share #25 Posted May 15, 2009 well.... they do bounce kinda nicely off cagers that do stoopid stuff in front of ya..... I always keep one in the leather pouches for emergencies like that. Brian Don't you have any Marbles?? Ball bearings do in a pinch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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