The Ultimate motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Project Bike came with a 0.8-inch lowering from stock, just enough to keep me tiptoe clear when stationary. However, less than an inch of lowering results in the kickstand holding the bike nearly upright, or at least that’s what it seems like when I get on and off carefully. I tipped to the high side several times because I couldn’t be sure quickly enough. Even taking care to find level locations before dismounting, such as at a gas station pump, the Ténéré 700 would fall off the high side due to a gust of wind.
The solution to the problem is a shorter kickstand, but how much shorter? The AltRider adjustable aluminum side stand has seven length settings over a three-inch range, from one inch longer than stock to two inches shorter. The wide adjustment range satisfies riders who have lowered their Ténéré 700, as well as riders with long adventure bike legs. The stock kickstand is too short on a raised Ténéré 700, causing the bike to lean excessively. If I use 80/20 street tires my lean angle will be different than when I ride new high studs. When my panniers are fully loaded and I have camping gear strapped to the back of the bike, the angle of the kickstand changes.
Installation is simple, although it does require some planning. The crutch swap took me about 30 minutes including stopping to take pictures. You start by removing the original kickstand. The two main bolts that hold the stock kickstand on are threaded and are under the bike facing you if you are working from the kickstand side. For those of you with a bike lift, this will be an easier job. If you don’t have a lift, you’ll need to secure your bike vertically and keep it from rolling while you release these bolts. If you can reach the bolts with your bike on its center stand, block the front end so you don’t move the bike from the stand when you release the bolts. You need three tools for installation: a 10mm hex driver, plus 2.5. mm and 4 mm hex keys.
Alt Rider includes a spring puller in the kit, and it works great. The greater tension of the AltRider spring is evident when you stretch it out to catch the pin on the kickstand, and safety glasses are mandatory. Be aware of the location of the side stand switch rotation pin. It’s tiny and easily missed. Notice how the pin fits into the pivot base of your current side stand; make sure you put it in the new AltRider kickstand in the same orientation.
Deploying the AltRider adjustable side stand requires a heel hold of the stand, as there’s no need to step out to hook your heel – I missed it the first time due to muscle memory. However, I haven’t missed it since I saw that it is enough for my heel to move a little deeper into the swingarm. When deployed, the convex bottom of the huge foot does a good job of self-leveling for maximum stability. Fixed-length crutches are the one-size-fits-all solution to a multi-variable problem. After installation, your tilt angle is unchangeable. The fixed-length “down” kickstands are just a bit too short for my liking, making it difficult to straighten my bike when I parked on a slight incline with a full tank of gas and a padded tank bag. I wanted something between stock and lowered fixed length. With an adjustable kickstand, I can adjust the length to my preference.
The $175 price tag for the AltRider Adjustable Aluminum Side Stand is $56 more than the Camel ADV Products T7 Camel Toe Side Stand I tested earlier in the life of the Ultimate Motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 project bike. , if you need tuning, the AltRider unit is well worth the premium. Like all products from this Seattle-based company, the kickstand is built to handle the rigors of off-road use, and there’s a Honda Africa Twin version to boot. to the Ténéré 700 model that I tested. The adjustability of the AltRider Adjustable Aluminum Side Stand sets it apart from other kickstands.
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