I’ve never seen one crushed, but, it’s certainly possible if you clamp hard enough… you’d have to really go hard on it though, like using a breaker bar or extension and not just a wrench. If just using a regular 1/2 or 3/8 inch ratchet, you managed to crush the stays, I’d be surprised. It just needs to be tight enough to where the thing isn’t going to loosen up or spin when used as intended.
That said, I usually only see these used on low end bikes which have thicker and heavier tubing.. I could easily see damaging a lighter weight frame with this but who would put a kickstand on a light race racing frame (I’m sure it happens).
p1gnone on
all of them will crush your soul
allismg on
Perhaps to rephrase the question, has anyone installed this style kickstand on an aluminum frame before and encountered any issues?
SunshineInDetroit on
I have before as a teenager and didn’t know better. Wouldnt stop moving.
Mental_Contest_3687 on
Yes. I’ve seen both steel and aluminum stays crushed by this style of kickstand.
First thing to consider is whether you’re working on an entry-level / budget-oriented bike or a higher-end frame. More expensive bikes tend to have much thinner tubing in this area and aren’t worth the risk. Less expensive bikes tend to use thicker tubing and you should be okay so long as you don’t over-tighten this.
I’d suggest putting Loctite on the threads so that you can more easily sense / feel the bolt torque as you tighten and the bolt stays nicely fixed without needing to over-tighten.
If you have a torque wrench, Greenfield (the kickstand manufacturer) recommends 72 inch-pounds (9.8Nm), which isn’t going to feel like a lot of pressure on your hand when tightening. Just snug.
Fuzzy_Balance_6181 on
Use insertion rubber between the stand and the frame to increase the amount of friction and protect the frame.
It means you’re less likely to experience it slipping and be tempted into over-tighten it and crush the stays.
I would also only use them on a low end bike with thicker tubing that’s less likely to crush in general (and less disappointing if it does lol)
I always put a layer of very dense rubber between the kickstand clamps and the frame. It increases the ability of the clamp to grab onto the frame and reduces the amount of torque that I need to stabilize the kickstand.
And I love kickstands. On the right bicycle, they’re absolutely necessary and damn well useful.
Lawrence_skywalker on
I wrapped electrical tape on that section of the tubing. Just a few rounds.
13 Comments
Yes…and steel ones too.
Those have crushed plenty of steel chainstays from being overtightened, so yes
Never found a need for a kickstand. Save the weight and just lean your bike against something.
If you overtighten it, yes
Perhaps to be helpful, we can indicate the appropriate force to use to secure various bike parts:
Kickstand suggested force:
160-200 lb/in (18-23 Nm)
Found at: Dedam Bike Shop
[https://www.dedhambike.com/articles/torque-table-pg186.htm](https://www.dedhambike.com/articles/torque-table-pg186.htm)
I’ve never seen one crushed, but, it’s certainly possible if you clamp hard enough… you’d have to really go hard on it though, like using a breaker bar or extension and not just a wrench. If just using a regular 1/2 or 3/8 inch ratchet, you managed to crush the stays, I’d be surprised. It just needs to be tight enough to where the thing isn’t going to loosen up or spin when used as intended.
That said, I usually only see these used on low end bikes which have thicker and heavier tubing.. I could easily see damaging a lighter weight frame with this but who would put a kickstand on a light race racing frame (I’m sure it happens).
all of them will crush your soul
Perhaps to rephrase the question, has anyone installed this style kickstand on an aluminum frame before and encountered any issues?
I have before as a teenager and didn’t know better. Wouldnt stop moving.
Yes. I’ve seen both steel and aluminum stays crushed by this style of kickstand.
First thing to consider is whether you’re working on an entry-level / budget-oriented bike or a higher-end frame. More expensive bikes tend to have much thinner tubing in this area and aren’t worth the risk. Less expensive bikes tend to use thicker tubing and you should be okay so long as you don’t over-tighten this.
I’d suggest putting Loctite on the threads so that you can more easily sense / feel the bolt torque as you tighten and the bolt stays nicely fixed without needing to over-tighten.
If you have a torque wrench, Greenfield (the kickstand manufacturer) recommends 72 inch-pounds (9.8Nm), which isn’t going to feel like a lot of pressure on your hand when tightening. Just snug.
Use insertion rubber between the stand and the frame to increase the amount of friction and protect the frame.
It means you’re less likely to experience it slipping and be tempted into over-tighten it and crush the stays.
I would also only use them on a low end bike with thicker tubing that’s less likely to crush in general (and less disappointing if it does lol)
https://preview.redd.it/8n8xd25exhte1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de1c5285f9deb3da813a55b0222876da5a4cecf0
I always put a layer of very dense rubber between the kickstand clamps and the frame. It increases the ability of the clamp to grab onto the frame and reduces the amount of torque that I need to stabilize the kickstand.
And I love kickstands. On the right bicycle, they’re absolutely necessary and damn well useful.
I wrapped electrical tape on that section of the tubing. Just a few rounds.