get in here close for a big group hug

seems like the kickstand - so functional...
with such untapped ornamental potential
gets hated on way too much
so i ask...

what's so funny about peace love and kickstands

They dent the stays.....

Strictly for utility bikes. I hate seeing a drop bar bike or an MTB with such an ambomination grafted on to it.

Almost all of my bikes have kickstands on them. I am careful to put them on in such a manner as to ensure the stays don't get dented. One big reason I like a kickstand is because I don't need to lean the bike against something that could mar the paint. There is a reason the folks at Rivendell put kickstand plates on their bikes.

ummm...this is the kickstand "lovers" thread...

i cant wait till i score a colnago one day and throw a kickstand on it - then you'll see...

I plan to put one on my '67 Carlton. Give me practical!

In addition to chewing up the stays, they add weight. For utility bikes this is not a big concern but if one goes through the grief and expense to get their racer under 20 lbs, a kickstand is an unwelcome addition.

I will concede though that on bikes that have a dedicated kickstand mounting at the chainstay bridge, they are not such a bad idea and offer convenience w/o damaging anything. I kept one on my '74 Moto GJ and '83 Pug UE8 for reason. (Neither are especially light weight bikes)

An alternative to kickstands was Rhode Gear's "Flick Stand". These simple little devices held the front wheel stationary so the bike could lean safely, were lightweight and never scratched.
I think the evolution of downtubes of varying size and shape may have stunted their chances for widespread acceptance though.

I'm with you, brother! I wouldn't put one on a priceless, rare racing frame or an mtb for technical trail riding but for most other stuff I love how functional they are and I like not having to lean my bike up against something or on the ground.

I like them on touring bikes although I wouldn't use them when they're fully loaded. I have yet to crush stays from torquing too hard. You can use less force and some old innertube wrapped around the stays to help more.

I'm sure the extra 266 grams probably takes 10mph off my speed but I'm ok with that.

Also, I have one of these rear-mount kickstands on my Randonee that seems to work well, the big rubber boot that comes on it is nice for softer surfaces too:

Racks 2 by Lucas James 78, on Flickr

Kickstand allow me to get pics like this! So I love it

I should have expanded my original statement to touring bikes. Great shot and a great bike Hamanu!

The picture would look better with the bike laying on its side on the ground.

I no longer use the single legged kickstands. They let the bike fall over to easily. I now only use double legged kickstands. If one leg is good, two has to be better? Right?

Agree with this bike loaded down it is kind of hard to get it to sit on the kickstand without falling over...

The problem with vintage kick stands, at least the kind that clamp to the chain stays, is in the design. It is very difficult to keep them tight swivel free. The quickest, apparent solution to this problem is to tighten the clamp. And, tighten it again, when it gets loose again. And again, until the stays are damaged.

For bicycles with thick walled stays, your entry level crowd, often sold at the local department store, the kick stand does work, sort of but it will still loosen off, sooner or later. That means, tighten it up and reset the cycle, if you will pardon the pun...

Which begs the question, for those who like kickstands and would like to use one on a lightweight frame, I wonder if there is an adapter of some sort that could be placed on the stays that would avoid the damage. Anybody seen one? make one?

"When everybody took one, he took two and nobody take that away from him."

+


Pletscher makes some plastic blocks for this purpose. I bought some recently to try and use with this Copenhagen kickstand I bought from VO.

well i have a couple that are rear mounts like the one mainstreet posted - i prefer those - i mean all the cons listed are valid - dont get me wrong - the thread was more intended to have a little fun with - but to each their own - all my bikes tend to have scratches and dings anyhow - so i guess i dont worry about what the kickstand is gonna do to the stays in terms of cosmetics - and as for weight - heh - my backpack i wear everyride is 10lbs

Raleigh kickstands rule...

My Sam Hillborne has a kickstand with a kickstand plate. Works fine and I don't have to lay the bike down when I get off, which is a good thing. My other bikes don't have kickstand plates and they don't get the kickstand because clamping them to the chainstays is a fix that just blows. I had one rotate into the wheel once while riding at a decent clip, and that was the last time I used a kickstand clamped to the chainstays.

The only two bikes I own that don't have a kickstand mounted on them are my Centurion road bike and my Jamis Dakar MTB and that is only because there is no room to mount one on either bike, everything else has a Greenfield stand on them. I like the twin leg stands although pricey, Greenfield's only cost me $4 each.

Regretably, it ads an oz. or so to the her nearly 40lbs.....but it's oh so sexy.

Got one on my Schwinn utility bike. I have Gran Turismo that I like to get one for. What's a good period-correct one?

I like kickstands.. I even have one on my racer wannabe bike.. I added one to my raleigh, my mountain bike etc... I personally like being able to stand my bike up on a moments notice especially considering most of my riding is probably considered "utility" other then when on my Sekai.. which despite my want to put a kickstand on it, I still can't bring myself to do it.. but the argument I usually hear is weight.. but hey that's a weight weenie issue and not a common cyclist thing imho...