At the risk of being ostracized by the knee-draggers on this forum, do any of you have the optional OEM center stand mounted? If so, is it pretty easy to get the bike up onto the stand? If you installed the center stand yourself, was it a PITA? I am thinking hard about getting one...

You have to be cranking over pretty large to tag the center stand. I forget, but I think it is right can only? Maybe both? Either way, you need the factory kit. I tried to mickey something. The spring was too loose. Every bolt is special for that, 'kit-stand.' The handle comes with it too. I'd comment about the PITA; are the mufflers. The only, careful, watch out kind of warning is, keep that tab on the inside, not outside the passenger brace, but in between frame and brace. That outside move is a no-no, pull it, start all over; don't lower and bend under or you squeeze the gasket out... Sorta.

First, angle dangle the muffler in a plane. You'll understand soon, how you plant the gasket in first. That means, what if the gasket came out with the muff? Leave it alone. Be as square going in as you can[watch] the back[too]! That pretty much says: It lines up by itself [if] both f&r line up. PITA, you fight it, you'll see. Other than the muff's... Smooth sailing.

I ordered a OEM centerstand for my 2012 14R back in November. The stand has been on a national backorder ever since the 14R was announced.

I telephoned Kawasaki this afternoon to find information about the stand, P/N 99994-0343, and was told that because the centerstand is installed on the 14R in certain markets (Asia) that they won't be stocking the part in the North American warehouses until their supply chain is filled.

They expected the centerstands to ship to the warehouses in N.A. by the end of February and then expected to start filling orders within two weeks of receipt.

So I will hopefully have my centerstand by the middle of March.

As for the difficulty of installation - Piece of cake. For the 14R you remove the right exhaust cannister **, remove the aft lower fairing and mount (I never installed my fairing in anticipation of the stand), and bolt the centerstand to the existing frame lugs. You install a bracket with a nipple to attach the spring to and it's already plumbed for all of this. Stick the cannister back on and go riding!!

**For the right exhaust cannister on the 2012 model, it was very simple. Loosen the constriction clamp underneath the engine until the clamp is free to rotate. Loosen the two bolts that attach the cannister to the frame - one located just behind the rear brake pedal and one at the passenger footpeg bracket. Remove the forward bolt but leave the rear bolt at the passenger pegs intact until you're ready to pull the cannister off. This way nothing will dangle and get bent or nicked. When you're ready, remove the rear bolt while holding the cannister and then gently twist the cannister as you pull it rearward. You'll feel if it is binding at the header pipe collector so just work it gently. I have had no issues with the gasket coming loose if you don't bind anything.

Good Luck. The 2011 model has a different part number for the stand than does the 2012 model but I don't think there's much difference in the procedures.

* Last updated by: Fowvay on 2/21/2012 @ 6:08 PM *

I've got it and it was a cinch. Piece a cake to mount and really easy to get the bike up on it. Just takes a little time but if I remember the instructions were very complete. I think the hardest part was getting the rubber bumper into the stock can hole...use WD-40 or silicone spray to help. Grab handle looks sharp too.

Thanks for all the good advice! As soon as I get my taxes done next month, and barring I owe Uncle Sam an arm & a leg, I'll be ordering my center stand kit!

Just got my centerstand kit. So far all I have installed is the grab handle. The directions that came in the kit say to remove the tail section to install the grab handle, but by first moving that sensor in there under the seat on the left side, I was able to get to the two threaded bolt holes to install the bracket. This weekend I'll tackle the centerstand proper. Hopefully I won't have to remove all the stuff the directions call for to do that! Will keep anyone interested posted...

I put a Concours 14 stand on my 06. Here's what you do: You need to buy the spring attach bolt from a Concours 14.
You need the centerstand stop from Brocks, ( I had to weld on about 3/8 inch more metal on the foot to keep the stand from hitting the chain.)
You drill and tap a hole on the left side lower frame for the spring bolt. I looked at a Concours to get an idea of the location.
Mount bolt, install the Brocks stand stop with Loctite, mount centerstand and VIOLA! Done.
I swear I'll try to get some pics of this set up sometime soon.
The stand cost me $19.99 from e-bay, the Brocks stop was appx $45, the bolt was $6.00.
We ride fast 2-up and have not hit the centerstand down once, while cornering to the edge of the rear tire.

Mad