sidestand or centerstand

When parking your wing, which do you usually prefer to use. The sidestand or the centerstand?

I use the side stand. I use the center stand when changing the belt or doing an oil and filter change. I also set the parking brake each time I park.

Sidestand and parking brake most of the time.

Park in garage on center stand--takes less space. Otherwise use side stand and brake.

Generally center stand.

john grinsel wrote:

Park in garage on center stand--takes less space.   Otherwise use side stand and brake.

I do exactly the same as John.

Bluerider3, I moved your post into "General Chat" from the "Introduction" section. More appropriate and should have better visibility for you!

BTW I use my center stand most of the time as it seems more stable to me. Is it me or does the sidestand seem a bit short?

This side stand or centre stand topic has been discussed on here at least a couple of times, why do it again?

I always use the side stand unless I am going to do any work on the bike or put a cover on it. Seems easier to put the cover on when on the center stand.

Usually side or centre stand... but I have used the ground and once a pile of cardboard boxes. Neither of which I can recommend :-(

I always use the center stand. One time I accidentally used the ground and was not at all pleased with the result...

Meldrew wrote:

This side stand or centre stand topic has been discussed on here at least a couple of times, why do it again?

Possibly you"ve lost track of the fact that our membership has had an influx of new folks in the last year or so. While at the same time some of our "high mileage" members may be experiencing an early onset of a "disintegration of the persistence of memory" and need reassurance that they are doing things right.

Just remember that birthdays can lead to memory loss, or even worse, memory loss.

Tim

On the Honda Silverwing I prefer to use the centre stand, even though the side stand is quite stable. My Aprilia Scarabeo on the side stand only needs a bit of un-level ground or a slight nudge and it will fall over.

I haven't lost track of anything, except occasionally my specs. There maybe an influx of new folks but they just don't join on a whim, they usually lurk on the forum first and anyone buying a Silver Wing isn't a complete novice on two wheels anyway.

As I mentioned earlier the side stand or centre stand topic has been covered before, so has the easiest method of hauling the Silver Wing on and off the centre stand, whether you use a puck or similar item when using the side stand on soft ground, using the parking brake, even the pro's and cons of disabling the side stand ignition cut off safety switch has been covered.

Now all these topics haven't disappeared off the forum and a quick Search usually finds this information and much more that's useful to a new owner, all they have to do is look.

Don't be such a Mardy Bum Meldrew it is a forum you know and people ask questions or ask for advice that's the nature of a forum, yes there is the search facility and there are very little subjects that have not been asked and answered before perhaps too many times by the members here but it should not deter people from asking. I have used the search before and sometimes you do not always get the information you require. If you feel a question has been asked too many times why continue to read the topic, just don't contribute. Pud.

Owned a couple of old Harley-Davidsons. Spent most of the time working on them. In all of the old H-D repair manuals the Side Stand was always referenced as the Jiffy Stand.  

Just another piece of worthless knowledge from the past.

Sorry Meldrew but I gotta do it. I use the side stand whenever the bike isn't home in the garage then it's on the center stand mainly for the same John does, it takes up less room. Also our old cat doesn't like it when the seat is tilted when he naps on it. It was even more important than putting the Goldwings in the garage. Those bikes take up a whole car space on the side stand.

Personally I think it's bad form and selfish to use the side stand parking in a bay or shed if your bike/maxi is fitted with a centre stand, as parking on the side stand takes up more space and make it harder for other riders to get in or out, over even get parked at all.

Since I've been outed as a 'Mardy Bum' which will be meaningless to anyone not living in the East Midlands, I'll play along.  I use the centre stand always, the side stand is only used when stepping onto and off the Silver Wing. Occasionally I may have use it on soft ground where the centre stand would dig in, and I carry a side stand plate/puck specifically for that purpose.

That's not what I'd call useful information to anyone, that's pretty much what I've done since I started riding. It's a bit like a cycle forum starting a topic about how you park your pushbike? On it's stand if it has one fitted, prop it against a wall, in a cycle bay, drop it on it's side like school kids outside a sweet shop etc.  

Plus it's fair to say if you're using the side stand exclusively because it's too much physically to lift your Silver Wing onto the main stand, you've chosen the wrong maxi scooter.

I am with Meldrew. As this issue has been commented on many times I was not going to comment,but, as Meldrew says parking with side stand means bike is tilted at an angle and if someone parks next to your mirrors usually get knocked out of focus . I always park on centre stand and use side stand for dismounting only. I know bike is heavy but it is safer on centre stand.

OK, Meldrew, start a discussion topic on the Silverwing that has NEVER been discussed before.

Loving it the fact this is being recussed means winter is about over But unless space is an issue on the sidestand is the most stable, parking brake on = tripod. The puck is a given, even poor asphalt with let the sidestand sink in.

I'me with you on this one DonH, but I think it will be pretty difficult . Pud.

oldwingguy wrote:

Loving it the fact this is being recussed   means winter is about  over But unless space is an issue on the sidestand is the most stable, parking brake on = tripod.  The puck is a given, even poor asphalt with let the sidestand sink in.

Is side stand really the most stable? Over the years I've used ferries where the vast majority of bikes are parked up and secured on their side stands, three points of contact and all that. I've also heard from fellow travellers about bikes toppling over on rough crossings and taking other bikes with them like dominoes.

Needless to say I never use the side stand on ferries, always the centre stand. For years I've carried a zip pouch with a selection of tie down and ratchet straps, strap pads, seat pad, carabiners, handle bar strap, front brake strap etc. I don't always use this kit but it means it's there if I need to use it, some ships only supply lengths of rope.

DonH wrote:

OK, Meldrew, start a discussion topic on the Silverwing that has NEVER been discussed before.

Would you like me to start a discussion topic relevant to UK Silver Wing riders only, or to include US members too? Because what we're legally allowed to do to our maxi scooters without failing the MOT and invalidating our insurance is totally different to what goes on over the Pond.

That would probably be better than a discussion of what brand of tire to use, whether car or bike tire, and whether to use synthetic or petroleum oil.

I wonder what the relative mertis of using full synthetic, blended synthetic, or petroleum base motor oil might be in Mr Grinsel's "Oily Rag #2 Treatment" hypothesis? And would that be a cotton, polyester or microfiber oily rag?

Dang, somebody likes to stir the pot!

It might be that wiping the windshield with an oily (petroleum synthetic blend) rag (at least 50% Pim Cotton) applied with counterclockwise strokes (if the bike is facing within 85 degrees of true north, clockwise otherwise). One of the more beneficial aspects of this treatment is that insects, other than beetles and earthworms, will simply slide off the windshield leaving only a slight smear of guts and other parts. The lesser aspect of this treatment is that the windshield will become opaque in dusty conditions in which case one should ride standing up until a safe place to stop avails itself wherein the rider may use a solvent such as MEK to remove the dirt, bugs and windshield. This of course will require said rider to maintain at least one spare windshield, carried on the applicable vehicle to replace the one dissolved by the MEK.

What's your next topic going to be, do you prefer to put your left boot on first or the right, or do you wear bigger boots to save on wear?

Meldrew wrote:

What's your next topic going to be, do you prefer to put your left boot on first or the right, or do you wear bigger boots to save on wear?

Yes I do

Getting a bit daft now, everyone knows that you put your right boot on first and wear bigger boots with two pairs of socks. Pud.

In the military we put on our boots the same way we marched, always the left foot first. And our boots needed to be snug so as not to slide around on you feet and give you blisters. My snug fit is a US size 12 or UK size 43-44.

Center stand,Side stand,oily rag good riding weather can not arrive soon enough. Howard

This cabin fever getting to you?

When I first started riding my Swing in 2012, I always used the center stand. Then after reading a post similar to this one, I started using the side stand. I park my Swing about four feet directly in front of my front door. The center stand kept marring the concrete. I started using a sheet of plywood to avoid marking up the concrete. This required me to have to lift the Swing higher to get it up on the center stand. Then when I read about the merits of the side stand, I started using the side stand everywhere. I glued a round plywood puck to the concrete and always position the side stand over the puck. I still use the center stand for washing, repairing, or regular maintenance.