riding off the stand

[the-other-bradders]

couple of quick questions:

anyone ride off their centre stand? if so any issues?

getting on and off the bike with the side stand down - is this an issue putting all the weight on the side stand? I'm fairly hefty at c130kg and a tad short of leg-length, so find this a good way (john wayne-esque) of getting on and off the bike...

 

[DrFarkoff]

Did you ride a scooter???????

Look at an 1100 stand and wobble the bike while it's on it then do the same to a 1200

Which moves more????

Where do ya think they saved 40 odd kilos of weight?

In My opinion get on and settle and push yourself off the stand gingerly but don't ride off I think they're too weak for anything out of the ordinary

 

[the-other-bradders]

no scooter

I have seen peolpe bump it down off the centre stand, and its easy enough to do, just not sure of the impact on the bike if I do it!!

trying to minimise the camber-impact which is bound to lead to a drop, and probably in fornt of 50 peolpe at a bike meet!!

 

[Loiq]

hahahahahaha I'd like to see that can you let me know whne your doing a test run

better to drop it in a regular manner than drop it doing some strange stunt style ride off...

 

[Ringmaster999]

I do ride mine straight off the centre stand now and then. I attended the BMW off road school and it was something I picked up their. I do only weigh 88kg and ride the 08 GSA. They never tought it at the school but some of the instructors did it. Coming from sports bikes I have allways mounted from the right whilst the bike is on the side stand but again I now right the bike first and then mount. Only as it was again something tought at the off road school and as I intend to do a lot more off roading it seams best practice whilst off roading but I can't see an issue with mounting from the side whilst the bike is on its side stand and upright it as you get on with the momentum. All this of course is just IMHO

 

[Boxerboy55]

. . I attended the BMW off road school and it was something I picked up their. They never tought it at the school but some of the instructors did it.

I saw a few of those instructors doing it too. Especially the short ones.
But they don't live with thier own bikes and get new ones every year. As per previous comments, I wouldn't expect the stand to last long. It's definitely Not what the stand is built for. Neither is the side stand built to take full rider weight. Like others, I either (a) sling my leg over then pick the bike up off the side stand or (b) rock it off the centre stand then get on (from left). Although the school guy once made us get on from the right, I never normally approach the bike on the right side.

 

[Hustler]

........Although the school guy once made us get on from the right, I never normally approach the bike on the right side.

To me it seems illogical to get on a bike from the right side because if it's on the side stand it's leaning away from you.
In other words I always dress on the left.
PS I haven't got one of said bikes so my opinion can be treated as useless if you wish.
PPS I never ride off the centre stand on my 650.

 

[MIKA]

If you are riding off the main stand take a look at the damage you are doing to the swing arm where it can strike!

 

[AlanWM]

Met a guy in Geneva BMW having his centre-stand repaired... he said he was always going off the main stand and both of his bolts sheared through. I used to do it too until then...

 

[MattW]

Admittedly I've got an 1100, but I don't fancy the idea of putting all the extra stress through something bolted to the crankcases.

On every bike I've had, I've always pushed it off its centre stand first and I've always mounted from the left. Getting on from the right just feels weird, especially if it's on its sidestand.

 

[Andy_E]

I've ridden off the centre stand once just to see if I could, but given the extra stresses involved it's not something I'm comfortable with doing. I know the guys at the off-road school do this but they don't pay for the bikes!

When I had 'normal' height bikes I always got on from the left but given the size/weight of the GSA it does make sense to haul the bike upright and get on from the right sometimes if there's a camber issue.

 

[the-other-bradders]

thanks, I;ll tak ethat as a no and not bother trying!!!!

FWIW I get on from the left, while the side stand is down, as the seat is lower for me to cock-over, lift of the stand then flip it up. On a sports bike, I take off the stand, from the left, and chuck a leg over with the front brake on

I often have a crowd when i get on...most of them so called mates :lol: and one of the guys gets a step for me on the GS!!

 

[adamneeds]

couple of quick questions:

anyone ride off their centre stand? if so any issues?

getting on and off the bike with the side stand down - is this an issue putting all the weight on the side stand? I'm fairly hefty at c130kg and a tad short of leg-length, so find this a good way (john wayne-esque) of getting on and off the bike...

not a issue for me being 6.4 . Doesnt traffic come towards/past u on the right. Would prefer a bit of protection

 

[Slowdown]

The off road school were very particular, especially with me, on how to get on and off the bike. And it works very well. And didn't involve riding off the centre stand.

 

[MattW]

The off road school were very particular, especially with me, on how to get on and off the bike. And it works very well. And didn't involve riding off the centre stand.

Just out of interest could you describe their recommended method? (Interested to know how it compares to my "just get on it from the left after taking it of its mainstand" technique).

cheers
M

 

[karlp]

Just out of interest could you describe their recommended method? (Interested to know how it compares to my "just get on it from the left after taking it of its mainstand" technique).

cheers
M

Their approach is hold the bike (not on any stand - even side stand), turn the bars fully so that the front wheel is pointing away from you (this gives the widest angle possible to minimise restriction) then swing the leg over and place the foot on the footpeg NOT THE GROUND.

 

[oblertone]

At a Dutch GS rally ...

... a couple of years ago, a little chap wheeled a HUGE off road HPN-type bike into the car park. the seat height was about 4' ! He started it (stand up), toed it into first, slipped the clutch and effortlessly mounted it like a bicycle as it pulled away Most of us then went beer shopping

 

[MattW]

Their approach is hold the bike (not on any stand - even side stand), turn the bars fully so that the front wheel is pointing away from you (this gives the widest angle possible to minimise restriction) then swing the leg over and place the foot on the footpeg NOT THE GROUND.

Hm , interesting - thanks for that.
I might give it a go (with someone handy to catch the bike should I feck it up )

 

[Slowdown]

Their approach is hold the bike (not on any stand - even side stand), turn the bars fully so that the front wheel is pointing away from you (this gives the widest angle possible to minimise restriction) then swing the leg over and place the foot on the footpeg NOT THE GROUND.

With the emphasis on swinging your leg over the seat in a 'positive' way. Kind of step into the swing to maximise the momentum to get your leg over.

If only they had such good advice on getting your leg over in other 'departments'

 

[Hustler]

... a couple of years ago, a little chap wheeled a HUGE off road HPN-type bike into the car park. the seat height was about 4' ! He started it (stand up), toed it into first, slipped the clutch and effortlessly mounted it like a bicycle as it pulled away Most of us then went beer shopping

A lot of the clever enduro people get on that way as well.
And for pit stops they'll be half off and standing on just one peg as they arrive.
Saves time that way.