easy side-stand install is a bad dream!

[Stig / Major Tom]

This is shop photo taken by AF1-Racing (large TX dealership & parts mail-order) - as they set about installing the Liberty side-stand and wiring the cut-off.
They mention that the accompanying instruction sheet does not accurately reflect the amount of work required for this seemingly simple installation!


I did not attempt to hook up the plug within the body which connected the side-stand-down, cut-off.
Riding off with the side-stand down hass never been a concern of mine. 13 yrs i've never done it.

Even so, it took me a few hours - spread over 2 days - to install my factory side stand.**
"Two days?" - yeah, I needed to get away from the scooter until I stopped hating Italians. I like pasta - so ....try again tomorrow.
Once the body-work is out of the way (I cut it off) the actual bolting-up took just minutes. And would have been easier if I'd had a lift, to see under the scoot.

I use the side-stand every day, not every time.
I guess Piaggio was trying to keep this modestly priced scooter below a price point. Right at $3K.
The part is beefy and well made. works easily.


Stig

**my original post .....
"Days of studying the situation - and a few uncomfortable hours on my knees getting off the blasted small side panel which must be permanently removed in order to install the side stand on my Piaggio Liberty. (I actually heard the neighbor's mower pause - when that panel came rocketing out of my garage)"

[Ruffus]

Seeing in this approach two cardinal mistakes:

A) trying to mount the side stand without lift
B) not hanging the scoot on a crane to have it vertically and easy access to its underbelly.

Another approach would be (after middle and side/footpanels are removed) to lay the scoot completely (cushioned) on its RH side to have free sight to mount.

There are two kinds of OEM sidestands:
One who has an additional bolt and spring to snap automatically back when you lift the scoot and another which stays bold and interrupts scoots start system (not to forget its down) needs to be interlaced into e-loop (connector prepared on newer models).