Are All Bike Kickstands Universal?

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An orange bike on kickstand - Are All Bike Kickstands Universal?

There are going to be some older version bicycles that will come standard with a kickstand, possibly even older version brakes that require backpedaling. However, this will not be the case for every bike or mountain bike available on the market.

Then you will have those designer bikes that are more for display than for riding. These works of art will have the kickstand as a part of their display, sculpture, if you will.

Otherwise, today, you are more likely to find one of these kickstands on motorbikes than on a mountain bike.

 

What are the Different Types of Kickstands?

For this section, we will examine the basic types of kickstands, including the side stand and the double-leg bike kickstand. To start, let us examine the side stand. The simple but effective kickstand becomes standard on most mountain-ready and road bicycles.

Then you will have to examine the double-leg bike kickstand options, which differ from the side stand in that the center two-spoke design creates a different upright standing balance.

This type of kickstand is designed to carry heavier bikes, including motorcycles and heavier all-terrain vehicles.

 

How Can You Tell Which One You Have?

This is rather simple to find out, which usually will only take a quick glimpse of the bike itself. If the bike in question has a single-leg stand design on which it can balance, then you know you have a side-stand-designed bike kickstand.

If you see the double legs underneath your bicycle, then you know that you have a double-leg bike kickstand. But, of course, there will be many alterations to personal bikes in which you will find a different design than the standard two listed in this article.

 

Is there a Universal Kickstand?

Simply answered, any model of kickstand will suffice in working for a bike as long as you can create a balance point for which the bike can lean.

Therefore, this question can be answered with a yes, because, in the end, a mechanic would be able to figure out a welding solution or else wise.

When you search online, there will be plenty of products with the label ‘universal kickstand.’ However, whether or not it will work for your model of bike will remain to be seen.

 

How Much Does it Cost?

The smaller bike systems will not cost a rider more than around fifty to one hundred dollars to get an entirely new kickstand system.

Then you will have the heavier-duty kickstands for motorbikes and the heavier roadsters, which can run into and above the hundred-dollar range.

When you look online, there is not much difference between retail and auction sites. If you want to search for a good deal, try getting in touch with the local bike shops and sporting goods retailers.

You could find a steal of a deal with a shopkeeper that can be found nowhere else.

 

What Kickstand Size is the Most Common?

When it comes to the standard sizes found on children’s bikes, it goes as follows.

 

  • a twelve-inch bike will have a seven-inch kickstand
  • a fourteen-inch bike will have an eight-point-six-six-inch kickstand
  • a sixteen-inch bike will have a nine-point-six-six-inch kickstand
  • an eighteen-inch bike will have a nine-point-eight-inch kickstand

 

These, of course, will not apply to the adult sizes of bikes, mainly because of the effect the weight from the bike frame will have on the kickstand. The larger bike sizes will need a larger kickstand, including the double-leg stands found underneath the heavier bikes.

 

Final Thoughts on Whether All Bike Kickstands Universal

Kickstands have become an option. Instead of a standard feature on the bikes of today, there are customizable bike manufacturing options online.

That being said, the retail outlet stores provide the standard mountain and road bikes created for the general public, which means they will have kickstands.

When looking online, options will be afforded to you that will replace the kickstand completely to create a lower profile and more aerodynamic bike for racing or speed bike competitions.

As for mountain bike designs, it might be prudent for a competitor to remove the kickstand to improve clearance and turning capabilities.