Tech Tip: Fixing the kickstand auto-retraction
 

New GasGas riders will quickly find out that our bikes come equipped with a "nice" feature... an auto-retracting kickstand of death. You can thank Spanish laws for this feature, most riders get wacked by it at some point and/or dump their bike on the ground.

The "auto-retraction" is due to the spring attachment point being rearward of the kickstand pivot. To prevent this, you could cut/reweld the spring eyelet farther forward. However, there is a much easier method using a chain link. Take a spare chain link and drill one of the holes slightly larger to accomodate the mounting bolt. Then, just attach the spring to the other hole... problem solved!

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7.../image0005.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7.../image0004.jpg

Fixing the kickstand auto-retraction
 

Thanks MattR. I now have a remedy for this dangerous weapon. :cool:

I'm glad you liked it!

I can't take credit on the chain link idea, but I wanted to explain the issue and provide my photos. Many riders complain about the kickstand and this is such an easy fix that I had to make a Tech Tip for it.

Proud to say I do know who invented this trick - and I'm related to him! My brother (kx200 on Smackover) figured out this simple way to beat the auto retract within a month of owning his '02 XC250. Falling motorcycles have a way of ignighting ingenuity.

Man was that one spring a bear to stretch into place! I can't do it with my shoulder surgery so I got my neighbor to help. He had to try about 6 times to get it. Does yours make a loud clicking sound when U lower and raise the kickstand? Plus it makes a grinding noise. But that sucker sure stays put. :D

My shoulder clicks also, but it doesn't grind.:D

Sounds like U have had similar issues a I. I've banged my right shoulder four good ones since I was twenty and I'm just shy a month of 57. This last one was a doosey. And yes, I used to be able to swing my arm in a underhand softball pitching motion and hear loud pop-pop-popping. Back then I was in the army and the Doc. wanted to cut me open to see what was wrong so I let it heal on it's own.

There is definitely more tension with the relocation. Maybe the newer springs are shorter than my bike year. You can compare my coil spacing to yours based on the pictures. My spring rubs a bit on the pedal now when deployed. Also, as you swing the kickstand down/up, the upper spring hook makes a bit of noise trying to reposition itself on the chain link. Maybe this is the source of the grinding sound???

Thanks Matt. Just good to know it's common to have a little noise involved with the deployement. I might bend my link towards the back a tad and see if it helps, I'm very happy with the outcome. I still have a dent in my right shin and a scab on the inside of my right heal from that sadistic little bugger! But not no Mo!!! :D

Just another tip...

Check that your left side panel is not very close to the kickstand in the up position. If it is too close, you can break/chip the plastic as the kickstand hits it under higher spring tension. You can bend the lower mouting tab on the subframe (the one with the rivet nut) to make the side panel miss the kickstand. It is an easy tweak with some vice-grips. Just a little tweak is all it takes. This pulls the bottom of the side panel further outward.