I use the sidestand, and leave it in 1st gear. This makes it much easier and more stable should you lose your balance,
I use the sidestand, and leave it in 1st gear. This makes it much easier and more stable should you lose your balance,
"We're surrounded, that simplifies our problem."-Chesty Puller
On the K - I'd check the suspension sag. I sounds like a lowered bike, or one with insufficient pre-load.Originally Posted by hungstart
Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russell
http://www.bigbend.net/users/glaves
Oh the things we will bicker over...
Do what works best for your bike at that particular place.
Nothing else matters.
Just for your collective amusement:
A long time ago, I parked my R75/5 on the centerstand, on a very slight uphill slope, facing uphill. It was a hot day there at Mammoth Lakes...
I walked away to see the Devil's Postpile, and returned to find my bike "mostly" upright... but leaning on one head, with both legs of the stand sunk into the blacktop.
Had to take off the bags & camping gear to pull it back up and out.
Could've been a lot worse if it was on the sidestand...
Use whichever you want, but always follow this rule:
NEVER park next to another BMW at a rally, etc., that's on its centerstand.
Kent Christensen
21482
'12 R1200RT, '02 R1100S, '84 R80G/S
All of the five motorcycles I've owned have had center stands and I've parked them on the center stand almost always, unless there was enough slope to the ground to make that unwise. I've never had a motorcycle fall over when it was on the center stand, but I have had the side stand sink into the pavement on a hot day and allow the bike to tip over. If you choose to use the side stand it's worth while to carry a piece of metal about 3 inches square and thick enough to distribute the weight of the bike without bending. The side stand has a fairly significant amount of weight on a small surface.
'74 Honda CB360, '77 Yamaha RD400, '83 Yamaha 650 Seca Turbo, '02 BMW K1200RS,
'01 BMW R1100RT
An electrical box cover is a cheap and good thing to put under your side stand. You can pick one up at any hardware store. The MOA gave them out several years ago a a rally we had to park in an open field for a picnic and to watch a fellow ride over trucks and trailers on his trick motorcycle. At later rallys, we got plastic discs supplied by Progressive.
'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.
Black 86 R80RT Brown 03 R1200CLC
I use the centerstand in the shed, performing maintenance, loading it up for a trip and when I wash the bike. Otherwise, the sidestand is used. Not only easier, but it is far more stable in wind and on soft surfaces. Leave it in gear when you park it though!
'04 R1150RT
No matter where you go, there you are!
If you use the center stand and your bike falls over 2/3 times per week, use the side stand.
If you use the side stand and your bike falls over 2/3 times per week, use the center stand.
If it does not fall over on a regular basis, keep on doing what you are doing.
1995 R1100RS
Your friend is silly.
The sidestand is more stable, you should use it:
- On any incline
- In public
- When it's windy
- Any other time you think it's appropriate
Use the centerstand when you want:
- Less space in the garage
- Easier maintenance
- Any other time you think it's appropriate
Erik Peterson '05 R1150RT
central MN
MotoErik@gmail.com..."True wisdom comes to one who has traveled far and knows the ways of the world" Anon Viking poet
I generally use the center stand because I grew up down south where the hot summer temperatures soften asphalt parking lots enough to allow a side stand to sink in and the bike to tip over. I recently put a large foot attachment on my side stand so I dont have to worry about that anymore.
The oilheads need to stay on the side stand for a few minutes after engine shut down to let the oil drain out of the oil cooler. Then I put the bike on the center stand to check the oil level in the sight glass.
My bike stays on the center stand when stored for any amount of time in my garage. It fits better up against the wall and takes up less space.
Do yourself a favor and buy some teflon sliders at the hardware store. Get the large round disks that are about 7 inches across and put one under each foot of the center stand to rotate the bike 180 degrees. It works better for me than trying to turn the bike by rolling it around the garage and it certainly is cheaper than buying a turntable.
04 R1150RT
hot asphalt will eat a c-stand as readily as a sidestand. if it does so, the likelihood of tipover is even greater- again due to the narrow footprint of the c-stand.
i have had bikes fall over under both scenarios. its far easier to employ a coaster under the sidestand than under a c-stand.
i was happy to get back to the bike before the pavement had cooled sufficiently to trap the "foot" within the now hardened blacktop, as i was not equipped with chisels or a jackhammer.
Ride Safe, Ride Lots
Our 11S and Helens K12S don't have a centerstand, so a no brainer on those
The only time my K12S or GSA goes on the center is for maintenance . Our other bikes may rest on the side or centerstand in their waiting to be ridden position in the shop, but really only on the centers if I need a bit more room. Helen prefers I leave them all on the sidestands so she can take what she wants and doesn't have to mess with it. Simple for me
Out in the world, it's sidestands typically and all the bikes have some sort of fatfoot pad on them because I tend to lose untethered plates.
I do not gain enough fuel to warrant putting it on the centerstand at fuel ups. My internal tank won't typically go farther than my bikes anyways!
Steve Henson
EX-Prez SABMWRA MOA Club#62/ current forum moderator
It's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away-D.Dillon/G. Strait
I am my own rider and I like the side stand. I am also my own mechanic and I like the centerstand. You should see some of the arguments between the rider and the mechanic. Not pretty my friends.
I use both, but use the centerstand near exclusively for every gas fill up, maintenance and washing, storage in the winter. Centerstand ONLY for maintenance? That must come from someone who can't get their bike on the c-stand easily. I too have had my RS tip over on hot asphault on both the sidestand AND the centerstand. One time on the centerstand it sunk in until the foot tab grounded and then the bike tipped to the right side.
On my 94 RS, BMW in some brain-fart of inspiration designed the sidestand footpad to resemble a shape more suited to serving very small pieces of banana cream pie. The thing was like a knife! I welded on a footpad nearly three times larger which does not interfere with the bike at all.
I came into BMWs on a 76 R100RS, with the spring loaded sidestand. Seems riders from that era bike are more inclined to use the centerstand than the sidestand, and it simply carried over to my 94 RS.
Woodenshoe to Cheesehead
Since we don't store for the winterno real need to leave on centerstand...and have no issue lifting full tanked LT's to GSA's onto the centerstand on the lift table when working on them
Whatever works and makes one happy is the correct answer.
Steve Henson
EX-Prez SABMWRA MOA Club#62/ current forum moderator
It's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away-D.Dillon/G. Strait
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