KenNC

I'm thinking of a Velo Orange or Pletscher double kickstand for our tandem--mostly to make parking in our garage easier. Any experience on the stability of these? Also, I've seen so many crushed chainstays on bikes from kickstand installation, and I definitely do NOT want to do that to this bike. Assume they can be tightened sufficiently without causing damage but again, any experience with this?

bobh123

We have the Pletscher. It works very well. Easy to deploy - lift rear of bike (that takes some muscle with a tandem) and use foot to swing it down. The bike is quite stable, even with balanced panniers on. Recommended.

oldacura

We have double-legged kickstands on our single E-Bikes (weight is not really an issue). Don't know the brand. They work great.

Leisesturm

That is a Pletscher (Esge) double leg holding up the rear of our Trek T900. We use double leg stands on all our tandems except the recumbent and that is a temporary situation. Recommended.

jethro00

We have 2 tandems, a Trek T900 with a single leg kickstand and a DaVinci Grand Junction with a double kickstand. I very much prefer the double kickstand. It is more stable. You can spin the rear tire to check for glass or other hazards, and lift the front and spin the front tire. You can remove the rear tire to change a flat since the rear tire is off the ground. If you have loaded cargo on the rear, it takes a bit of oomph to lift the rear to put the double kickstand down and to lift it up, but that is worth it for the benefits of the double kickstand.

IPassGas

Alternatively, consider a "Click-Stand" and something to hold the front wheel straight like "Steer-stopper".

Philly Tandem

Love my double-leg kickstands! Unless you are trying to be ultra-light, they are well worth their weight (less than a full water bottle, likely).

Paul J

We are planning an extended tour in 2021 and will be using a trailer to keep weight off the rear wheel, most likely the Burley Nomad. Does anyone know if these kick stands would interfere with the dropout attachment for the trailer?

Leisesturm

They don't. All the double leg stands I know of mount at the Stoker bottom bracket. The trailers all mount at the rear dropout(s). [FWIW] We are not big fans of using dual-track trailers with (single track) bicycles. Yes, they usually have a higher ultimate weight capacity but, respectfully, you are doing it wrong if you are exceeding the weight limit of a Bob Yak on even an extended tour. The tandem pictured above has a BOB ready Q/R, and we shop every week pulling the Yak. Getting ready for Thanksgiving for the last 5 or more years means exceeding the rated weight limit (70lb.) by at least 40lb. The trailer has stood up to this abuse just fine but the Pletscher stand has a bit of a limp. There are other double leg stands (cheaper too) that are better able to deal with 120lb. trailer loads. None are as elegant as the Pletscher though. Even the lowly Trek wheels are still as straight as new after all this abuse. Handbuilt wheels are absolutely able to handle the extra weight imposed by a single-track trailer[/FWIW]

Paul J

Thanks Leisesturm, I didn't know if the raised kick stand would interfere with the trailer hitch at the rear dropout, not knowing how far back ends would extend.

pdlamb

@Leisesturm, I have to ask, 110 pounds getting ready for Thanksgiving? Are you hauling donated canned goods from the grocery store to a food pantry or something?

Son_Rising

I've got the Velo Orange dual leg stand on my Sirrus. It works pretty well for light duty. Things like strong gusts and enthusiastic pups can easily knock the bike over though, especially when loaded. I like it still because it does work smoothly, is not too heavy and I'm careful when parking to have it near a wall or pole, tree, etc when loaded.

Son_Rising

So here's the stand in use recently.

jethro00

Interesting. I find that our Pletscher double leg stand (on firm ground) is much more stable than our good quality single leg stand, including when the bike is loaded (evenly on each side).

bobh123

Something I forgot to mention in my earlier reply: We travel with our S & S coupled tandem. When we get to our destination and reassemble the bike, and after the trip as we are breaking it down to pack up, we can stand the bike up on the double kickstand, without wheels. This lets the kickstand act, sort of, like having the bike on a bike repair stand. Pedals, seats, stems and handlebars, cable routing, cranks, timing chain, fenders, chain installation and cleaning, derailleur adjustment, brake adjustment. All of that can be attended to while the bike is standing erect. We still have to get up and down, but it is much easier than if the bike was lying on a side or propped against a wall, or if my stoker had to hold the bike up.

dwmckee

The Pletcher is teh way to go hands down. I have owned 3 tandems and would not have a tandem without it. Reasonable judgement when tightening the stand will ensure it is secure but does not crush the frame. Tandems sometimes use heavier tubing so this may be less of a risk with a tandem. I have never seen a frame damaged from overtightening a kickstand but I guess it is possible. For our last tandem we ordered it with a kickstand plate for most secure mounting.

Son_Rising

I like how stable the stand looks that they're using on the Madsen bucket bikes.