I recently bought a 1988 Trek 520 as my everyday bike. I also have dreams of touring on it someday. For daily use though, I have been considering adding a kickstand, but wanted to make sure it wouldn't hurt the bike first. I know for instance that LHTs won't really take a kickstand, so I wanted to be sure.

One way to do it, ...

Take out the BB

shove A Cork down the chain-stay tube a ways past where the KS will clamp.

fill the rest of the tube with Epoxy putty, let it cure to hardness..

That will prevent the chain stay tube from being distorted by clamping on the kickstand.

Put BB and Crank back on, then install the kickstand.

Note : People have put Kickstands on their LHT's any how.. just the guys that designed them don't like kickstands.
So their bias has made the choice for their customers.


I think Salsa were OK with kickstands , you can leave them off if you wish..

The Builder, Maxway just follows customer instructions.






....

I have not owned a 520, but on several of my bikes I have the Greenfield stand that attaches near the rear dropout. Thorn (the bike manufacturer of the bike in the attached photo) also says that if the stand caused a frame problem, warranty is void. I do not know if you will find a manufacturer that will warranty a frame if the damage is from a stand.

The issue that Surly had was soon after they re-designed the LHT frame quite a few years ago, people that were installing kickstands immediately behind the bottom bracket shell were crushing the chain stays because the chainstay material was too thin or too weak.

Bob - you can't shove a cork down the CS on modern bikes (tig welded) - the vent holes in BB are only 4-5mm diameter. I can see how this may work on a lugged frame. I don't believe epoxy alone will adequately resist the compressive force of a hamfisted kickstand installer. I have successfully used wooden dowels and epoxy to reinforce an Easton CF mtb 5 deg handlebar for bar ends, which worked fine for many miles.

Surly makes a CS kickstand adapter for the Truckers (LHT/DT), although they officially still discourage KS usage.

I am of the opinion that KSs are 2lbs of nearly useless weight that do not ensure protective stance of bike. I've seen KS'd bikes blown over more than once. If you just lay the bike on it's side in an area where cars can't drive over it, then it can't fall over or be damaged from a fall - maybe you'll get a little mud on a pannier.

Finally, the old trick of using a cord/bungee/velcro strap over the DT and through the front wheel (with or without added brake lock via cord/inner tube/rubber band/etc compression of lever) will keep a bike leaning against any wall, tree or fence, as well as any KS, while saving $25-50 and 2 lbs.

And I've seen many bikes leaned against things that have toppled. Walk around the area surrounding the University of Michigan campus, they are everywhere. The great thing about anecdotal evidence? I can find a counter to your argument with ease.

I've got kickstands on most of mine. They aren't always the best option, but they are handy enough I'm not about to toss them out and have to rely on something being available, or something like lying my bike down in the middle of the sidewalk. They're also incredibly handy to have the bike upright when packing/digging through panniers. I like the ones that Tourist mentioned, that mount to the rear triangle.

OK, there you go online shoppers , though Surly chooses to not use a kickstand plate

rather than a chain stay cross brace tube.. they sell a add on plate pair, to buy to make up for that

and make a few bucks more..


Just don't over tighten the bolt holding the KS onto those plates..
(once the KS Moves a bit the tendency is to tighten it some more. )

Never bought an LHT, but I get many passing thru the local shop ,

getting assembled or dis assembled and boxed to ship home..

never took the BB's Out..
new 520s add a fitting for the new type left rear dropout fitted Kickstand.. 2 small bolts.



[My NL built World Tour Koga-Miyata has 2 kickstands, the front Tubus Low Rider rack has a little one ,
to take care of the front load.]





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+++++

I had a Greenfield on my 520. Didn't like it, as it was too far back, and when loaded, the bike had a tendency to fall over sometimes, even though you do your best to properly position your bike to avoid the tip over. I then put on a double kickstand, which works great. It's been on there for nearly 3 years. I put rubber from an inner tube to keep from marring the frame (custom paint job) and it's never been an issue. Don't over tighten. Had I had enough forethought (experience) I would have noticed that there was no plate to mount a kickstand to and then I could have added it before the paint. Too late, next time! The double kickstand does add 2+ pounds though.