Side stand

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I'm from the old school that says you should never sit/climb on the bike with the side stand down, using the stand as the only support. I regularly see people using the side stand as support to get on/off their bikes & when filling up with petrol.
Have things changed?

While I'm on the subject of 'bad habits' I often see people resting their crash helmet on the mirror of their bike - again a huge no-no back in the day. Am I really that out of touch?


Have things changed or are some people just Anarchists? (You know who you are, the evidence is in the RR photos).

 

[sidestand]

I'd never be able to get on my GSA if I didn't climb on the footrest with the side stand down - never broken one yet

 

[Greenman14]

Yes, you are out of touch. If I tried to get on my GS, or any previous adventure bike, without the sidestand down I would drop it 7 times out of 10. And the mirror is easily strong enough to hold my helmet, if it wasn't then either the mirror stem would be too flimsy or the helmet too heavy.

 

[stolzy]

I, likewise, do this almost every time I get on the bike.

 

[IJGser]

I would comment but I don't ride a 1200 anymore. So I guess the fact I do both on my 650 is of no interest?

 

[phillh]

I often climb aboard my GSA by standing on the left footrest while on the side stand and it hasn't given way yet.

And I do the mirror thing too since I left my helmet on the seat and it rolled off smashing the visor - leaving me 90miles from home with no visor

 

[Photoguy]

I climb on while on the side stand to prevent me kicking lumps outta the seat and/or boxes.

Also in ye olde days putting your helmet on the mirror was claimed to damage the helmet inners, nothing to do with how strong the mirror stalk was.

 

[Guigsy]

I have the side-stand down when I lift my leg over the bike, but I don't put any significant weight on the bike until I've picked it up off of the stand. I'm fairly short at 170cm (5'7") and a puny 65kg (10 stone 4 lb). The only easy way to lift the bike off of it's side stand is to turn the bars to the left so I can lift upwards more easily... don't think I'd be comfortable with a GS if it had to be off it's stand when 'mounting up'.

I'm not that confident about taking it off of the centre stand either... nearly dropped it once so far.

Helmet on the mirrors? Yes, it's a bad habit and could potentially damage the inside of the helmet. However, with the amount the GS shakes when you start it, you can't leave it on the seat! Putting your helmet on the floor probably isn't much better for it either.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Interesting stuff, thanx chaps.

My question regarding the helmet on the mirrors did indeed relate to helmet damage rather than mirror stalk damage, but thanx again.

 

[Shunt]

Just had to buy a new lid.
Due to me resting my old one on the mirror whilst chuckin the gs onto the center stand.
It flew off an cracked as the bike came up

 

[Gordon T]

What you worried about?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AEQASq8ersA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Can be done with a GS as well.