Center Stand vs Kick Stand

[Maritime]

I've read that this CAN be a problem, but I feel like if it needs it "every now and then" and I ride it literally every single day, then my riding will be like having it centered daily... . If I find I'm blowing smoke out the left pipes, I can throw the center stand back on. It takes literally under a minute. Hold stand in place, insert hinge pin, insert cotter pin, tighten two hinge pin locking bolts, install spring, ride.

And this is an excellent example of why to leave the mounts on the frame...

No, it really doesn't but you do need it to check oil level in the stupid little sight bubble thingy on the very bottom of the engine.

 

[Tim]

BMW's are prone to left-side smoking because of the engine design as well, but this isn't a problem.

If your bike is going to be idle for long periods of time, you want to prop it up vertically on a scissor jack or something ideally, or in a wheel chock (if you don't have a center stand).

My XS650 is parked every day in a wheel chock in my garage. Side stand rarely gets used at home.

 

[redwillissuperman]

I looked at it and the way that the kick stand attaches to the frame is really ugly to remove. I'm going to keep the side stand and use the center stand mount for my custom muffler mounting.

Originally I was going to just tuck a set of SS shorties from Dime City and use the center stand. I guess my next build....

The Yamaha RD was a bitch because the two-stroke chambers hit the center stand mounts rendering them useless and the kick stand mount. Even the revised kickstand interferes with the rearsets and it leans way to far over. I have it on my schedule to machine a new billet kickstand the proper length with a nice foot.

 

[tron97]

I guess im just lazy, but hoisting the ol girl up on a centre stand each time I want to park?

Naw, ill stick with the sidestand

I cant help but laugh everytime I watch someone using their centre stand. There is just something funny about the whole ordeal.

 

[alexmac]

Centre stand... no discussion. The last thing I want is for my ride to fall over...ever.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

I pull the centerstands for my bikes and left the mounts on the frame. Have the big iron horse-shoes stored under the workbench to put on for Maintenance purposes. Cant imagine working on wheel bearings, shocks, tires, forks without it. but then, I dont have a bike lift or a pit stand yet.
On all BUT my GL... it gets used everyday. On that bike the side stand is only there to hold it while I dismount and put her up on the centerstand.

 

[damarble]

Centre stand... no discussion. The last thing I want is for my ride to fall over...ever.

I can't get behind this thinking. If you are on the slightest off camber surface thr CoG is pushed out near or past the end of that stand. The smallest nudge and it's going over.

 

[SONICJK]

Agreed. I only have a center stand on my cb and it's horrible on the slightest off camber hill

 

[HerrDeacon]

I can't get behind this thinking. If you are on the slightest off camber surface thr CoG is pushed out near or past the end of that stand. The smallest nudge and it's going over.

Especially with the Honda's. I found my KZ center stand really sturdy but the Honda's I've had, the center stands are horrible. Look at them strange and they almost fall over. My MB5 only has a center stand and its worrying me, especially with the wind around here.

 

[broncoboy79]

My bike actually fell over on my center stand in my front yard. Haven't used it again since. Will be taking it off this winter. I'm just going to use my rear stand for maintenance.

 

[WeberKid]

I had a similar choice to make. I went with "what weighs less"

 

[Drewski]

Any blanket statement is dangerous.

Different bikes. Different styles. Different uses. Different priorities. Different needs.

Different answer.

 

[620dark]

And Tommy - doesn't the GL need to be put on its centerstand every now and then so oil doesn't pool in the left side of the motor?

I need to put mine on the center stand so it doesn't mark its territory via a leak past the gear selector shaft...

 

[Dr.Jeff]

Interesting thread.

I'm currently thinking the same question on a new custom build. One of my goals is to achieve a very 'clean' look, eliminating as much from it as possible.

My initial decision was to remove the center-stand and keep the side-stand, mostly out of the convenience of it's use (I have to agree with the prior statement on the awkwardness of using a center-stand at times).

Then I looked at some bikes of a similar build to what I have in mind, and really like the 'look' of them when sitting on a center-stand. But I should qualify this, I don't use my bikes as daily drivers...especially the highly customized ones, which frankly are only ridden occasionally (just being honest here). So for those bikes, 'looks' out weigh 'function'. This is an example of the earlier comment on different applications require different choices.

One issue I will have with either stand is it will require modification, as the bike is considerably lowered (making both stands way too long). With the center-stand, shortening the legs allows the opportunity to do two things; removal of that long side arm (eliminating any road scraping when cornering), and lengthening (widening) of the two 'feet' (making it more stable when sitting on the stand). However these changes may make it even more awkward to use?

Has anyone tried modifying their stands? What are your experiences with the results?

Thanks for your feedback.