Modern Vespa

Ordered a GT200 sidestand from American Scooter Center in Irvine, CA. Price was right, and it came quickly... Only problem is, it doesn't fit! There's no way the too-big bolt supplied is gonna fit thru the hole in the sidestand mount under the scoot!

Did Vespa make different mounts on the GT's? Or did I get a defective stand from some factory with poor standards?

Thanks,

Hi Chazzlee.
Sorry I don't have an answer on the bolts but I hope you have had the chance to read the many threads on MV about sidestands.
Nearly all experienced users either don't want them, took them off or don't use them any more.
Mine came factory fitted and I used it alot until..
1. My kids were nearly crushed by my GT toppling over
2. I found someone had sat on my GT at work, the side stand had retracted and they left my scoot leaning against a wall.

Thaere are many many more posts on MV about similar incidents regarding side (kick) stands.

Proceed with care my friend.

Doesn't help. My sidestand bolt still doesn't fit in the GT's mounting hole...
And I know well enough not to depend on spring-back sidestands. (BMW bikes had that flaw for many years!) My only use for the sidestand is to drop it down while I dismount so I don't have to do that funny little balancing act prior to getting the centerstand down! (Makes me nervous...)
I've had centerstands on bikes before, but I always used the sidestand as an imtermediate step towards using them. Works greaat that way; try it, you'll like it!!

ask babyarms about his sidestand incident....... a nice kerb shaped dent in the side of his gts, not nice.

The bolt that holds the sidestand in the mount has a large shoulder, try inserting it the other way.

SAVE YOUR SCOOTER...SEND IT BACK!

One small bump or a stiff wind... the scooter tips the side stand flips and WHOOPS, there goes your paint job.

I agree. Send that thing back before it costs you more than you singed up for... I loved having the side stand on for quick trips to the store but I could see the writting on the wall. I will send you mine for free if you want and you can send that one back. Let me know...

By the way, can you send me the link to American Scooter Center in Irvine, CA? I live and work in Irvine and I have no idea where it is? Thanks.

My mistake. The shop is in Austin, TX.
And yes, I might well take you up on your generous offer. First tomorrow tho I gotta call these guys and tell them their sidestand and bolt is out of spec, so as to return it...

And I repeat again, I do NOT want to EVER use the sidestand on quick trips, or anywhere else, or at any time where I might be away from the GT200! It's simply to use as I get offa the bike, to get to and use the centerstand! This scoot goes up on the centerstand extremely easy, easier than any bike I ever had. But a sidestand makes GETTING TO the centerstand about 100 times easier!
(And I don't lean the bike over far enough to ever scrape that stand either!)
Thanks,

I say get it! Use at your own comfort level.

I'm borrowing from our sponsor Motorsport here ...



Does your bolt look like that?

Here are mounting instructions as well ...

http://www.scooterwest.com/item_detail/More-Info/320/show_info/yes/

I thought the same thing you did. I will put the side stand down and then use the center stand to lift up the bike. PROBLEM: When you do this it lifts the side stand up and can come down on your toes. This is not a theory. I have some smashed toes to prove it. Just be careful, and let me know if you need it. I found it in my tool box this last week and can mail it to you. Free of charge, of course. I like to give a little back to the MV Gods for everything it has done for me.

Thank you. Yes, that's what the bolt looks like. And the kit too except it doesn't use any O-rings, which is why I'm wondering if it isn't a cheap imitation from somewhere? Also I think there may be some burring inside the GT200's mount so the bolt can't make it thru. Tomorrow I'll try a small round file to see if I can smooth it out...

you have a PM
Jeff

The side stand that Tikka shows a photo of look just like the one I installed on my GTV. It had a place for it so I wanted it on there. I was hell to get it on the scoot with the o-rings in place. I have found if you leave these o-rings off it causes the stand to be somewhat in a bind when deployed and stays in place better. I can lift the scooter off the stand and it stays down. The ONLY time I use the side stand is in my garage where I know nobody is going to touch it. NEVER in public. I have heard of some using just one spring, but I would hate for that thing to come down while riding.

I have a couple of Harley's and have dropped them both by being careless.(drunk) My GTV cost less than half the price of either Harley, but it IS NOT going over because of my laziness to set it on the side stand RIGHT.

ANGER-ISSUES GALORE

I removed the smaller spring from my sidestand, it stays up while riding and does not retract when the weight is off the stand. Works well for me.

you have a PM
Jeff


Didn't receive it...