Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Center Stand fitting problem

Tried to install a new center stand on my 04 America last evening and first found it would not swing down because the welded pins for the forward stop against the bottom of the frame interfered with the back ends of my frame rails.


I figured I could use an angle grinder to round the frame ends if needed, but before doing anything drastic, I dis and re assembled it below the frame today and found that it can’t go far enough forward to be safe before the pins contact the frame bottom – it stops at a near vertical angle and it wouldn’t take much for the bike to fall forward off the stand; I bet the wind alone today (news says it is blowing 48 MPH) might do it if it got behind the windshield.

Seems there is just not enough distance between the pivot holes and the stop pins to let them clear the frame ends or to achieve the proper forward angle. I just sent 7 or 8 photos to the distributor and asked him to find out what the design distance is and what angle to the ground they intend the stand to make with the bike on the stand. I pointed out that the angle of the little gussets reinforcing the stop pins that I assume were intended to be perpendicular to the frame rails with the bike on the stand, show it needs to go another 10 to 15 degrees forward. I should have drawn a line on one photo from the pivot bolt to the foot pad to show how not-over-center it is; Oh well, hindsight, I suppose he will get the idea but I can add that later if there is a question.

All this is Too Bad, because otherwise it is a nice center stand and about $100 less than some competitors. I hope they can send me one with better pivot/stop pin spacing for my 04 America; I just wonder if their development bike had a different frame or if the welding or drilling fixtures were off the day this one was made.