How to install a kickstand on your bicycle

I'm handy, but not familiar with bicycles so much, and it took me several minutes to figure out how to install my new kickstand properly. In the interest of saving someone else those few minutes, here's how to do it. (Note that some bikes won't have the installation bracket, but these are likely to be a) VERY high end, or b) VERY antique and in either case you probably don't want to add a cheap kickstand anyway.)

The kickstand should come with a bolt and a kind of top bracket, which at first glance seems not to really fit with the stand part. The only tool you'll need is a wrench - my kickstand had a bolt that a 14mm wrench fit well. An adjustable wrench would also work.

The third pic is of the part of the bicycle frame that the kickstand will attach to.

Step 1 Attach the bolt

This pic shows the order of the parts: above the two lower frame bars, place the second kickstand bracket. Below it, place the main kickstand part. Note that the bracket on the bike may have flanges to keep the kickstand positioned properly (see second pic). If you miss the flanges, your kickstand may interfere with the rear shift cable, which is not advised. It'll sit in easily enough if you know there's a bracket there.

Note also that the top kickstand bracket may want to interfere with the pedal gear shift cable! This is just bad design on my bike, but there's no reason not to simply rotate the bracket to avoid the cable. As long as there's enough bracket on the bar to hold the kickstand, you're fine.

Insert the bolt, from the top, through the top kickstand bracket, through the hole in the bike frame bracket, and into the main kickstand part. Screw it in.

Comments

[myoung23]

Wow THANK YOU I too bought a stand for my son's bike and when I got it home was'nt sure how to put it on. Being a stubbon woman I was determined to figure it out. YEAH I did it - with your help so THANKS AGAIN!

[aburke6]

Thank you SO much.... I wish I would have just looked these instructions up in the first place before spending the better part of an hour trying to figure out how to install it myself (no instructions included with kickstand). At one point I began wondering whether or not I had to drill a hole in the FRAME! You saved one not-so-handy woman the expense of a new bike! :)

[Janet]

Thank you SO MUCH. This was enormously helpful and saved me $13 to have my shop install it.

[BtheBike]

that sucks that a local bike shop would charge you for that . And 13 bucks??!! rip off i say

[sharlston]

thanks very helpful ps. if you need any help with bikes just pm me -sharlston

[twocvbloke]

I found a perfectly good kickstand at the base of a bush just off the pavement near where I live, nothing wrong with it, bolts and all included, I fitted it to my bike on the same day I picked it up... :D Kickstands are the best invention for those on the move, saves finding a tree, fence or wall to prop up your bike, and even then they're not guaranteed to stop your bike falling flat on the ground... :P

[stickfigure]

Hi this is not stickfigure but his wife. Thanks for the help. I had asked my husband to put my kickstand on but I ended up doing it myself. Very easy. I also had to rotate my top bracket to fit the cable so I am glad you added that part into the directions. Thanks again.

[remotephone]

hey, someone asked above, but really, what is that stuff on your front spokes? im curious

[rachel]

It's some red & green LEDs I put on that are now broken and in fact I took them off shortly after I wrote this.

[TheMoonMaster]

AWSOME!!!! It works ! I dont have to lean my bike any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[rachel]

Excellent! I'm glad it helped you.

[TheMoonMaster]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I have the exat same kickstand but it fell off a while ago and I didnt know excactly where to put it. Yay no more bike leaning for me!!

[cheftank]

What is that on the spokes of your front wheel?

[theRIAA]

iv'e tried those type kickstands, they just pierce into the dirt. laying your bike down is underrated.

[rachel]

Depends on your circumstances. When you've got pavement and traffic instead of open spaces with dirt or grass, laying the bike down can get it squashed, and there's no risk of sinking.

[Mr. Rig It]

Nice job, I think we sometimes for get the small stuff and get all caught up in LEDs and Rocket stuff. It is ibles like these that can make a difference in someones life.

[CameronSS]

Nice! Not a huge help to me (I know how to install a kickstand), but hopefully this will help out others, and prevent people from paying fifty bucks at the bike shop to have it installed.