Hot Weather, Pavement, and Heavy Bike

[HYCLE]

Slip one of these over your side stand and hang them from your mirror when you ride. :blink:

 

[johnny80s]

I usually put mine on the center stand when it is really hot. That way if the center stand sinks down it will just cause the rear wheel to touch down.

 

[dbx]

I usually put mine on the center stand when it is really hot. That way if the center stand sinks down it will just cause the rear wheel to touch down.

I think it would be rare indeed for both sides of the center stand to sink at the same rate. I've seen far more bikes on their sides with the center stand extended than with the side stand extended.

Personally, if it's maximum stability I'm after, (whether due to soft asphalt, high winds, inclined parking space, etc.), I always go for the side stand, never the center stand.

 

[johnny80s]

Good to know.

 

[vol210]

And if you have too much money laying around ...... This works.

Although I have my concerns that this would add weight to the end of the sidestand and if you hit a bump the stand would bounce down and possibly kill the engine whilst in gear. :shok:

 

[Toecutter]

I have a steel electrical box cover with a length of shoestring tied on. I can drag it by the string to get it under the sidestand foot, then I place the other end (looped) around the clutch slave bleeder screw. When I get back, I just pull it up by the string and toss it into the fairing pocket. Works great on just about any soft surface. Zoom zoom....

 

[Patriot]

I have a steel electrical box cover with a length of shoestring tied on. I can drag it by the string to get it under the sidestand foot, then I place the other end (looped) around the clutch slave bleeder screw. When I get back, I just pull it up by the string and toss it into the fairing pocket. Works great on just about any soft surface. Zoom zoom....

many dealerships sell some kind of kickstand pad and all I've seen have a hole in one end for attaching a "lanyard"

I bought an official TAIL OF THE DRAGON PAD

attached a long length of leather boot string purchased new and cheap from Wally World

Lotsa of custom personalized kickstand pads like:

then there's your motorcycle store advertising

 

[vabrzn]

I made a pad out of 1/8 inch aluminum, drilled and tapped two holes in the side stand and bolted on the pad. I did this because I like to stop on the side of the road and take pictures and got tired of looking over my shoulder to see if the bike was about to fall over. I got the idea from another forum member who posted it a couple of years ago. Although it's not too big, works fine on soft dirt and pavement.

 

[CHRIS_D]

I made a pad out of 1/8 inch aluminum, drilled and tapped two holes in the side stand and bolted on the pad. I did this because I like to stop on the side of the road and take pictures and got tired of looking over my shoulder to see if the bike was about to fall over. I got the idea from another forum member who posted it a couple of years ago. Although it's not too big, works fine on soft dirt and pavement.

Great idea!!! But darn now I have another project to get done on the bikes!!

 

[wfooshee]

I usually put mine on the center stand when it is really hot. That way if the center stand sinks down it will just cause the rear wheel to touch down.

I think it would be rare indeed for both sides of the center stand to sink at the same rate. I've seen far more bikes on their sides with the center stand extended than with the side stand extended.

Personally, if it's maximum stability I'm after, (whether due to soft asphalt, high winds, inclined parking space, etc.), I always go for the side stand, never the center stand.

That's pretty much what I posted earlier. The centerstand carries much more weight than the sidestand, and it's a much narrower triangle. Physics rules: the bike will fall off the centerstand earlier than the sidestand if the surface is soft. And you only need one puck for the sidestand, you bunch o' cheapskates.

 

[NightShine]

Or in a pinch, there's always the unconventional approach:

Resorting to Passenger's Footware

 

[lnewlf]

I welded on 3/16 plate on the side and back of the sidestand foot, shaped it with a grinder, some black paint and problem solved-almost-I still carry a 39 cent electrical box cover in the 'glove box' for grass or sand. I also ground off a LITTLE of the sidestand stop so the bike is not so upright. Mr. Yamaha must have been in the saki when he designed the sidestand arrangement..

 

[CRMH Eagle]

So far I've never needed any type of "side stand assistance." Lucky maybe. I've learned to always look at the paving before I put 'er down. While parking at work I put the stand down where the pavement had been repaired...you know, one of those tar lines. The stand quickly plowed thru it and got my attention.

I use the center stand if I'm unsure of the ground/pavement, at the gym, anytime children are around, if the ground is wet, gravel, when it's parked at home, etc. The more you use the center stand you realize it's a great asset, easy to use, and not an item to fear.

+1 on the electrical box cover. I'll pick one up from the depot just in case.

 

[Big Sky]

If you use the centerstand on soft pavement, both feet can/will sink until the tang on the left touches, then the right leg continues to sink until...it fall down go boom. I love the "bike friendly" motels that furnish you with a little wood pad for your sidestand when you check in.

 

[rogdeb]

Center stand will sink as well just takes longer. Just buy the six buck puck and fogetabotit!

Yes it does !! Happened to me in Colorado, took 3 of us to push the bike off the center stand. The clean-up was messy :lol:

 

[08FJR4ME]

One would think the centerstand spreads the load over two points rather than one, but remember, the rear wheel now carries zero weight, so the centerstand carries a much higher total than the sidestand. If the sidestand sinks, the centerstand will, too, and it's narrower than the sidestand so the bike will fall sooner.

Get a puck for the sidestand. Smash an aluminum drink can. Instant puck. Lose your puck? Find a trash can and go dumpster diving for a "new" can.

I just love how resourcefull Feeejer people can be.

 

[mdisher]

I just love how resourcefull Feeejer people can be.

I'm thinking you have the tools to build a stand platform thingy with an FJR logo on the bottom so we can all stamp our trademark in the pavement everytime we park.

 

[Steel]

An electrical box cover works fine, too, and even has a hole to tie a string to. Under a $1...

Gunny. Get em at Home Depot or any other home improvement or hardware store. Leather string for making a "lanyard" about $2 from Hobby Lobby. Pretty much stores anywhere when not in use.

 

[CRMH Eagle]

Last summer I had my bike at my sister's house for the first time and her 3 kids wanted to touch, grab, and climb on it. Her 13 yr-old daughter climbed up on it and of course I said "don't touch anything or move anything." She said "ok" and then picked the bike off the side stand... I didn't see this because I was talking to my sister. But something told me to turn around. Glad I did cuz my neice couldn't hold up the bike and it tipped the opposite way. I just barely managed to run and grab the bike before it fell on her leg!

Now if I'm parking where there are kids around, the bike goes on the center stand.

 

[DELETE-PLEASE]

Whenever I park in a gravel lot or dirt lot/driveway (damned TX establishments), I simply look around for a flat rock to stuff under the sidestand. There's usually plenty of rocks around in TX. Just find some flat rock. Or find a piece of scrap metal somewhere. I'm sure some welding shop could cut and grind a 3" square that's not too thin and sturdy enough.

Alexi <- always looking for the slightly cheaper way out.