I bought the Park tool for removing them. Works like a charm although its kinda pricey, I have several Schwinns and probably will end up with more so I thought the investment was worth it. I used the Channel lock pliers method once but it didn't work so well for the other bikes. You have to employ the perfect amount of force or that pin isn't coming out and even with a piece of cloth between the teeth of the pliers and the bike there is still the chance of messing up the paint work, not a problem if you don't care but if you are installing the kickstand to a refurbished or newly painted frame then its a problem.