Do mountain bikes have kickstands? No, kickstands have no place on mountain bikes because aside from making the bike heavier, they’re downright dangerous.
Just imagine what would happen if the stand pops out midair and then snags in the dirt or gets buried behind a root section? There’re some serious safety concerns here!
We recommend that you lean your bike against a tree or wall or lay it on the ground. If you’re not a fan of the second option, look for a stick around and then wedge your bike upright with it.
However, if you don’t use your MTB off-roads at all and use it casually then you can add one for convenience.
Let’s dive deeper and see what issues you can face if you try to add a kickstand on your bike as an avid MTBer.
Reasons for Not Adding Kickstands
They can snag things
You don’t want your kickstand to catch brush as you ride on a trail and then go flying to end up with bruises and cuts. Many MTBers with kickstands have had this bad experience and you don’t want to be one of them!
They add weight
A kickstand can add 0.5 lb to 1.5 lbs of extra weight to the bike. This may not seem much but every pound matters for mountain bikers because this extra weight puts stress on the bike as well as on the rider while also contributing to wind drag.
They can impale you!
In case of a nasty crash, there’s a possibility that the kickstand may penetrate your body! We’ve heard of stories of the same happening with handlebars. So we can’t rule out the possibility that kickstands could also cause the same type of harm.
They can cause unbalanced bike geometry
Mountain bikes have their own sizes, measurements, and frame angles for optimal performance and balance.
A kickstand adds weight to the left side of your bike and messes up with this crucial geometry that you won’t probably appreciate.
You don’t need to stop frequently
Since mountain biking is an amazing sport, you won’t be making lots of stops as you will with a commuter, cruiser, or a road bike used for running errands. So, it’s not really necessary.
They add an extra cost
Most high-end MTB manufacturers don’t add kickstands because most bikers don’t want them in the first place. This also helps them save a lot.
Well, a $3 save on each bike can lead to saving a lot of money if you think about the mass production.
They may produce noise
An unfit kickstand is likely to rattle on bumpy roads, which can be annoying sometimes.
They are ugly to look at
Although many bikers (especially newbies) may disagree, a kickstand is an ugly thing to add to an MTB for the seasoned MTBers.
Unnecessary for mount biking
This is the major point here! Those who enjoy the thrill of biking through a trail don’t want any bells and whistles that would make their bikes heavier.
As said before, you don’t really need a stand to park your bike since there are plenty of trees, bushes, fences, poles, and rocks around to lean your bike against them.
FAQs
1. Can I add a kickstand to my mountain bike?
Ans. Yes, you can but that’s not only unnecessary but dangerous as well.
