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I always use the side stand. I do use the center stand for rear tire changes, which are every 4 months or so. Plus oil changes and for other maintenance.One bike I have doesn't have a center stand, so it is a pain to do some maintenance.
Since owning a BMW I've gotten spoiled and I use the centerstand 99% of the time. Bikes I've purchased since, all now have centerstands. Some aftermarket, some homebuilt if the factory doesn't make one. Sidestands are useful for the short term parking jobs. YMMV ~; Homemade/adapted for my V11 Sport. Paul B :BEER:
With that new Norge, what do you plan to do if you get a flat rear tire while on the road? With a centerstand it's pretty simple to take off the caliper and then the rear wheel so you can fix the flat. Without a centerstand.....I guess you could just lay that pretty new bike over on its side and do the same, but I wouldn't. You can keep the stand from dragging by just increasing the rear preload a bit.
With that new Norge, what do you plan to do if you get a flat rear tire while on the road? With a centerstand it's pretty simple to take off the caliper and then the rear wheel so you can fix the flat. Without a centerstand.....I guess you could just lay that pretty new bike over on its side and do the same, but I wouldn't.
Jeff,Ducati side stands are bolted to the cast aluminum engine case and they recommend not putting any excess weight on them - such as sitting on the bike while it's on the side stand. It doesn't take much to crack the case and then you might as well total the bike given what it will cost to replace the case. I paid through the nose for a used center stand for my 2006 Multistrada but it's worth every penny.John
1) If you have both, which do you prefer?2) I have read that the center stand drags easily and is also prone to coming loose. 3) I am wondering if I should just remove it and avoid those problems from the start...
I'm amazed that anyone would trust an Italian side stand. When I had my Ducati Darmah long ago, it had both. Center stand was remarkably well-designed for easy operation (they made up for that later with the one on the Pantahs) and the side stand was short so it left the bike at an unstable angle. It also locked in place as I recall, was not deployable on the bike, and if you rode off without first retracting in you'd get tossed at the first left-hander. Spring-loaded Guzzi side stands, at least on my old ones, leave the bike at an unstable angle and can't be deployed while on the bike. Which has to be vertical or even a little past (invitation to disaster there) in order to get the stand down or back up. At that point it's easier to use the center stand. Which is also more stable.cr
And for a completely different kind of input, I tore my Achilles tendon in half using a centre stand, 7 years ago. 750 VStrom, gravel road in N Ont, raining. Decided my chain needed some lube. Bike on a slight downward slant. Foot slipped off the peg on the centre stand, slammed into the road with most of my 180 lbs behind it, snap. 30 km ride to the hospital, surgery, 8 weeks in a cast during one of the nicest autumns in years. So, by all means, use a centre stand (I still do), but exercise caution. I painted my peg yellow as one of those 'caution, slippery when wet' kinda signs :D
I like both for different reasons.I USUALLY store the bike on the sidestand (because the lean fits well with the other bikes all in a row).Of course, for long term storage it is nice to lift more weight off both wheels using the centerstand.I also prefer to fuel up on the centerstand to get every last drop (especially when touring). And I like to load up on the centerstand.I use the centerstand to remove the front or rear wheel (simply place a block of wood under it for more height).I also like to use the centerstand for checking oil or some maintenance operations.But most of the time I just park it on the sidestand.PS - I can't STAND that our Duc doesn't have/can't have a centerstand... that makes NO SENSE on a chain drive bike!