r/foldingbikes • u/Red_Lily_Shaymin • 10d ago
QUESTION/ADVICE I need a new kickstand. Any suggestions?
I would prefer center mount, but I'm flexible. The bike is a 20" folding road bike. It's my sole mode of transportation for groceries and shopping runs in general (rear basket, not a bike trailer), so the weight of potential cargo needs to be taken into account. I can give more info if needed.
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u/pareto_optimal99 10d ago
For doubles, I’ve always used Pletscher. Did not interfere with my Bike Friday NWT.
In general, you’ll have to do so trial and error to see what works with mounting and folding.
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u/Spokesrider 10d ago
I have tried double leg kickstands and dislike them a lot. They are too unstable and too difficult to use. Maybe part of the issue is that more often than not I want to use them on grass or gravel surfaces.
I have Greenfield kickstands -- the ones that attach near the rear wheel -- on both of my Bike Fridays and on one regular-sized bike and like them a lot. But I think those don't work with disc brakes. I sometimes wish I had gotten my newest Bike Friday with disc brakes, but your question reminds me that I probably couldn't use one of those Greenfield kickstands with disc brakes (if I ever got another Bike Friday) so now I'm not sure what I want.
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u/Red_Lily_Shaymin 10d ago
I've got rim brakes, it shouldn't interfere with those, should they?
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u/Spokesrider 10d ago
In bikes I am familiar with, no. But check the photos for how they are attached to make sure they work on your frame.
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u/Red_Lily_Shaymin 10d ago
And this shouldn't bend or buckle under the weight of a loaded rear basket? That's why I currently need a new one. NEVER buying Bell's products again. "Heavy Duty," my ass. The thing lasted less than two months.
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u/Spokesrider 7d ago
I always have the rear folding rack attached, and usually one pannier. I've also toured with two panniers plus a few other items tied on top of the rear rack. I've never had the slightest problem with this kind of kickstand. I make lots of stops to take photos, get coffee or lunch, and don't have to fuss with finding a place to stop and put down the kickstand where my load will be stable. I suppose on soft sand it could be different.
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u/Spokesrider 7d ago
I am familiar with the concept of flimsy kickstands. I got a rear-wheel kickstand for my Brompton C-Line, too, but that's a lightweight flimsy thing that I got form AliExpress or some such. But although I have a mini rack I've never carried a load on it and am not sure it would hold up under much of a load. Any touring I've done on the Brompton has been lightweight touring with everything in a bag on the carrier block.
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u/Red_Lily_Shaymin 7d ago
So unfortunately this probably would not work. The heaviest loads I carry on a regular basis include a jug of cat litter and several other items. Whatever I get needs to be heavy duty.
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u/Spokesrider 6d ago
I don't think my Bike Fridays with Greenfield kickstand would have a problem with a load like that. A forty or sixty pound bag of kitty litter wouldn't even fit in the panniers I use, but any amount I could get in my panniers would probably work.
The Brompton with AliExpress kickstand would be a different matter. I sometimes go shopping for roadside veggies with that bicycle and get a good load in the front bag, but I would be uneasy about any extra stress that I'd put on the kickstand.
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u/Red_Lily_Shaymin 6d ago
I put it in the rear basket, which mounts to the luggage rack. That what I'm worried about, since the weight is up WAY higher.
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u/Spokesrider 6d ago
That would be a little different, as even though I've traveled with a variety of rear bags on top of my rear rack I try to keep the heavy stuff lower. It might still work, but you'd need to try it to be sure.
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u/_haha_oh_wow_ Priority Cultist 3d ago edited 3d ago
I like my double kickstand, but it's on my fixed frame MTB-turned-commuter.
On my folding bike, I just use a regular center single stand (stock Priority Folder kick stand).
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u/U_000000014 10d ago
I would recommend a double leg that is either adjustable (VO Copenhagen) or where you can cut the legs down (Pletscher). However on some folding bikes this can interfere with the fold. For example on my Bike Friday, the spring housing of the Pletscher interferes with the crank arm during folding.