Do you ever use the center stand for normal parking?

steve68steve

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Oct 23, 2014
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Seacoast, NH
I park on the side stand so much that I forget I have a center stand.

Then when I'm trying to load something or fiddle around in the panniers, I'll get frustrated by stuff sliding off the seat or rear rack. When I remember it has a center stand, up it goes. If I'm getting gas around town or commuting, I fuel on the side stand. If I'm on a trip and want to maximize range, I fuel on the center stand to squeeze a bit more in.

FWIW, I share the OP's curiosity about this. Side stand guys swear the center stand is a recipe for disaster... and yet there are center stand guys.
 

U.P.rider

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Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
I use my center stand a lot of times but not generally for fuel filling for some reason. Service, cleaning, packing and parking at work are where I mostly use the center stand. I have had center stands of most of my street going motorcycles so I guess I'm confident in it's stability. That being said I use the side stand most when out riding on a daily basis.
 

AVGeek

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I can provide a Vegas perspective...I was a full time commuter for about 5 years (both on my Gen 2 FJR and my Gen 1 ST). With the ST, it was so easy to pop up on the center stand, that it became my default way of parking. It made it so much easier to load up the panniers and strap my backpack to the seat, then I would swing a leg over, fire it up, and rock it down off the stand and ride away. My FJR was a completely different story, as it was a bear to get up on the center stand.
 

jeckyll

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Lotusland
I don't get the split on this topic. I guess that's because I use reason and my own goals to decide when to use either stand. I use the center stand when I need to. I use the side stand when I need to.

Problem solved? Can we all just get a beer now?

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No, there is much more ground to cover I'm sure.

Check out the thread on using the killswitch. It's either eye-opening, or mind-numbing depending on your perspective :D
 
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Mexico, NY
No, there is much more ground to cover I'm sure.

Check out the thread on using the killswitch. It's either eye-opening, or mind-numbing depending on your perspective :D
Killswitch? Do you mean the key or are you referring to a dead man tether?

Ah, never mind. This conversation isn't nearly as interesting as the ride I'm on right now.

Cheers!

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EricV

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I usually park on the center stand when at home or at hotels when it's level ground. If its uneven or sloped, I use the side stand. The bike is more stable on the side stand since both wheels are on the ground. I have an enlarged side stand foot, so no danger of sinking in to soft ground or hot asphalt. I have seen center stands sink in unevenly on hot asphalt or crappy, soft soil.
 

Sierra1

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Y'all check the oil? I don't think that I've ever drained less than I put in. The Tenere, to me, is more likely to bounce forward OFF of the center stand, than fall over. But, if they put a matching right side foot press, it wouldn't sink into the dirt. That's why it will always sinks to the right.
 

jeckyll

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Y'all check the oil? I don't think that I've ever drained less than I put in. The Tenere, to me, is more likely to bounce forward OFF of the center stand, than fall over. But, if they put a matching right side foot press, it wouldn't sink into the dirt. That's why it will always sinks to the right.
Some Gen I's definitely burn oil. Think the changed the ring design for Gen II's.
 

Heavyweight67

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May 9, 2019
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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Every time I refuel, pop it up onto centre stand, this way I can squeeze as much fuel in as possible, also here in Australia you have to dismount to refuel (not sure about other parts of the world), back n the day I was able to sit on the bike and refuel...it also looks good when you rock off the centre stand and ride off in one smooth motion...
 

Order 66

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Delaware
I use mine all the time. Pretty much whenever I want it more stable when I'm not going to be nearby when it's parked, definitely when I'm getting gas, when it's in the garage and not going to be heading right back out, etc. Compared to my Wing, it takes 1/10th the effort to get it up on the stand anyway, so I don't consider it 'work.' :) Plus, when I'm fully loaded with cases and gear, it's way easier to stand up on the peg to get on the bike than trying to swing a leg over it from the side stand position. It's completely muscle memory for me now - pop the bike onto the stand and sweep the side stand up so I don't have to think about it later.
 

SHUMBA

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I usually park on the center stand when at home or at hotels when it's level ground. If its uneven or sloped, I use the side stand. The bike is more stable on the side stand since both wheels are on the ground. I have an enlarged side stand foot, so no danger of sinking in to soft ground or hot asphalt. I have seen center stands sink in unevenly on hot asphalt or crappy, soft soil.
Thanks for your advice EricV, sound advice for sure.
I only use the centre stand for times such as winter storage, oil changes, other maintenance or wiring or whatever.
Sound level ground is a must or you will have a tip over.
So I use side stand 95% of the time. I too have an enlarged side stand foot.
SHUMBA

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