How do you park (front wheel)?

[Runeight]

I use a wheel chock. Saves putting the kickstand down.

Park, pour, drink.

[bwringer]

The GS always gets parked on the centerstand, since it's my only bike with a centerstand and that's the way it takes up the least room.

My other two bikes are usually parked on the kickstands on either side of my lift. We usually walk past the left side of the bike in the middle, so I usually turn the handlebars to the right. This gets the left end of the handlebar up higher so it's easier to see and avoid. It also helps keep the mirror from getting knocked around by bags, groceries, computer cases, etc.

Parked elsewhere, I usually turn the handlebars to the right. Why? No good reason whatsoever, other than it's a bit easier to hop on since I don't have to move the handlebars out of the way first. Of course, if I'm in a bad neighborhood and feel the need to use the steering lock, the bars must get turned to the left.

[Steve]

... and feel the need to use the steering lock, the bars must get turned to the left.

MUST get turned to the left? I thought the lock worked to the right, too.

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[Grimly]

Yep. Just modest wind, maybe about 10mph. Half-cover. Side stand. Leaning INTO the wind.





It was at the end of a long hotel, just barely seen in the picture. I think the wind was caught by the building and just funneled down the entire length, making it just a bit stronger by the time it got to the bike.

The half cover is basically just stretched between the fairing and the trunk, which also shades the seat. Nothing extends below the bottom of the seat.

.

Ouch.
On a gusty evening, I was just leaving a building and walking towards my parked R80RT, when the wind lifted it off the sidestand. The gust abated, the bike settled back down on the stand.
Only, it didn't.
The verdamt stand was gersprinngenloaded, damnit.
Crash, over it went.
Sidestand Crap Technic.

[Guest]

All the instructors in the manufacturer courses at MMI told us to always turn your handlebars to the left, that way if your brake master happens to suddenly and mysteriously springs a leak when you're not looking, the fluid has less of a chance landing on the tank, ruining your paint. Since it's leaning to the left, if you have a hydraulic clutch, it is already in the safe zone.

[GRAND ROUGE]

Yep. Just modest wind, maybe about 10mph. Half-cover. Side stand. Leaning INTO the wind.





It was at the end of a long hotel, just barely seen in the picture. I think the wind was caught by the building and just funneled down the entire length, making it just a bit stronger by the time it got to the bike.

The half cover is basically just stretched between the fairing and the trunk, which also shades the seat. Nothing extends below the bottom of the seat.

.

Steve.....never a better opportunity to clean the road crap off the underside... That said....dang.....looks pretty sad like that.

OH... I park my machines, when in garage, center stand, wheel straight...tidy lookin'. On street, if side stand, wheel left....

[hannibal]

My MSF instructors said to always turn the wheel to the left. In fact, it was part of our parking procedure and I saw more than one student get yelled at for not following this rule.

[Dogma]

When I first got my 1000G, I always tried to remember to park with the wheel to the right. But that was to minimize the master cylinder reservoir leaking on the tank. Now that it's fixed, I park like a normal person.

[bwringer]

MUST get turned to the left? I thought the lock worked to the right, too.

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The only bike I ever bother locking is my V-Strom, and it only locks with the wheel to the left.

I don't generally ride the GS to bad neighborhoods, I guess... I never knew it would lock either way.