...that is the question. I picked up an ESGE Pletscher Double Kickstand and the legs are really long. Do those of you who use this kickstand cut the legs down or use as is? Is there a good way to determine how much to cut? Gracias.

I cut mine on my LHT to the 290 mark. You need enough length to get the bike off the ground in soft soil/sand. If you are not sure cut it long - you can always cut a bit more off later.

I find the uncut stand is too long and makes using it less stable when on hard ground.

BTW - ESGE kickstand likes to work loose on my LHT. I am going to use some strong threadlock and hopefully solve that problem once and for all.

i've really been considering the esge for my LHT,are they worth it?in over 2 grand,now i'm gettin' cheap-go figure.

The benefit of the ESGE kickstand is that your bike is held vertically which is much more stable with a load touring bike than a single legged kickstand where your bike would have to lean a bit.

Is it worth it? Depends entirely on you, but I think so.

Take a look at Click-Stand.com

The ESGE was one of the best things on my bike. It was great just being able to stop wherever and jump off the bike without needing to search for a solid patch. Both sides just have to be evenly firm or unfirm (but 'sand unfirm' is too unfirm).

I would say to cut down. But when you do, obviously make sure that you test the mofo before going on tour. Pay attention to the angles of the cuts. Maybe you'll be luckier than I was but straight cuts weren't too straight-forward for me. One leg seemed slightly longer than the other because of the different angles at which the legs touch the ground. I was in a rush to get started and didn't really test it beyond "looks good." So for all of Canada, my bike leaned every so slightly to the left when 'kick-stood,' meaning that I had to turn my wheel to the right when I stood the bike. Lesson learned.

Actually, I've been back for months now and I still have to even out the legs...

I havent used a kickstand since I was "knee high to a grasshopper" but am thinking of adding one for this year. Vik or Sebach: Was this bi-pod easy to find in Canada, did your local store know what you were looking for when asked? When go to set the stand do both legs go down together or do you have to put each down on its own?

I couldn't find this kickstand anywhere in Canada a year ago. My LBS (a couple blocks away) doesn't seem to stray too far from the mainstream. It seems if it ain't in their book, it don't exist. Maybe you'd have better luck at yours. I was lucky enough to get mine on Ebay for a pretty reasonable price considering how much I saw it for elsewhere online.

If you pull/push either arm down, they both come down and splay out into the upsidedown V shape. When it's not deployed, the legs come up and inward to stack on top of one another, vertically. To deploy it, you basically push/pull down on the top leg (which will be the right leg I think) and both legs will swing down.

Thanks for the tips.

sth-Don't know if it will cost an arm and a leg to ship to Canada, but I ordered mine from Harris cyclery. https://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1034
Kind of pricey but I think it's worth it. I haven't heard of someone having it and then regretting. There were one or two on ebay when I first started looking. Not sure if they are still there.

Here is where I got mine: Alfred E. Bike $38.99
When I trimmed mine, the tires I had were not as 'tall' as the ones I have now, so the bike tends to lean a bit to one side. I think I will try adding a spacer under the mounting point to see if that helps.

I got mine from Harris Cyclery and just ordered another for my new bike. They are pretty easy to deal with and the cost of shipping is reasonable.

If this kickstand is one which fits beneath the BB then be careful. In order for them to stay put they have to be very tight. Too much and you deform the tubing. This stand is designed to be used with a welded plate in the fitting position so that deformation does not occur.

If you have cut the angle of the legs wrongly then buy the rubber feet which pops over the foot-end. These make the stand much more stable.

OK, I just can't stand it. I know I make Click-Stand, but before you clamp a kickstand onto your bike, take a look at www.Click-Stand.com