Center stand solution for 4 into 1 exhaust.

[Tropic-al]

As I have a Super Trapp 4 into 1 on my F, I could not have a center stand because it stayed to low on the left side and scraped on turns. A while back I wrote a paragraph on what I had done to solve this problem. Obviously without pictures it was pretty confusing.
Hopefully this pictures will paint a better story and help someone. Maybe some of the engineers in the forum can design a better one. This one might look weird, but it works!!!!

1st picture shows low clearance to ground when installed. Not safe at all!

The right leg of the center stand after you cut it and weld a chuck (coupler) like from an air tool. This one you take off and carry it with you and install in less than 15 seconds when you need to use it.
Other pictures and explanation coming.

[WMarshy]

Interesting, I look forward to see the rest of it. How do you hold up the other side that normally doesnt have a spring connected to it? Add one?

[Tropic-al]

More pictures on center stand.


This is other side of stand which stays mounted all the time. Notice the male end of chuck (coupler) that has been welded to original cross tube.

After putting bike in side stand you kneel on right side, reach and push down on cross tube (don't touch the muffler,LOL). After linking the couplers, rotate the end of leg into frame notch and push screw thru as in next picture.


How stand looks when being used. Next shows great clearance with only left side left on.

[Elevener]

ingenious, very good

[WMarshy]

So...lemme get this straight. Do you keep the modded center stand on the bike during normal use/riding or do you remove the rt side part when you dont need it? I guess my thought is, it would take the same amount of time roughly, to put the whole thing on as needed, say in the garage when doing oil changes. Or does the reduced diameter of the coupling give just enough clearance for the stand to not hit the pipe, and then you can leave it on?

[Tropic-al]

Hi Marshy.

Yes, I take the right side off and take it with me. My idea is to have the center stand with me whenever I need it on the road. If you just want to use it only for repairs at home there is probably no need for this. I would imagine you could put it on and off easily as long as you don't install the spring every time.
The way I have it now keeps the left side way up against the foot rest holder, out of the way while making left turns. It allows me to install in 15 seconds or so when needed anywhere.
Again, one of those "pet peeves" , that always bothered ME after I installed the 4 into 1.
Hope it helps someone.

[3Phase]

Thanks, Al, that is a good idea!

Hopefully the stock exhaust will outlast me but if it doesn't and all I can find is a 4-1 then I'll cut and weld the centerstand.

[skids]

Packing the right side of the center stand on road trips would certaintly be more do-able than the packing the whole thing!

[Pat Kelly]

Why not remove the straight crossbrace of the stock centerstand and replace (weld in) a "U" shaped piece that goes under the exhaust and allows the legs of the centerstand to return to their original position.

[petejw]

with the exhausts i have, ill never have to
do this mod, but in saying that what a great idea.

[3Phase]

Why not remove the straight crossbrace of the stock centerstand and replace (weld in) a "U" shaped piece that goes under the exhaust and allows the legs of the centerstand to return to their original position.

Pat, you could do that but in his photo it looks like the right-hand leg would hit the exhaust pipe when the centerstand was up. His mod gives him more ground clearance on the left-hand side and he can bring along the other half if he needs it.

[fredintoon]

Hi Al,
where the air line connector is, replace it with a welded-in U-shaped loop that'll point forward when the stand is down like in the photo and curve around the exhaust pipe when the stand is up. That way, no loose part to forget at home and no burned fingers either.

[Tropic-al]

Why not remove the straight crossbrace of the stock centerstand and replace (weld in) a "U" shaped piece that goes under the exhaust and allows the legs of the centerstand to return to their original position.

Pat, my original idea was along those lines of making a U shape to go under the pipe. Unfortunately, the U would have to be made way at the right side of the cross tube and some more bending/shaping would have to be done to the leg itself as it sits/rests right under the pipe. On my Super Trapp it would have been a lot more complicated. Maybe on another brand where the pipe runs more or less in the middle that U would work.
Bottom line, with the engineering capabilities and tools available, that is the best we came up with. Hopefully this serves as a template for some of our creative folks to design a better one. In the meantime this one solves my needs and I hope it helps someone elses.