https://picasaweb.google.com/101653396993695595304/Savage?authuser=0&authkey=...

My 03 Savage project.

It looks pretty cool - that center stand - but I like being able to put my kick-stand down as I come to a stop so I can hop off my bike quick. I'm one of those guys that shuts off the car, pulls the e-brake and opens the door all at the same time and hops out, foot hitting the ground as the car stops moving. Same with my bikes. Turn off the gas, hit the kill switch, coast in with my foot on the stand and my hand on the keys. Soon as the bike stops...kick-stand down while hopping off turning the bars and pulling the keys. I'm always late to the fire that isn't lit.

Cavi Mike wrote on 11/02/12 at 21:18:11:


I'm wondering if the kick stand and the center stand necessarily have to be mutually exclusive.  Lookin' at the picture, apparently not......

I'm one of those guys that shuts off the car, pulls the e-brake and opens the door all at the same time and hops out, foot hitting the ground as the car stops moving. Same with my bikes. Turn off the gas, hit the kill switch, coast in with my foot on the stand and my hand on the keys. Soon as the bike stops...kick-stand down while hopping off turning the bars and pulling the keys. I'm always late to the fire that isn't lit.


Yep, when Im riding with someone, as theyre stopping, my door is open, Im standing up, closing the door as theyre getting it in park. I move quickly, dont like stragglers. I walk at speeds no one stays with, always out in front. I have to walk back & join the group,

 Good job, John. I like the nice clean look.  Carl

John, I want to know more about your center-stand.  I had asked about this topic a long time ago and no one seemed to think there was room for it.  Pics and instructions, please!

Here are some detailed pics of the center stand: https://picasaweb.google.com/101653396993695595304/Savage02?authkey=Gv1sRgCImEh4
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I started with a sheet of 3/16th steel to which I welded "ears" for the shoulder bolt on which the stand pivots.  The steel plate bolts to the stock structure that used to mount the charcoal canister, but extends far enough forward to reach the engine cradle part of the frame. Since the structure to support the charcoal canister is lightweight, at the points where the frame contacts the plate, I made 2 steel pads to assure solid contact.  The bulk of the weight of the bike rests on these 2 pads.   The stand itself is from a Honda 450 which was way too tall for this application.  I cut it down to its current height, which is about 7 1/2 inches.  Also, at first the stand pivoted too far forward when it was down.  This made it very hard to push off the stand.  I added steel shims between the stand and the mounting plate until the stand pivoted slightly over center, not way over center.  The return spring is a return spring from a heavy duty truck brake shoe return spring assembly, and the spring pivot is on the bolt that holds the muffler mounting strut to the frame.  The spring can pivot on this mount.  When the stand is up, the ground clearance is about 4 1/2 inches.  The pedal for the stand is made from the old buckhorn handlebars.  After several tries, the bike in now pretty easy to get up onto the stand.  The pedal does most of the heavy lifting. The whole project cost me about $50 in materials including welding supplies.  If I counted my time, it would have been a lot more, but what else does an old geezer need his time for?  

The stand works well so far.  I plan to add an 18" back wheel eventually, but I don't think that will require much , if any, modification.  

John, just an additional thought, why don't you send the pics to Suzuki, and see if they can produce a unit that can be purchased aftermarket as an accessory.