MC5 Kickstands

[Britt Boyette]

I was looking at some pictures of 76 and 77 MC5's and noticed that some had kickstands and some didn't. Then, I was looking at my parts book and noticed that there was no mention of any kickstands whatsoever. Why is that, was it an option?

Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5
1975 250 HS

[454MRW]

Kickstands have been on the swingarm on all of my 76 and 77 MC5's even though they are not shown on both the 76 & 77 chassis manuals. All of the previous years are pictured on the same page of the chassis manuals with the swingarms. I wonder if they were dealer added or left off due to customer requests, since the rave in MX was to not use a bike mounted kickstand. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[Bob Marsh]

I don't understand people not wanting them on there-at least for a woods/enduro/play bike-the kickstand is the greatest invention of man..

[Steve Minor]

Except for the 77 GS6...too short! I have to put a wood block under mine to keep the bike from tipping over.

Steve Minor
Wilmington, NC

[454MRW]

MC5's were initially developed for motocross, but with the Enduro kit are viable for a number of different events. A lot of motocross racers cut the kickstands off of their bike for MX so that it wouldn't fall down and cause problems over jumps and whoops. I had to weld a bracket for a kickstand back on a 78.5 RM250C2 I have. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[tomale]

Bob, yea if the bulk your riding is Trail riding. but for many guys, me included there just is not that much good trail riding left anymore so having a kickstand actually gets in the way. I have actually thought of cutting off the mount, because it is so lethal looking... but I have never done it... mostly because I want to preserve the bike, there are just not that many of these bikes left anymore and I have had this bike 33 years....

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)

[Bob Marsh]

Man there is something so right about pulling up somewhere and just kicking the kickstand down and walking away. I road raced for years and you are required to remove kickstands(because it could fall off on the track-yeah right-when was the last time one fell off a street bike??)and it is a PAIN n the ass to pull up off the track to your pit and try to hold the bike up and find the stand and hold the bike up and put it on a rear stand. Same goes for dirt bikes(well I guess when you have the quantity I do), trying to find somewhere to lean them up against. Or you pull them somewhere to wash them, work on them or just move it  to get to something else, and forget to take a stand with you-and don't even get me started on trying to carry the bike stand and push the bike at the same time...

[Britt Boyette]

As near as I can tell, my 76 never had one. I may add one at some point as swingarms are plentiful.

Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5
1975 250 HS

[brian kirby]

Kick stands must be removed for AHRMA MX depending on what tech inspector you have. I remove mine, if I need to stop I lean the bike against a tree.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[Britt Boyette]

quote:Originally posted by brian kirby

Kick stands must be removed for AHRMA MX depending on what tech inspector you have. I remove mine, if I need to stop I lean the bike against a tree.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

Can't you just zip-ty it up in place or maybe safety wire?

Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5
1975 250 HS

[Steve Minor]

I cut a section of old tube and make a big rubber band. Then strap the kickstand to the swing arm....easy on easy off and it doesn't flop around on the track or trail. Those old tubes come in very handy.



Steve Minor
Wilmington, NC

[brian kirby]

Britt,

It depends on the tech inspector. I've had some that let you secure it too the swing arm, and I've had some that absolutely will not allow you to have a kick stand no matter how secure.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[tomale]

I am with Steve, I took the back wheel off and took a section of inner tube and slipped it over the left side of the swing arm. When I need to use the kickstand I simply pull the tube off the kickstand kick it into place. But the only bike that works that way for me is the MC5

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)

[tomale]

Oh I forgot, that is true about the Tech guys.. It seems to be up to the individual. The last time I rode "The Farm" I rode my 74.5 maico. I put only 3 spacers on the shocks but I talked with a guy who rode the same bike and they made him put 6 spacers, which by the way is 2 more than what is recommended by the specs... what is up with that. And the tech guy was nasty about the whole thing....AS far as the kickstand thing goes, I thought it was legal to have one as long as it was secured to the bike... On some bikes that is not possible but on Pentons or at least most of them it is possible.

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)

[brian kirby]

Section 11.2 F)

Side stands and protruding lugs must be removed or rubber-covered. At the discretion of the Tech Inspector, certain side stands which are completely tucked away may be left in place but must be safety wired or strapped in the folded position.

It all depends on the tech inspector. Most dont even look to see if you have a side stand, but some are sticklers about it.

Brian

'72 Berkshire