Center stand stuck in the Asphalt

SupraSabre

SupraSabre

48 Years of SoCal Lane Splitting/Commuting-Retired
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Joined
Nov 20, 2005
Messages
6,795
Location
Cedar City, Utah
Bike
12/04 ST 1300s
2025 Miles
000596
Last Friday I had something that hasn't happened in a long time, while stopping at the bank to get some cash, the rightside of my 2010 ST1300 center stand got stuck in the hot asphalt!

I tried several times to push the bike forward , but it wasn't going. I had some plastic bottles and aluminum cans with me, so I took a can, squashed it and tipped the bike to the left to get the can under the rightside of the CS. No luck. At that time, I unloaded the topcase and the saddlebags and was able to get it off the CS and put it on the Side Stand. What a PIA!

I didn't pay any attention to the fact the parking lot had been recently re-done, hence the soft asphalt!

All and all, THESE BIKES ARE HEAVY! :doh1:
 
Been there, done that...

FYI, it takes about a year for asphalt to cure hard enough to support a side stand or center stand. That's in a climate with a winter - it might be different in climates without winters.

Michael
 
Back in the old days I had a 69 CB750 sitting on the Centerstand. Well as it was sinking into the asphalt the left side stopped when it hit the foot bar on the stand but the right side kept going until the bike fell over on the right side! Sometimes the center stand isn't the best option.
 
HOG SLYR said:
Sometimes the center stand isn't the best option.
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I doubt a side stand would be a better one. But a side stand on a pad would work well in that situation. Or with a big 'foot' attached maybe.

I've probably parked my bike on the center stand in public maybe twice and can only remember one of those times. It was in a parking garage were bikes were restricted to spaces that barely fit a moped.
 
Man......I did that years back too. The restaurant had 2 days earlier paved their old gravel lot. When my buddy helped push the then- Venture- of the centerstand, a huge plug of asphalt came up. The owner came out- I learned new cuss words. Told me to never come back. Felt very, very, small. Not much else I could do. (BTW- never used my centerstand again on a asphalt lot.....)
 
If anyone got angry with me for my bike stands making holes in their parking lot, I'd tell them that they'd be paying to repair my bike if it fell over. I'm using my bike's equipment as designed, and haven't seen any "no motorcycle" signs.
 
A couple of years ago I widened/redid my driveway in concrete. After the concrete cured but was still slightly green I parked the bike in its new spot but put down a piece of plywood under the side stand. I am still using it, since the bike lands in the same spot every day....

Thanks for the heads up on new asphalt. The company that I work for is moving to a another building and they had to repave the parking lot. I will grab a few small plates for me and my fellow employee riders so we won't drill any new holes......
 
Larry Fine said:
and haven't seen any "no motorcycle" signs.
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Or any 'Fresh/Soft Asphalt' signs. Yeah I'd have a few words for that owner as well.

fnmag said:
Best way to help in the future is the 'big feet' with the side stand down.
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+1 Everybody has their pet solution for the Asphalt Sink but I like the Spirit Beast side stand pad (ebay $13):
s-l1600.png


The CF150NK is the smallest of three sizes (L3/L5/L7 from China).
I don't have one or any idea about the proper fitment to STs or how it affects the side stand in the 'up' positon. I just like the look and the convenience factor of always on the stand. The added thickness of the pad will reduce the lean slightly. Good or bad depending on time and place etc.
 
If there is obvious fresh pavement I will find another place to park and walk a little further.
 
I try to use end spots that have a concrete curb and just put the sidestand on the concrete. You can't always do that so I also carry a sidestand puck too.
 
Whooshka said:
Go to any bike event and there is sure to be a vendor giving these away as a promo item.
.....
I keep it in the left pocket on a string. Just drop it and kick it under the side stand. Pick it up with the string when you leave.
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I have something for the side stand, it's in my 2012's left pocket....not something I move bike to bike when I set them up for commuting!

Besides, I think this is the first time in about five years, since I last experienced my center or side stand sinking into the surface that I park it on!
 
I'm pretty sure the pressure from side stand is far less than center stand - but only a scale can confirm that. I only use my side stand unless I'm doing maintenance in the garage. On the rare occasion that I park in a soft area, I just push a stick between the plate and "pin" on the side stand
 
mortenk said:
I'm pretty sure the pressure from side stand is far less than center stand - but only a scale can confirm that. I only use my side stand unless I'm doing maintenance in the garage. On the rare occasion that I park in a soft area, I just push a stick between the plate and "pin" on the side stand
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YEARS A GO....Due to having a bike fall off its side stand ... I ALWAYS use my center stand!
 
mortenk said:
I'm pretty sure the pressure from side stand is far less than center stand - but only a scale can confirm that. I only use my side stand unless I'm doing maintenance in the garage. On the rare occasion that I park in a soft area, I just push a stick between the plate and "pin" on the side stand
Click to expand...

Each foot of the center stand is supporting just shy of 1/2 the bike's weight. The side stand isn't supporting anything close to that as most of the bike's weight is still on its wheels.

So I think your supposition is correct.
 
SupraSabre said:
YEARS A GO....Due to having a bike fall off its side stand ... I ALWAYS use my center stand!
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That's really surprising.. I'm not trying to start a debate, nor doubt your use of the center stand but the foot print given by the side stand provides greater stability than the center stand. Meaning the triangle of the 2 tires and side stand is greater than 1 tire and the center stand. It's physics. Must have been more than wind at play when your bike went over. Sucks.
 
Whooshka said:
.... Must have been more than wind at play when your bike went over. Sucks.
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When you use the side stand, you should put it in gear. Which I didn't do! So it was just a slight decline and it rolled forward.

I started using the center stand after that and old habits are hard to change...besides, I'm fine with using the center stand.
 
ddemair said:
Each foot of the center stand is supporting just shy of 1/2 the bike's weight. The side stand isn't supporting anything close to that as most of the bike's weight is still on its wheels.

So I think your supposition is correct.
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I always carry a puck. Seems I frequently end up parking on grass. A puck has never failed me. No puck is asking for trouble.
 
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