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Center Stand go bye bye?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mortation
  • Start date Start date
M

mortation

Guest
Any reason for me to NOT take off my center stand? I have a shafty so its not like I will be changing my chain on the side of the road. And I have a jack for maintenance and other work requiring any bike lifting.

I have never used it and it has a new spring but still bangs on hard bumps and well I dont like the handle sticking out :P
 
Parking in gravel or uneven surfaces I've often needed the center stand to make the bike stand up securely. I'd miss it. But then again, I've been thinking I *could* live without it, if I went with an incompatible exhaust or something.

Baring a special motorcycle jack, what tricks/equipment do center-stand-less folks use for maintenance and such when you want 'er standing straight up?
 
You need it to check the oil level correctly. The bike will also take up less room in the garage if it's vertical instead of leaned over.

It's not really a good idea to run the bike when it's leaned over on the kickstand, either. Opinions vary, but many feel that the cams on the high side might not get enough oil, or that there might be oil supply problems.

But hey, take it off if you want to. It's your bike.

Also, keep it nearby -- it's not very difficult to replace it temporarily if you need to check oil level, work on the forks, etc.
 
bwringer said:
You need it to check the oil level correctly. The bike will also take up less room in the garage if it's vertical instead of leaned over.

It's not really a good idea to run the bike when it's leaned over on the kickstand, either. Opinions vary, but many feel that the cams on the high side might not get enough oil, or that there might be oil supply problems.

But hey, take it off if you want to. It's your bike.

Also, keep it nearby -- it's not very difficult to replace it temporarily if you need to check oil level, work on the forks, etc.
Click to expand...

Well I am sure sliding the jack under and a couple quick pumps on the peddle will be faster ;) But cool :)
 
t3rmin said:
Parking in gravel or uneven surfaces I've often needed the center stand to make the bike stand up securely. I'd miss it. But then again, I've been thinking I *could* live without it, if I went with an incompatible exhaust or something.

Baring a special motorcycle jack, what tricks/equipment do center-stand-less folks use for maintenance and such when you want 'er standing straight up?
Click to expand...

I got my Motorcycle Jack at walmart for like $80. Seems like a good choice :)
 
I have a center stand on my 400 (stock bike), and don't have it on my 550/700 (modified a little bit). I really miss it on the 550.

I'll bet that if you started using the center stand for maintenance and storage, you'd learn to love it. Getting rid of it as a sacrafice for some good mod like an exhaust is one thing, but taking it off for no reason seems like a waste. I say try using it for a while before you pull it.
 
LeeGS550E said:
I'll bet that if you started using the center stand for maintenance and storage, you'd learn to love it. Getting rid of it as a sacrafice for some good mod like an exhaust is one thing, but taking it off for no reason seems like a waste. I say try using it for a while before you pull it.
Click to expand...

Well said.
 
Common sense night - If you never use it, why keep it on the bike ? Sure - keep it in the garage in case.

I took mine off because of the clanging over bumps. Then found the bike lift doesn't work unless I remove the exhaust system. Went right back on :-D
 
It's interesting because I personally use the center stand more than the side stand. It's kind of like a habit, my right foot goes directly on the center stand peg as I dismount off the left side of the bike then I step on it and it backs right up onto the stand. I'd be more inclined to lose the side stand but there are occasions when the side stand is the only/best option, so it stays.
 
onchiman said:
It's interesting because I personally use the center stand more than the side stand. It's kind of like a habit, my right foot goes directly on the center stand peg as I dismount off the left side of the bike then I step on it and it backs right up onto the stand. I'd be more inclined to lose the side stand but there are occasions when the side stand is the only/best option, so it stays.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, but you can't do that with my bike - there's no handhold and the old girl is a bit of a heft to get up. Have to take the side box off to get a grip and even then .........

You youngunns :-D
 
Another vote to leave the center stand on... Are you absolutely sure it's not the SIDESTAND banging over bumps?

Regardless, if banging is an issue, find the contact point between the stand (either one/both) and the frame, clean it very well, and use silicone adhesive to attach a rubber bumper(s) to the frame - that'll dampen any banging you may experience.

I use my centerstand all the time, by the way. I'd really miss it!

Regards,
 
Pete Logan said:
Fair enough, but you can't do that with my bike - there's no handhold and the old girl is a bit of a heft to get up. Have to take the side box off to get a grip and even then .........

You youngunns :-D
Click to expand...

I always grab the passenger peg.
 
Get a standard (non-spool type) swingarm stand and you'll never look back. 10x easier IMO to get the bike up for maintenance, storage etc than a centerstand, plus you save the ~5 pounds that the centerstand weighs by being able to remove it.

I love the Pitbull stand I have; its pads that fit under the swingarm are adjustable to fit all kinds of bikes and it's very well made.

http://www.pit-bull.com/catalog/pro...id=31&osCsid=a4c1eb162f7222cb3688d1e894c26967

lg_standard_rear.jpg
 
LeeGS550E said:
I have a center stand on my 400 (stock bike), and don't have it on my 550/700 (modified a little bit). I really miss it on the 550.
Click to expand...

Same here. 3 bikes, 2 with stands, 1 without due to the exhaust. I really really miss it, especially at maintenence time. Been thinking about one of the swingarm types, but just haven't made it that far yet.
 
All the GS's I've owned, have had rubber stops to keep the centerstand from clanking if you hit a bump. If yours is missing, replace it. If your grab handle is missing, replace it. There's no way a jack can be faster than a centerstand. Don't mean to be pokeing fun, but do you know how to use the centerstand? Before someone showed me how, it was almost impossible for me to get it up. Now that I know how, I guarantee I can have any bike up, before you can get the jack to the bike. Take it off if you want to, nobody here will care, but keep up with it, if you ever sell the bike, the new owner will probably like to have it.
 
rphillips said:
All the GS's I've owned, have had rubber stops to keep the centerstand from clanking if you hit a bump. If yours is missing, replace it. If your grab handle is missing, replace it. There's no way a jack can be faster than a centerstand. Don't mean to be pokeing fun, but do you know how to use the centerstand? Before someone showed me how, it was almost impossible for me to get it up. Now that I know how, I guarantee I can have any bike up, before you can get the jack to the bike. Take it off if you want to, nobody here will care, but keep up with it, if you ever sell the bike, the new owner will probably like to have it.
Click to expand...

Agreed. There's a definite technique to center stand usage. I've taught several folks who've been riding many more years than I. Apparently it's *not* common knowledge...
 
Very few newer bikes have a center stand...which is one of the reasons I like GS bikes. :)
 
Nessism said:
Very few newer bikes have a center stand...which is one of the reasons I like GS bikes. :)
Click to expand...

One of my riding friends owns a Yamaha Royal Star Venture, (the "new" Venture). I noticed one day that it has no center stand.

Probably a good thing on that bike, since ground clearance is just not there, and he keeps scraping his floorboards everywhere he goes, even with his shocks adjusted. I suppose many modern cruisers and sports bikes are also missing the center stand.

I'm glad my GK has a center stand, particularly for checking oil level and for starting off in the morning. I also have a Sears motorcycle jack I got for $90 a few years back; I use the jack for changing the rear wheels.
 
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