Ride off the centre stand?

[fcasado]

Will it damage the stand?

I read that somewhere:

Don't ride off the center stand. Sometimes, it makes life easier but over time the extra leverage of the R11GS longer stand (compared to other BMWs) will bend it.

But I've seen many GS'ers doing it

My problem is with the bike fully loaded, it's not the easy to hold the bugger BTW it's an 1150GS in case they're all different...

I did a search and the last thread I could find about this is from 2004 so please be gentle...

 

[MikeP]

Older Beemer's mainstands were pretty weak. Twin-shock air-cooled twins in particular were prone to wearing their mountings. The holes in the stand where they pivot can become oval and in time can fail all-together.

Early K-series bikes weren't much better.

Personally I've not heard of any similar failures with the current range (but someone will no doubt have a horror story).

When any GS is fully loaded, it's quite a weight. I always try to use the mainstand and I'm sure that the action of putting it onto the mainstand puts more strain on it than riding it off because the bike puts the rear wheel down and it rolls to a pretty hard stop (if you get my meaning).

The mainstand has to stop all that enertia moving backwards and it does it with a jolt.

I sometimes take it off the mainstand and onto the side-prop when it's loaded but on iffy surfaces, like garage forecourts where there's fuel spills for example, I ride it off.

I can't see that it puts anymore load through the pivot point than doing it 'handraulically'.

Putting sideways loads through the pivots is what buggers them.

 

[Commuter]

Nope

I have done it on all three of my bikes with little effect. However, be warned, recently a buddy of mine tried it and he nearly ended up on the floor as he didn't realise the bike was slightly tipped to the RHS. He has informed me that he will not be risking it again!!

 

[red rocket]

I sometimes do it but be warned if loaded & you've left ya side stand down when it comes off the main stand the side stand may hit the ground & push the bike over to your right not good if ya not expecting it.

 

[Noel]

I've always done it since I've had mine, 3 years and have had the stand off for spraying, the bushes were as tight as it was when new, my mates all do it (thats were I first saw it done) one in particular does it with some force and nothing has failed.
As for leaving the side stand down if you put it into gear the engine stops, is that not always the case for all GS's?

 

[G.C.]

As for leaving the side stand down if you put it into gear the engine stops, is that not always the case for all GS's?

It has been for me over the past 3 bikes.
G C

 

[fcasado]

Right guys, thank you all very much

I think I'll carry on doing it as it makes life a lot easier (no doubt someone will come now and say NEVER DO IT)

Cheers

 

[Wizard]

Don't do it!!!! It's a really really bad idea!!!!

 

[Noel]

 

[Timolgra]

DO IT, IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA

 

[Wizard]

Oh, OK then.

 

[Timolgra]

Oh, OK then.

It's ok I don't make a habit of it , in fact mainly use an extended sidestand, but a fully loaded GS needs couple of tugboats to get it off the main stand and as Red Rocket says keep it in a straight line

 

[Brian V]

I've done this as quite a lot on my 1998 (145,000 miles) 1100, when loaded with camping gear. Consequently I have two twisted centre stands in the garage even as we speak. Why I'm keeping them I haven't got the faintest idea! So, to echo previous posts if you can avoid riding the bike off the stand it would seem like a good scheme.

 

[red rocket]

OK another thing similar topic from this how many of you would spin the bike round 180 degrees on its centre stand sometimes I've ridden in somewhere rather than walk the bike out from an awkward spot that would have been even more awkward to back into I've spun it round on the stand probably a bit more weight put on one leg to make spinning easier.

 

[Noel]

OK another thing similar topic from this how many of you would spin the bike round 180 degrees on its centre stand sometimes I've ridden in somewhere rather than walk the bike out from an awkward spot that would have been even more awkward to back into I've spun it round on the stand probably a bit more weight put on one leg to make spinning easier.

I've done this also and even to my shame spun the bike on side stand (It's a habit from doing it on my enduro bike)

 

[BLUE(UK)]

I've done this also and even to my shame spun the bike on side stand (It's a habit from doing it on my enduro bike)

I saw ya ride off ya centre stand!!

 

[Tasy's BIGJIM]

Stand Crappers?

Here is one for you all.
Bike parked, Rear Suspension Hieght LOW and on Main stand with Side stand up. Out of Gear and on flat HARD ground. Put left Boot on the push-down Lever ( nearly on ground). All your wieght to said lever push it into the ground (Hard ground)!
Grab Left side Hand Grip. Grab left side Pannier top mount. Lean Bike towards you? Balance the Bike! Got it? (You should now just be on the left side leg, of the main stand). Now rotate the whole Bike!! I pull hand grip towards me. (Don't Hit the cars beside you). This is how I ride my GS into a car space and turn it around in the same space to come out. Works better on older air heads and K models. But does work on my 11 Gs. You mates will Freak! In 4 seconds you will be GONE! Warning Practice at home on your own First... Oh have you got Crash Bars? At your own risk. BIGJim Tasmania.

 

[Jim Dow]

Glad to be of service.

Yeah well, I ride off the centre stand, spin it on the centre stand, and get my leg caught under the saddle bags at servos and end up flat on my arse with the bike on top of me, in front of my mates. First refill of an eight day run.
Moderatly sized Jim from New South Wales. http://www.ukgser.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=695095#

 

[Bigtwin]

I start it on the sidestand, then stand it up with the stand up, snick it into gear, gently ease it away, then mount horse-style (left foot on the peg, swing R leg over as it goes past). By far the easiest method.