Is there a point to the center stand?

[jbird7262]

Nope, center stand fits fine with my V/H, helps with maintenance, chains, oil, brake work among other things.

[jeffgs]

I use Jeep's method with my index pulling the brake lever to keep it from going forward.

I have barely used the side stand. I used it once yesterday because I forgot to tighten my gauges down an the nut and washer fell off riding slowly doewn the street hence why I shake em down. I primarily use the center, in fact almost absolutely. I am like Jeep, i would have a heart attack if I found it on the ground from being lazy.

[JEEPRUSTY]

No heart attack but you try finding signal light for a 30 ish something motorcycle.
I always fuel up on the centre stand as well

Centre no center totally n'other thing

[jeffgs]

Lol

yes my bad

Ok I spoke for both of us. I would have a heart attack. You would get on the forum to find a turn signal.

[Steve]

On solid ground or even gravel sod etc the centre stand is more stable. Think no sinky in ground or hot ashphalt.

I have never come out to find my bike has fallen off its centre stand. lost two signal lights the other way on two seperate occasions.

Once again, I will have do disagree with the Jeepster.

I use my side stand only occasionally when the ground is solid. They sink in to the ground too easily for me. I prefer the center stand as long as there is stable ground below it, otherwise I use the side stand AND a plate of some kind under it.

Your experiences (both of yours) seem to defy physics. Let's assume a 500 pound bike with approximately equal weight distribution (without a rider).

With the bike on the side stand, you might have about 100 pounds of pressure on the side stand, leaving about 200 pounds for each tire. The side stand is rather small. maybe about two square inches, for a pressure of 50 psi. Each tire has a much larger contact patch, maybe about 4 or 5 square inches each, for a pressure of 40-50 psi.

With the bike on the center stand, there is only about 40-50 pounds of weight on the front wheel, leaving 450-460 pounds on the centerstand. Each foot measures about 1.5 inches square, for an area of 2.5 square inches each, or a total of 5 square inches that need to hold up 450 pounds. That is 90 psi, or about DOUBLE what any force is when using the side stand.

Personal experience: I have seen a bike that was parked on the center stand on (somewhat) fresh blacktop on a hot day (presumably for the stability of the center stand). When he came back to the bike, it had fallen over to the right side. Both feet had sunk, but the kick tab on the left foot then touched, increasing the surface area and stopped that side from sinking.

Personally, I use the side stand most of the time, but use the center stand to stand the bike more-upright in the garage (to minimize the real estate necessary for parking it) and for service work. My Wing has an aftermarket kick stand (chrome, of course) that is called "Big Foot". I have parked the bike on FRESH blacktop (just one day after it was laid) in the summer and there was not the slightest dimple. On the other hand, even being parked on the side stand, leaning into the wind, is no match for a breeze in Flori-duh that has gathered a bit of strength along the length of the hotel.



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[mrbill5491]

No I wasn't aware of that. This makes me feel the center stand is even more useless. I've gotta break my back lifting it just to get it on the center stand Psshh.

You don't lift, you leverage with the center stand. You would have to be a close cousin to King Kong to lift the back of the bike up to get it on the center stand using that method. Go out and practice putting the bike on the center stand, bet'cha within the hour you'll have it figured out.

[Steve]

From the picture he posted earlier, I think I see the fork tubes slid up through the clamps a bit.

Can't tell if the shocks are stock length, but they look like stockers, so the springs might be sagged a bit, lowering the whole bike.

In that condition, yes, it will be a bear, because you DO have to lift the bike.



If you insist on lowering the bike, in spite of what it does to the handling, you will just have to adapt your center stand (and possibly the side stand, too) to match the lowered height of the bike.

My son has longer shocks on his 650L. I don't know if he has actually succeeded, but he was talking about being able to ride to a stop and deploy the centerstand FROM A SEATED POSITION, without ever touching a foot to the ground. The longer shocks make all the difference.

I have recently installed a taller tire on my Wing that makes is VERY easy to put on the center stand. I can actually do it in flip-flops, have not yet tried bare feet.

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[wymple]

"Your experiences (both of yours) seem to defy physics. Let's assume a 500 pound bike with approximately equal weight distribution (without a rider)."

You can be right as rain on the physics, but my GS850 gets real heavy real quick when it's leaned over much, and I find a lot of pressure on that little side stand. I have a bad leg and I'm short, so I like to climb on mine with the bike on the center stand, the rock it forward to take off. Holding a 580 lb bike upright while I get on is a chore. If I mount the bike while it's on the center stand, it threatens me mightily to tip over unless the surface is VERY hard. I weigh close to 200 lbs, and on the seat with the center stand down, I have to shift most of my weight to the back seat to lift the front wheel any. There is a lot more than 40-50 lbs on my front tire. That is with a Vetter setup all the way around.

[hillsy]

From the picture he posted earlier, I think I see the fork tubes slid up through the clamps a bit.

Can't tell if the shocks are stock length, but they look like stockers, so the springs might be sagged a bit, lowering the whole bike.

In that condition, yes, it will be a bear, because you DO have to lift the bike.



If you insist on lowering the bike, in spite of what it does to the handling, you will just have to adapt your center stand (and possibly the side stand, too) to match the lowered height of the bike.

My son has longer shocks on his 650L. I don't know if he has actually succeeded, but he was talking about being able to ride to a stop and deploy the centerstand FROM A SEATED POSITION, without ever touching a foot to the ground. The longer shocks make all the difference.

I have recently installed a taller tire on my Wing that makes is VERY easy to put on the center stand. I can actually do it in flip-flops, have not yet tried bare feet.

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Not having a grab rail won't be helping you either when it comes to putting your bike on the centre stand.

[Rob S.]

That is one scary picture, Steve. How many (trucks) did it take to right it?

[Missile99]

For the years owning this bike, I have only used the center stand on the concrete garage floor. It makes maintenance stuff so much easier and on concrete the bike is very stable. I've gotten on my creeper and removed the oil pan without having to rest my head on the ground to see. Using it somewhere else is something I'd consider if having problems getting it stable on the side stand. Without one, I'd just buy one of those cool stands or lifts for the garage.

To the O.P., if you ever get one you'll have to learn the technique. It does help to have a grab handle. You stabilize the bike with handlebars and the handle or something toward the back. Knowing how much to lift in the back can make it super smooth.

Steve, that really sucks. Usually, the strong winds push before the crazy summer rain storms. The wind tunnel effect usually just gives a nice breeze. Still, it's crazy to think that even with a combo of the two your heavy bike could be pushed over. Maybe the next time you visit the great state you'll have to run a ratchet strap from your bike to a curb stop or tree.

[Steve]

That is one scary picture, Steve. How many (trucks) did it take to right it?

No trucks, just me. With the crash bars that are part of the bike, it actually does not take all that much effort (when properly applied) to get it back upright. A GS is considerably harder to right.

Steve, that really sucks. Usually, the strong winds push before the crazy summer rain storms. The wind tunnel effect usually just gives a nice breeze. Still, it's crazy to think that even with a combo of the two your heavy bike could be pushed over. Maybe the next time you visit the great state you'll have to run a ratchet strap from your bike to a curb stop or tree.

Sorry, but my one trip for this millenium has already been logged.

For the rest of that work assignment, I watched the weather carefully. If there was any forcast for stronger-than-usual breezes, I parked the bike between my van and my trailer, next to the dumpster. ALL of them playing the part of "wind block".
The space that is partially shown in the bottom left corner is where the bike got blown over.
(Ignore the light that appears to be floating in the parking lot, it's just a reflection on the inside of the hotel window.)



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[850 Combat]

When I built a Cafe Racer in the 70's, I put on longer shocks in order to quicken the steering and increase ground clearance in corners. I had some lugs welded to the bottom of the center stand to compensate. Don't think for a moment that you invented them, So how did you jet it to get it to run right with those pod filters and sawed off pipes?

A couple of Cafe Racers I have had. The yellow one I built in the 70s:

[Missile99]

Sorry, but my one trip for this millenium has already been logged.

For the rest of that work assignment, I watched the weather carefully. If there was any forecast for stronger-than-usual breezes, I parked the bike between my van and my trailer, next to the dumpster. ALL of them playing the part of "wind block".
The space that is partially shown in the bottom left corner is where the bike got blown over.
(Ignore the light that appears to be floating in the parking lot, it's just a reflection on the inside of the hotel window.)

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Not even a nice trip to get away from the wintertime to ride in "your" summertime weather?

Ah, the esteemed van....A Previa. I used to hate those things because of their style and how weird it seemed to add oil from inside the van. Essentially, a cab-over engine design. Working at an oil change place years ago, it was always awkward to carefully extend the oil hose and pump the fresh stuff in. Nowadays, I realize that those darn things were probably one of the most bulletproof vehicles ever built. They rack up mileage like diesels with very little problems. A smart vehicle choice for its versatility and reliability.

[Crankthat]

As you can see experiences differ very much on this seemingly innocent query.
A few of the members here have found the "sweet spot" to say, in application of center stand usage.


I took mine off.
I have found that it has dragged and even caught the pavement in turns where I am really leaning the bike.
You may never experience that, though a few other members have found the same difficulty.
I think it comes from going from a sportsbike to a GS.

It makes a few of the regular maintenance projects more of a chore as I now use a bike lift for simple things like removing the wheels and lubing the chain.

We also had a bad storm here years ago with high winds that knocked my bike over while on the center stand.
It would not have been a issue with the side stand only deployed.

A earlier post showed a bike puck.
A very useful tool for hot pavement and parking on dirt/sand/grass/leaves.......
It keeps the kickstand from sinking in the softer stuff.

My opinion.
Good and bad both.