How do you park (front wheel)?

[Rob S.]

I park my Suzy in her garage front wheel straight (side stand on a brick).

On the street it depends on several things, but I frequently find myself parking with the front wheel to the right. Maybe I just like the way it looks better. (No center stand.)

I've noticed that each of the several Harley dealers I've visited keeps all their bikes at full left. Obviously they have to have them all synchronized to fit more in a given space, but I think full left keeps them lower to the ground.

I seem to prefer a little more upright.

 

[Guest]

I dress left. That's what the steering lock likes.

 

[Steve]

Usually to the left. Depending on where you park, having the bike tilted a bit more means that it's more stable, with more weight on the side stand.

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[loud et]

Usually to the left. Depending on where you park, having the bike tilted a bit more means that it's more stable, with more weight on the side stand.

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Didn't you have a Goldwing take flight once and flip over in the wind?
High winds, motorcycle cover, centerstand iirc?

 

[Allie]

Full left with zipper on tank bag closing full right yields quick access to the bag contents.

 

[Steve]

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.

.

 

[tkent02]

The Spinaker effect, the second best reason to not use a cover.

 

[storm 64]

When my motorcycles are parked in my garage, I have the headlights pointing in the direction of my work bench. That way they can all look at what I'm working on. Except the BMW, it's headlight is fixed. It just looks out into space.

 

[JTGS850GL]

When parked in the garage I put it on the center stand with the wheel sitting anyway it wants.

 

[loud et]

Well Steve I had the facts mostly wrong but I remember the occurrence. Haha

 

[Brendan W]

Front wheel to the left to even out the tyre wear.

 

[Steve]

Front wheel to the left to even out the tyre wear.

In that case, we should all be turning them to the RIGHT, on this side of the pond. :-\\\

.

 

[tkent02]

I park with the front wheel on the ground most of the time.

 

[Cipher]

I always use the sidestand.

 

[seanarthurmachado]

I always use the center stand... Keeps it stable in my little shed and tells me when I need new shoes.

Sean

 

[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. :-k

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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.