Do you ever use the center stand for normal parking?

[Kyle_E]

Just curious. I saw a guy at the gas station today use a center stand on his wing to go buy a coffee. I know his kick worked because he used it to get off and back on. It would have never entered my mind to use the center stand as a daily use type thing. In my mind it is for working on the bike.

Is this something people do? My first bike with one so am I missing something?

 

[SHUMBA]

Just curious. I saw a guy at the gas station today use a center stand on his wing to go buy a coffee. I know his kick worked because he used it to get off and back on. It would have never entered my mind to use the center stand as a daily use type thing. In my mind it is for working on the bike.

Is this something people do? My first bike with one so am I missing something?

I have a 2018 Tenere ES and it ONLY goes onto the centre stand in my garage which has a flat concrete floor.
Recently, my friend and I went riding and stopped fr lunch on a main street in a small town. His Africa Twin has a centre stand and he elected to place his bike onto the centre stand. Hmmmm...unfortunately he misjudged the angle of the road and his bike fell over. Other than a few scratches to the crash bars and a somewhat damaged ego, leasoned learned.
I'm very cautious with deploying the centre stand because if you get it wrong the bike will fall and you won't be happy.
For general riding docking or parking just use the sidestand.
Or if you are a big strong guy then I'm sure you can use the centre stand, just be sure you are on level terrain.
SHUMBA

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[jbrown]

I use the center stand for parking at home so the bike will fit with the other crap in my garage. I use it at work to leave space for other bikes to share the car sized parking spot. Everywhere else I use the side stand.

 

[Sierra1]

Since you're in Vegas, and I'm not, I know it wasn't me. BUT, at the gas station is where I use it the most. Just me, or that guy too, but I like a level bike when I am refueling. Generally gas station pump areas are nice, level, and concrete; for the most part anyway. Otherwise, I prefer the side stand with THIS bike. I take advantage of the huge lean it has; which in my mind makes it more stable.

 

[gv550]

Center stand can be used on level concrete, but be careful on asphalt. If it's new or hot the legs will sink in and the bike will be napping when you return to it.

 

[MFP]

I use my center stand most of the time on most of the surfaces I encounter because my S10 is a big girl and I like the stability the center stand provides.

 

[Cycledude]

Centerstand is mainly what I use at home in my garage, makes it easier to do stuff like check oil, antifreeze, tires, wash windshield.
The Goldwing weighs a couple hundred more pounds but it’s usually much easier to put on the centerstand than a Tenere is.

 

[ballisticexchris]

I try not to use centerstand or side stand. I lean mine on cars. The hand guards dig right into the sheet metal and hold up the bike fine.

 

[Madhatter]

'ballistic" your a bad man ,lol.... I use side and center stand one about as much as the other.... no right or wrong here just what make you happy or helps in what ever you are doing .... my buddy rarely uses his , but I like to use mine a lot.

 

[Kyle_E]

Since you're in Vegas, and I'm not, I know it wasn't me. BUT, at the gas station is where I use it the most. Just me, or that guy too, but I like a level bike when I am refueling. Generally gas station pump areas are nice, level, and concrete; for the most part anyway. Otherwise, I prefer the side stand with THIS bike. I take advantage of the huge lean it has; which in my mind makes it more stable.

Should have been more clear on that. Guy was not getting gas, he parked on the asphalt regular parking in front of the store. Put kick stand down, got off, put it on the center, got a coffee, took it off the center, hopped back on and rode away.... That's why I'm confused. Seemed like a lot of work for no reason.

I try not to use centerstand or side stand. I lean mine on cars. The hand guards dig right into the sheet metal and hold up the bike fine.

I found your new bar ends!

 

[taskmaster86]

I only use my center stand when I want to check the oil or do something else to the bike.

 

[RCinNC]

I use the center stand all the time. Makes it easier to load stuff like groceries into the panniers.

 

[RonH]

I mostly use the center stand as well. Makes for more level tank to fill up with gas, more level to tie on luggage and other things. More stabil if you are sure the road below is reliable, plus looks better to me. Not that it matters to anyone I suppose, but a motorcycle flopped over 25 degrees just looks sloppy and dumb to me.

 

[Tenman]

I put mine on the centerstand in the dirt when I first got it. When I came back it was down on the throttle side. Missed a tree by inches.

 

[Xclimation]

Mine is on the center stand as much as possible. Even to take a leak or get coffee. This is my first bike with a center stand and I Love it! I'll never forget, when I was a kid; my dad put his motorcycle on a kickstand and it was over a hundred outside and the kickstand sunk right into the blacktop surface of a parking lot and the bike fell over! Just seems easy to me to put it on the center stand. Another issue is I can be a little OCD on checking the oil so I like to be able to check the oil.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Mine is on the center stand as much as possible. Even to take a leak or get coffee. This is my first bike with a center stand and I Love it! I'll never forget, when I was a kid; my dad put his motorcycle on a kickstand and it was over a hundred outside and the kickstand sunk right into the blacktop surface of a parking lot and the bike fell over! Just seems easy to me to put it on the center stand. Another issue is I can be a little OCD on checking the oil so I like to be able to check the oil.

All my stupid joking aside that's a great way of thinking. Keeping an eye on the oil is a good habit. BTW, this is also my first bike with a center stand. It really makes working on the bike nice.

 

[Kurgan]

I look at it as a geometry diagram.

Bike on sidestand, 3 widely spread contact points....front tire, sidestand and rear tire.

Bike on the centerstand...much smaller triangle... centerstand feet (what, 10" apart?) and the front tire.

Sidestand and if the ground is soft, something under that foot....plastic pad, smashed pop can, whatever.

Only time I use the centerstand is to level the bike on flat terrain to check the oil or if I need to rotate the rear wheel to check for nails, rim runout or just to clean it.

 

[Grumpy]

If I'm touring and unsure of fuel stops, I will put it on the centre stand so I can get as much fuel in as possible. Otherwise, it's only garage and maintainence.

 

[Longdog Cymru]

I use the center stand for parking at home so the bike will fit with the other crap in my garage. I use it at work to leave space for other bikes to share the car sized parking spot. Everywhere else I use the side stand.

Yep! That’s the way I use mine too.

 

[wispyone]

I only use centre stand when washing the bike on my driveway which is perfectly flat. Once washed I will put it on side stand to let trapped water drain from sump guard etc. BUT I am very cautious parking up as my bike doesn't mean over as many people's on here. On occasions it can stand almost vertical so I will find somewhere else to park which can be annoying