Check the side stand

A side stand that does not spring fully up can drop while you ride. In a left turn it can dig into the road and throw the bike over. A loose stand lets the parked bike lean too far and fall. Many bikes also have a side stand switch that stops the engine if you select a gear with the stand down. The K-Light 125 schedule lists the side stand, main stand and footpegs for inspection at 300, 6000 and 12000 km.

Safety

• Do this with the bike on the centre stand, or with a helper holding it upright. The bike will fall if the stand is removed with nothing else holding it.
• Springs store energy. Use a spring puller or pliers and keep your face away when fitting.

You need

• Spanners for the pivot bolt and nut, a torque wrench, grease.
• A new spring if the old one is stretched (gaps between the coils at rest) or rusted. Some stands use two springs; replace both.

Steps

1. With the bike held upright, fold the stand down and up several times. It should snap up firmly and stay up against its stop. It should not hang partly down.
2. With the stand down, try to move the foot sideways and back and forth. Movement at the pivot means a loose bolt or worn pivot.
3. Look at the spring hooks and the spring pegs on the stand and frame. Look for cracks in the frame bracket and on the stand near the pivot.
4. Look at the foot. A worn or bent foot lets the parked bike lean further than normal.
5. Remove the spring, then the pivot bolt. Clean the bolt and the bore. Grease them.
6. Refit the bolt, tighten to the bike's value (K-Light 125 side stand bolt M10 × 1.25: 45 to 50 N·m), fit the locknut if used, refit the spring.
7. Test the side stand switch if fitted: engine running in neutral, stand up, pull the clutch, select first, then lower the stand. The engine should stop. On some bikes the engine also will not start with the stand down in gear. If it does not work as your manual says, see Test the side stand, clutch and neutral switches.

Check your work

• Stand snaps up fully and stays up. No side play at the pivot.
• Parked on the stand, the bike leans at its normal angle.
• Side stand switch works.

If it did not fix the problem

• Engine stops when the stand is up: Engine dies when the side stand moves.
• Cracked bracket: Crack in the frame or a bracket.

Reference values (K-Light 125)