Side Stand tilt angle?

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by skimad4x4, May 26, 2022.

  1. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

    Country:
    France
    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    Messages:
    2,269
    Likes Received:
    369
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    French Alps & London
    Map
    Can anyone tell me what angle an 8th Gen should lean over at when parked on the side stand on level ground?

    I recently noticed that when parking my 8th Gen on the side stand in the level area provided for motorbikes at a local supermarket that it was far more upright than any of the other motorbikes parked nearby including several Honda's. It never feels securely planted when I use the side stand and I suspect it could even be blown over by a gust of strong wind.
     
  2. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2019
    Messages:
    1,228
    Likes Received:
    450
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Millgrove, ON
    Map
    Ha, I've been measuring four bikes here, as I need to shorten the sidestand on one of them.... it leans at ~8 degrees with my digital meter, the other three lean at about 12 degrees. I'd think 11-12 would be normal for most.... if that helps.
     
  3. SubyRS

    SubyRS Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2014
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Map
    Mine seems fairly tilted when on it's side stand compared to when I have it up on the rear Pitbul stand.
    I don't have any other bike to compare it to right now, but when I park I always turn motor off, click my bike into 1st gear, drop the side stand and roll forward against the gearing, then let the bike come to rest on the stand. This makes it impossible to roll forward off the stand if bumped. This is on level ground. If parked on a slight upwards slope I roll the bike back against the gearing instead.

    My 89 Kawa ZX7 Superbike suffered from too minimal kickstand angle when deployed. I Swear the stand must have been just 2º off vertical. I came home from Hockey practice one day and there it was laying on it's side in the garage. Did we have an earthquake? Fortunately, my garage had thick floor carpet at that house, so only a couple of fairing brackets needed straightening. I learned to park the bike in gear and roll it forward after that lesson. : /
     
  4. Economist

    Economist New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2016
    Messages:
    76
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Northwest Indiana
    Map
    It does feel like it is not as tilted as other bikes. However, I have been parking my 8th gen on a hill for years now and it hasn’t been blown over yet.
     
  5. philois1984

    philois1984 New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2016
    Messages:
    118
    Likes Received:
    71
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Queensland, Australia
    Map
    I have owned my 8th gen for 6 years in July, never had a problem with this. I have also never heard anyone on this or any other forum have an issue with there VFR (any generation) blowing over when parked on hard flat ground. Not impossible if the winds are unusually strong of course but these bikes are pretty heavy. FF8A95F0-402F-40DF-B31F-00F4F299FA6B.jpeg
     
    Grum likes this.
  6. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,727
    Likes Received:
    625
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    Maybe you can rotate the rear wheel eccentric so the wheel sits higher in the swingarm. That would give you more sidestand angle...and possibly mess up the steering geometry and ground clearance. You can't have everything (where would you put it?)!
     
  7. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

    Country:
    France
    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    Messages:
    2,269
    Likes Received:
    369
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    French Alps & London
    Map
    I live in an Alpine ski resort - and once the snow clears, the Rhone Alpes becomes a motorbiking paradise. However as I said my 8th Gen does seem to be significantly more upright when parked on the side stand than other motorbikes on level ground. Hence I was really hoping someone with an iphone (or probably any smart phone) could quickly measure the actual lean angle to see if I have an issue with my VFR. I found there is a digital spirit level feature lurking in the "Measure" app within the free "Utilities" section on my iphone. Thankfully the floor in my garage is level so when I placed my iphone across the filler cap it shows only -7% lean angle which does not seem enough for stability.

    Ever since I bought the VFR I had a feeling that the previous owner may have adjusted the suspension to make it sit lower - it was already on the lowest seat position. However as the bike feels OK to ride I think I now need to shortern the side stand a bit to return it to the correct lean angle - once I find out what that angle is.

    A minor down side of living in a deep Alpine valley is that when the wind comes from the North West across Lake Geneva the steep valley sides act as a funnel and we can suddenly encounter severe gusts of wind - which on one occasion were more than strong enough to tip over my heavier 6th Gen whilst parked on the side stand outside my house - thankfully it did not tip too far - it ended up resting on the bonnet of a relative's car - also a member on here - sorry Pete.
     
  8. Grum

    Grum New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2020
    Messages:
    304
    Likes Received:
    110
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Hi Skimad.
    Not sure that you can get an accurate measurement across the filler cap as it is slightly convex, perhaps the vertical angle of the forks might be a better measuring point.

    Be very sure that the bike has been lowered before attempting to mess with the SideStand length, it's outward reach is another important factor for stability. Personally, I would return the bikes suspension/ride height back to standard before attempting any modification to the SideStand.

    My 8gen angle looks visually identical to Philois1984's picture. Have never had an issue with its lean angle.
     
  9. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2019
    Messages:
    1,228
    Likes Received:
    450
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Millgrove, ON
    Map
    I'll confirm..... lowered a bike 20mm at the rear wheel and the side stand angle changed.... currently 7 degrees and IMHO definitely not stable enough. I'd return the bike to standard height if you can.
     
  10. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    I have had my 2014 VFR since Dec 2014. I am always conscience of the angle of the pavement where I am trying to park. I regularly ride out to a small town that has angled parking spots, which leaves triangle areas designated for motorcycles only. I know a lot of riders like to back there bikes into parking spots, but the slope of the pavement prevents me from doing that. If I back the bike into the spot, and put it on the kick stand, it is almost vertical and it wouldn't take much to push it over. So I always park nose in, which puts the bike at a safe angle. Pulling off to the side of a road can be a real problem due to the crown. Just be careful how you park.

    I feel that this is an inherent design flaw. The side stand is too short and at the wrong angle. My '14 VFR stand is 10 inches from pivot bolt to the ground, my '83 VF750 is 12 inches and I never had a problem parking it in nearly 40 years since new.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2022
  11. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,727
    Likes Received:
    625
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    I did post an intentionally dopey reply before, but now I think I may be onto something. Has the rear wheel eccentric been rotated so the axle is at the higher side? That would drop the bike down and lower the ride/seat height, and would definitely make it sit closer to vertical on the sidestand. Something for you to check anyway.
     
  12. PetePower

    PetePower New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2017
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    53
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    South Australia
    Map
    3rd week of ownership(back in 2017) I rolled the (running) bike out of the shed onto my downhill sloping driveway. The bike was across the slope (very slightly facing downhill) with stand on uphill side, wandered down to Roller door to open and halfway back watched my brand new bike roll of the stand. I had been doing this with my Yamaha for the last 14 yrs with never an issue. I now ensure the front wheel is angled uphill, and it is rock steady, front wheel straight or downhill and I can push it of the stand with one finger. Ever since I always turn front wheel to left wherever I park and never park facing downhill.
     
  13. SubyRS

    SubyRS Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2014
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    27
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA
    Map
    Sorry about that slow motion nooooooo! moment with your 3-week new VFR Pete : /
    The one adverse effect we face with fully enclosed sport bike body work is the way a side wind can move the bike while parked, or riding.
    Coming off my 84 VF700 and onto my new 92 CBRF2 back in the day I learned very quickly how much side wind force can have on an enclosed body bike. Very unnerving for a while until I got use to being pushed 3 feet sideways off my line on some windy canyon roads!
     
  14. PetePower

    PetePower New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2017
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    53
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    South Australia
    Map
    HAHAHA yes it was one of those slow mo moments, and once its going down there is no stopping it. My wife was halfway between me and the bike facing me and said my face expression change was something to behold, until she turned to see what was happening. One bonus was I had fitted the R&G knobs 3 days earlier, only damage broken clutch lever and a couple of small scratch marks on mirror and grab rail..

    Yes the full faired bikes certainly react to the side winds, very unnerving when on the limits..
     
  15. sudolea

    sudolea New Member

    Country:
    Belgium
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2019
    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Roeselare
    Map
    Just installed an app to measure it. Then, to compensate for calibration errors, measured it in 2 directions. The average of 2 measurements was exactly 11° (10,6 in one direction, 11,4 in the other direction). This was with the front wheel heading fully left (on level ground, of course).
     
Related Topics

Share This Page