I don’t know who designed the side-stand on modern KTMs, but they should be given a tutorial on how people actually use them. The stock design is prone to bending or breaking, and for most trail riders it’s just a matter of time before theirs snaps.Trail Tech of Battle Ground, WA is an established accessory manufacturer with a knack for tough products. While most of their side-stand kits are designed for bikes that don’t come stock with one, I bet most of their KTM business comes from those who break theirs.
A side-stand should be strong enough to support a rider and the bike’s weight when kick-starting. Extra bonus if it can withstand the entire weight of the bike while rotating it in a tight spot.
Anything beyond the bike’s own weight on the stock side-stand will break it, and often it’s a nasty break that can sometimes involve welding the frame.
Trail Tech provides a heavy-duty mounting plate for their stands, which bolts onto two locations on the frame (as opposed to the stock one-point mount). It’s clean, well made, and they claim you can stand on it, kick the bike, and otherwise generally abuse it.
Mine has yet to break and I’ve been about as gentle as a hippo on it.
The good:
- Easy bolt-on install.
- Parts are of good quality and finish.
- Cheap
The bad:
- Adds some weight, how much I don’t know but it’s a bit heavier.
- It’s a little longer than stock, which means a more upright bike.
KTM tinkerer John Davies has an excellent writeup on his site here.
Most kits are $99 at www.trailtech.net
