to prevent scratches and what not, i wrap my kickstands in either electrical tape or tennis racket handle tape....when it gets beat up some, just replace...better then getting a scratched rusty kickstand

http://i50.tinypic.com/143iykx.jpg
i think it gives the bike character. one side from the rocks and dirt, one side from the boots. does it really rust for you east coast guys. ive never seen rust in cali, unless its COMPLETELY neglected.

If you go a grindin, mind what lcpl0331 said. Grind too much and when it's up the spring won't even have enough tension to hold itself on.
Here are my kickstand relief grind results.
Attachment 17862
Attachment 17863

Mine goes alot high just welded the tab lower on the kickstand. A pic is in my gallery
I think.

Kevin

I'm totally fine with character marks, in fact my bike is covered with em. I just don't particularly enjoy that metal on rock noise (most of the time...)

Dan- that looks about ideal. How much material did you take off?

there was one time i was riding some singletrack by my house, and the trail had a sharp point that the skid plate would almost touch. well this day, some one had roosted the other side and i was going a bit fast and SLAMED the skid plate on it and busted the 2 back bolts out the plate. it was so hard i bounced off the seat from not being ready for it.