LCGB Forums

Morning Gents .
I'd appreciate any thoughts on which side to put the side stand on a bitsa cutdown I'm in the very early stages of putting together.
I've looked at lots of old Skool pics and some are left some on the right but I'm sure I read something somewhere about one side being more stable?
Also I thought about welding a brace piece between the front & rear legshied supports or am I just over complicating things
As it will have cutdown legshields on.
Any tips hints would be appreciated as I've not built one before from the frame up but really want to do as much as I can myself .
Thanks Phil D
Ps it's a s3 li 150
Frame.

I'd go for the left side. That way it will be leaning into the kerb. Plus which nobody with a Lambretta pushes down the stand with their right foot, for obvious reasons.

Hi Phil, Lambrettas might be different but on A Vespa if you put the side stand on the left (the kerbside),the weight of the engine is all on the other side and the slightest touch will make the scooter fall over to the right side.

Left hand side works well on a Lambretta as it'll show of the exhaust more.

Hmmm
Struggling to remember like you say Paul a Vespa engine is offset and has a heavy side .
But the Lambretta is obviously more central.
I am leaning more to the left though
That's the thing with moving away from standard one change throws umpteen unforeseen
Problems down the line with a Lambretta or indeed any custom build.
Thanks chaps.

HxPaul wrote:Hi Phil, Lambrettas might be different but on A Vespa if you put the side stand on the left (the kerbside),the weight of the engine is all on the other side and the slightest touch will make the scooter fall over to the right side.

Mine doesn't, it is quite stable leaning to the left

Ive fitted sidestands to both my previous Vespa & GP, and they were both designed to be on the left.
I did however reduce them both in length by about 1" so that they would lean more, and therefore be more stable.
Didnt seem to matter so much for the GP, but was citical for the Vespa.

Whilst looking at big motorbikes Ive often wondered why they dont fall over since they dont seem to lean over much.

When you are on the road and pull over to stop, the camber of the road will be sloping towards the pavement/kerb. For this reason I would put it on the left. Also less chance of fouling the kickstart (depending on length).

Mine had a side stand fitted on the left side when I got it, it worked fine but I took it off as I preferred centre stand

Seen some quite trick side stands that fit near the back of the chain case on chops and cutdowns

This is what I did to all three of these fat boys...










Scoot rs side stand btw

rossclark wrote:Seen some quite trick side stands that fit near the back of the chain case on chops and cutdowns

Thanks Lads
I did wonder about fabricating something but the 50 odd year aluminium and studs /jacking point doesn't need any further stress from me.
Thanks for the pics Nobby .
Looks like more " metal melting " on the cards for me!
I'd post some pics of the work so far but untill I've got it registered and a v5 in my grubby mit I'm not temping fate.

I'll go with the Near side sound advice much appreciated

always put mine on the left hand side as when you lock the steering it helps with the stability of the scoot

Mine on left.
Most important is to fit so if the spring fails it will trail rather than dig in.

Scooterlam wrote:Mine on left.
Most important is to fit so if the spring fails it will trail rather than dig in.

Blimey good point I never thought of that.
Thanks

Most motorcycles wont start (electric start)with the side stand down because if you set of with it down,the first left hand bend the side stand will hit the road and have the rider off.

if anyone has one they no longer use/want please PM me I'm after one. aesthetics not important.

Anyone got a photo of one fitted to a GP200,

Best to fit it so it flips up backwards, mine was fitted on left on a GP