How often do you use your centerstand

blupupher · Post by **blupupher** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:01 am

Just wondering how often do you use the center stand on your bike (that has one).

When I had my VT1100 Shadow, I had no option, only a side stand, and many times wanted a center stand (had to buy a motorcycle jack for maintenance).
With my GL1500, I find that I use the center stand every time I park my bike.
It is just habit when I park, I put the side stand down, get off the bike, put it on the center stand, then shut the bike off with the key (and if parked in public, lock the bars).
Reason I shut the bike off after I put it on the center stand is to remind me to remove the key (I had walked off a few times with the key in the ignition if I shut the bike off first).
The only times I have not put it on the center stand was when the bike was on an incline or decline that would have made center stand use difficult to get up on or off of, or was unsafe to do so (i.e. left bike in gear and used the engine as a parking brake).

And now that I think about it, the other bikes I had that had that had a center stand (VF500 and CB750), I always used it when I parked them as well.

I know some bikes are easier than others to put on a center stand, so that my play a part in it also. If I had to fight to get a bike on the stand every time, not sure if I would use it all the time or not.
I do know I would use it at home though regardless, having it on the center stand takes up much less space in the garage. My bike is parked next to the wall, then we have a path between my wife's SUV and the bike, and if I was on the side stand, I would have much less room to walk past and the bike would get bumped all the time.

Andy Cote · Post by **Andy Cote** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:09 am

My GL1200 had the classic issue of leaning more than I liked when on the side stand so I got in the habit then. When I was at work, I was usually the only one on the center stand. Just seemed like a good thing to me. Even looked at buying a center stand (aftermarket) for my Valkyrie.

DenverWinger · Post by **DenverWinger** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:36 am

About the only time I use center stand is parked in the garage, or if checking oil at a fuel stop. The 1100 is a genuine pain in the a** to get on the stand, there's a 2' long piece of 2x10 I park the rear tire on in the garage, makes getting it on the stand much easier. The 1500 is much easier to get on center stand.

dingdong · Post by **dingdong** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 4:04 pm

The 1500 only when parked in the garage. The 76 I have a ride off stand so I almost never use the center stand except for maintenance. I use the ride off stand to keep her from smoking at start up.

C-dub · Post by **C-dub** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 4:14 pm

Mostly just for maintenance and checking stuff. About the only other time is if I'm on a bit of a slant and using the side stand would either make it lean too much or not enough.

Post by **WingAdmin** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:19 pm

I use it every time I park my bike in my garage at home.

I would never use the centerstand if I parked the bike on asphalt. I did that once when I was a kid, and came out to find my bike taking a nap on the ground, the center stand having sunk into the hot asphalt.

tamathumper · Post by **tamathumper** » Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:50 pm

Every time in the garage, it uses up less space.

Very seldom on the road, unless I need it to take up less space, like in the hotel alcove.

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:37 am

When changing the oil or other such maintenance, and when changing a front tire. To change a rear tire, I lay the bike on it's right side. (on blankets of course). One oil change this year, so one time this year on the center stand. One time this year for a nap while a new rear tire went on.

offcenter · Post by **offcenter** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:44 am

On my 1500, I use it for maintenance and such.
I'm amazed that the 1500 is so easy to get up on the centerstand.
I also have a '76 Wing which is a much lighter bike,
and that one is damned near impossible
for me to put up on the stand. I had to make a lever arm that
fits over the foot pad on the stand. Very poor design.

minimac · Post by **minimac** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:04 am

I always use it on the 1500, unless on something soft. I only use the sidestand with something under it because the 'foot' is so small, and only when absolutely necessary. Unless you leave the bike in gear, there's nothing to stop it from being able to roll off of the stand.

landisr · Post by **landisr** » Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:55 pm

The centerstand on the 1500 gets used rather frequently, but no hard and fast rules. On the '76s, rarely due to being a PITA. I have to carry a piece of 2x4 for assistance. Very poor design.

OldguyGlen · Post by **OldguyGlen** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:31 am

The GL1100 is a B**** to get on the stand. I do it only for maintenance and winter long term storage. I use a plank on the floor to help. And/Or I use an extension on the foot lever. I use a 1 ft aluminum square tube, but it is also a bother. It is too loose since it has to fit over the knob on the end of the lever, but then it is too loose at the bottom. Some day I'll fabricate something out of channel iron to make things easier.
In my youth I had bikes with only center stands. While much lighter than the Wing, they still tipped over on asphalt without a metal plate. I always carry a small plate for the Wing's side stand as well.

Post by **WingAdmin** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 12:04 pm

OldguyGlen wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:31 am The GL1100 is a B**** to get on the stand. I do it only for maintenance and winter long term storage. I use a plank on the floor to help. And/Or I use an extension on the foot lever. I use a 1 ft aluminum square tube, but it is also a bother. It is too loose since it has to fit over the knob on the end of the lever, but then it is too loose at the bottom. Some day I'll fabricate something out of channel iron to make things easier.
In my youth I had bikes with only center stands. While much lighter than the Wing, they still tipped over on asphalt without a metal plate. I always carry a small plate for the Wing's side stand as well.

My 1100 was horrible to get on the center stand, until I replaced the 35-year-old rear shocks with new Progressive 416's. With fresh springs, the back of the bike lifted up over an inch, and from then on it was super easy to get up on the center stand.

W109driver · Post by **W109driver** » Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:58 pm

Just realized my recent purchase doesn't have one.
Was annoying......

..

julimike54 · Post by **julimike54** » Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:02 am

I use the center stand when parking overnight, providing the ground is stable, etc.

Solo So Long · Post by **Solo So Long** » Wed Oct 07, 2020 5:55 pm

Most of the time, not always.

Pam · Post by **Pam** » Tue Oct 20, 2020 4:45 pm

Every time I come home and winter storage. On the road I seldom use it.

AZgl1800 · Post by **AZgl1800** » Tue Oct 20, 2020 5:06 pm

Every time I get off and leave it parked.

Great_adVENTURE · Post by **Great_adVENTURE** » Wed Oct 21, 2020 5:15 am

I use the center stand when parked on concrete and there is no incline. When I had my Yamaha Venture I had to use a motorcycle jack with adapter every time I wanted to do anything to it.

DarthJ · Post by **DarthJ** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:47 am

I went with other, I always use it for maintenance, cleaning, fueling, storing. I'll use it sometimes when I park, if i plan to sit on the bike for whatever reason

brettchallenger · Post by **brettchallenger** » Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:48 pm

When parking in my garage for anything more than a few hours I always use the centre stand. I found, since fitting a Dunlop Elite 4 tyre on the rear, that it tends to get a flat spot when parked on the side stand for more than a few hours.

Greenwinger · Post by **Greenwinger** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:03 pm

maintenance and any time I think the bike may sit for 2 or more days without a ride.

Balsawings · Post by **Balsawings** » Sun Jan 03, 2021 3:43 pm

The bikes are always on the center stand in the garage (takes up less floor space). The only time I've used the center stand away from home is when fueling the GoldWing. The SilverWing is fueled on the side stand because fuel tends to come out of the fuel cap vent if parked on the side stand after filling on the center stand (especially on a hot day in the sun).

Bob C.

in2it · Post by **in2it** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:02 am

Every time I get off the bike and every time is... gas stops... maintenance ... Parking

AZgl1800 · Post by **AZgl1800** » Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:38 am

in2it wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:02 am Every time I get off the bike and every time is... gas stops... maintenance ... Parking

I always said 'every time' I get off, but I did not mention that includes stopping for gas, a bite to eat.

IF, the bike is stopped and I'm not on it, it goes on the Center Stand.

How often do you use your centerstand

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