Author Topic: Center Stand v. Side Stand (Read 30793 times)

GuzziPilot · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2015, 05:55:54 PM »

Always nice to have the option. No center stand on my Jackal, always wished for one, every tire change and oil service (checking & changing), and quite handy when checking & adjusting valves. And, as mentioned above, loading a bike heavy on a center stand is easier, better load balance. I wouldn't chuck it before trying the bike out for a few thousand miles.

Lee

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #31 on:** February 12, 2015, 05:56:41 PM »

Pretty hard to beat the fubarguzzi method- lean on a tree.

GuzziPilot · « **Reply #32 on:** February 12, 2015, 06:02:32 PM »

Quote from: Guzzistajohn on February 12, 2015, 05:56:41 PM

Pretty hard to beat the fubarguzzi method- lean on a tree.

Not sure I'd want to test my Norge doing that...those bars are pretty, but flexible....no where near as strong as a good 'ol tubular bars, and everything else is plastic :wife:

56Pan · « **Reply #33 on:** February 12, 2015, 06:25:07 PM »

Sidestand. Carport and garage sealed concrete. Good luck getting the centerstand to grip enough to get it deployed. I guess I could weld some sharpened pins on the bottom of the feet, but only use the centerstand now when I'm working on the bike.

rodekyll · « **Reply #34 on:** February 12, 2015, 06:37:34 PM »

Quote from: Guzzistajohn on February 12, 2015, 05:56:41 PM

Pretty hard to beat the fubarguzzi method- lean on a tree.

I had a BSA Lightning I named ILEAN for that reason.

The advantage of a center stand nobody has mentioned is that you can put the bike on the stand and then use the stand as a lazy susan to spin the bike around its own center. Otherwise, I think all the pro's and con's are valid. I have both center and side stands on all my bikes. There is a time and place . . .

ejs · « **Reply #35 on:** February 12, 2015, 06:54:18 PM »

I use the sidestand unless I service the MC.

Been thinking of removing the sentrestand because the left side "push arm" that goes round the exhoust pipe is to low.
Scraping on left turns.
(California EV) :BEER:

D Knaus · « **Reply #36 on:** February 12, 2015, 07:01:09 PM »

I use the sidestand for short term parking, but for overnight I always use the center stands on my bikes. Exception is the Sport1100i, and I lost the aftermarket centerstand when the Staintune was installed. The new exhaust crossover pipe wasn't compatible with the stand.
My garage floor was painted by a PO, and after 25 years is still too slick to get the bikes off the centerstands easy. They just push to the other end of the garage on the stands. So I keep a few carpet sample squares on the floor. Just park the bike on sidestand, take my foot to push the carpet square under the centerstand, and put it up. That holds the stand to the floor, so a push and it comes right off.
I have a fear of having a tire go flat in the garage (again) and the bike falling over from straightening up on the sidestand.
The Sport1100i has a paddock stand that lifts the swingarm, and I use it when parking at home. On the road that isn't an option.
YMMV
-Dale
'97 Sport 1100i
'78 Ducati Darmah
'75 Norton Commando Roadster
'03 1800 Gold Wing

190 Octane · « **Reply #37 on:** February 12, 2015, 07:13:34 PM »

I use the side stand for parking and the center stand for maintenance.

The center stand is also handy for triggering traffic lights with inductive loops.

56Pan · « **Reply #38 on:** February 12, 2015, 07:21:31 PM »

Quote from: D Knaus on February 12, 2015, 07:01:09 PM

I use the sidestand for short term parking, but for overnight I always use the center stands on my bikes. Exception is the Sport1100i, and I lost the aftermarket centerstand when the Staintune was installed. The new exhaust crossover pipe wasn't compatible with the stand.
My garage floor was painted by a PO, and after 25 years is still too slick to get the bikes off the centerstands easy. They just push to the other end of the garage on the stands. So I keep a few carpet sample squares on the floor. Just park the bike on sidestand, take my foot to push the carpet square under the centerstand, and put it up. That holds the stand to the floor, so a push and it comes right off.
I have a fear of having a tire go flat in the garage (again) and the bike falling over from straightening up on the sidestand.
The Sport1100i has a paddock stand that lifts the swingarm, and I use it when parking at home. On the road that isn't an option.
YMMV
-Dale
'97 Sport 1100i
'78 Ducati Darmah

Good trick with the carpet, Knaus.
'75 Norton Commando Roadster
'03 1800 Gold Wing

tazio · « **Reply #39 on:** February 12, 2015, 07:46:15 PM »

Loved the center stand on the old /5 beemers.
Take front wheel off, bike is weighted to the back.
or, take back wheel off, bike weight shifts forward.
Nice.

Also love watching the 'ol Triumph walk backwards when rev'ed on it's center stand!

The 1100sporti side stand has broken the hearts of many an owner, I'd wager..

Harley has that sweet side stand that prevents the bike from rolling forward ;-T

charlie b · « **Reply #40 on:** February 12, 2015, 07:48:12 PM »

Another vote for both. Which one I use depends on what I am doing, where I am at, and how long I will be there.

I do carry a plate to use with the sidestand on soft ground.

Caveat: my side stand is not stock. I cut off the leg and welded on the bottom portion of the Harley stand. Then bent the original mounting plate to a good angle, then welded on a reinforcing plate. Now it leans nicely, has a tab right under my foot to deploy it, and the single return spring means I don't have to fight to keep it down. Next mod is a larger aluminum foot section attached to it (to keep it from sliding).

Lannis · « **Reply #41 on:** February 12, 2015, 09:42:16 PM »

Quote from: rodekyll on February 12, 2015, 06:37:34 PM

I had a BSA Lightning I named ILEAN for that reason.

The BSAs are all eventually somebody's "LEAN". That furnace-brazed sidestand lug only has about a 40 year life, which means that none of mine have working sidestands until I strip them down and figure out a way to re-braze them without knocking the engine mounts out of line .....

Kev m · « **Reply #42 on:** February 12, 2015, 09:47:20 PM »

Quote from: tazio on February 12, 2015, 07:46:15 PM

Harley has that sweet side stand that prevents the bike from rolling forward ;-T

Which will also pop up on its own once the weight is of the bike, if you forget it and it touches down.

It's actually a rare (for Harley) rather elegantly simple mechanical design.

jazzamoto · « **Reply #43 on:** February 12, 2015, 10:36:18 PM »

Quote from: rocker59 on February 12, 2015, 03:46:23 PM

The cases can be welded. DAMHIK. ~;

Hah! Proof that you're living a good life! ;D

Nic in Western NYS · « **Reply #44 on:** February 13, 2015, 03:59:51 AM »

Quote from: sturgeon on February 12, 2015, 11:50:35 AM

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

Sturgeon, were you on a statin when it happened (the tendon tear, that is)?

johnr · « **Reply #45 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:17:53 AM »

The kick down lever on the center stand on my Rocket 3 used to touch down far too easily when cornering to the left (that is, before everything else did) so I chopped the lever off. Left just enough of a stub to be able to engage it with my toe.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #46 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:23:07 AM »

This is starting to be un interesting :D

HDGoose · « **Reply #47 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:45:07 AM »

I have never bought a bike because of center stand or not.

With the Guzzi California side stand, I only use the center sand for maintenance. Right now I nee new springs for my sagging center stand.

Cam3512 · « **Reply #48 on:** February 13, 2015, 05:51:58 AM »

:+=copcar

Quote from: Guzzistajohn on February 13, 2015, 05:23:07 AM

This is starting to be un interesting :D

Yea, even the "I lean over so far while cornering I scrape the centerstand" stories...

johnr · « **Reply #49 on:** February 13, 2015, 06:36:14 AM »

Quote from: Cam3512 on February 13, 2015, 05:51:58 AM

:+=copcar
Yea, even the "I lean over so far while cornering I scrape the centerstand" stories...

;D Well you didn't have to lean R3s very far to do it, but its a suggestion for those whose main complaint is scraping them.

mtiberio · « **Reply #50 on:** February 13, 2015, 07:01:42 AM »

I keep my centerstand in the garage as a mainenance lift only. I use the bolts as push pins and "install" it temporarily for maintenance.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #51 on:** February 13, 2015, 07:24:47 AM »

Once KevM writes an essay on a subject it becomes a moot point. ;D

blackbuell · « **Reply #52 on:** February 13, 2015, 07:31:20 AM »

I've heard that the 2nd gen Norges are delivered to the dealers as the first gen ones were regarding the fasteners of both the side stand and the center stand: be sure to locktite the fasteners of both. Otherwise you risk losing fasteners or even the stands while riding.

I don't know if this is true of the second gen Norges (I have a 2009), but when on the side stand, my bike leans over so far that if I'm not careful about where I park it I have difficulty getting it off the stand, especially when the luggage is fully loaded. (I really should fix this!)

It's a lot easier to check tire air pressure and to clean the rims when the bike is on the center stand.

Jon

JeffOlson · « **Reply #53 on:** February 13, 2015, 10:37:59 AM »

Thanks for all the comments! Very helpful.

Re. the Ducati side stand, now I understand why its use is not recommended...

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Author Topic: Center Stand v. Side Stand (Read 30793 times)

56Pan

190 Octane

56Pan