Center stand strength

[cefalu]

One of the features I like about the K's is the center stand. But I have been somewhat surprised to hear that center stands fail with time since it seems pretty robust. Is the failure mode pretty well understood so reinforcing could be installed to prevent a bike drop? I park my bike between two cars in my garage and won't be happy if my K falls over on one of my cars.

[frankenduck]

With lots of use the "feet" eventually wear through.  The most common mode of failure though is that water gets inside them and rusts them out from the inside.  I've never done it myself but I've heard of people filling them with expanding insulation stuff and/or other materials so that water can't get in.

Another option (what I have on my K75) is to install a center stand from a 4 valve K bike because BMW changed the design so it wouldn't get water in it. (I suspect due to the rusting issue.)

4 valve center stand:

[cefalu]

OK, so the 2V K stands must fail at the lower part of the stand where they bend the tubes. The 4V stands don't have bends, looks like straight pieces welded up. Is the 4V stand a direct bolt on retrofit?

[frankenduck]

Is the 4V stand a direct bolt on retrofit?

Yes, and since the plate that mounts it to the transmission if the same you can still use the K75/K100 side stand and it's retractor mechanism.

[cefalu]

Kind of a long shot, but any chance a K1200 stand will work? Their are truckloads of them on fleabay

[frankenduck]

Kind of a long shot, but any chance a K1200 stand will work? Their are truckloads of them on fleabay

It MIGHT, who knows?  No part number similarities though.

Buy one and let us know how it works out....  LOL.

[cefalu]

How about this stand off a K1100, the same?

[lukeman]

The k1100 one will work, I have one on my K100.  My stand snapped during a long trip and nearly fell over fully loaded.  Not fun.  The new stand is much better in my opinion.  You may have to put a few spacers where the stand rest while up so that it doesn't rub on the back tire.

[frankenduck]

The k1100 one will work, I have one on my K100.  My stand snapped during a long trip and nearly fell over fully loaded.  Not fun.  The new stand is much better in my opinion.  You may have to put a few spacers where the stand rest while up so that it doesn't rub on the back tire.

That depends upon which forks you've got.  I don't know the details offhand but some K75s/K100s had longer and shorter forks.  If you've got the longer ones then the back tire might rub and spacers would be in order.  Or if you have the longer ones you could drop the fork trees down a little.

[cefalu]

I see, so the stand itself might be a little shorter so the rear tire might rub on the ground when the bike is raised on the stand? The spacers would go under the stand feet to lift the rear tire off the ground a bit higher. The longer forks might cause the rear tire to sit lower? Shorter forks higher? I think I understand.

[JPevey]

I used the center stand from a K1200GT. The base has a different hole pattern so I used the base off mine. Very solid and very low. Will not raise my back wheel off the ground. The lifting arm contacts the muffler and will not let the stand come up entirely. About an inch or more short of the rubber bumper. Gonna try some thick washers or spacers to correct the issue.  Side stand with the retractor is no issue.
I have to say if I get it tucked in better it will be a vast improvement. The cost was $35 shipped.