BACK TO BASICS | Motorbike Side and Centre Stands

Back to Basics is a series dedicated to talking and showing how to use basic controls on your motorbike.
Aimed at new riders, people that are interested in riding but aren't yet doing so, that have those questions about motorbikes that perhaps they don't know how or who to ask!
Hopefully, this will help new riders find the confidence and knowledge to start their motorbike career.
In this episode, we talk about the Side Stand and Centre Stand, how to use the stands and why we use them.
If you liked the video, remember to give us a thumbs up as it helps a ton, and don't forget to subscribe too, so you don't miss anything!
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*we are not sponsored by BMW or any other company and our views are our own.

[@Roy_Godiksen]

One REALLY important thing to note. If you park with a sidestand on hot asfalt, it could go through the road and tip the bike over in minutes. Especially if you have a loaded bike with luggage as well, it is likely to tip over. Many riders have come back from lunch/work/whatever-you-do and found the bike on the ground with the sidestand having gone through the road.

[@RiderCamTV]

thats very true indeed Roy. Thanks for the comment :)

[@MultiOutdoorman]

Good stuff. So many riders ( including experienced and "advanced" ) often overlook these basic techniques. I leave my bike ( gsa like marks) in gear and hold clutch in while rolling it off the stand. Then, if the bike runs away I just slip the clutch out to act as a brake.

[@RiderCamTV]

Happy New Year from all of us at RiderCamTV. Stay safe and spread the word.

[@binness]

Just dropped by to look at some more of your videos, you are doing a cracking job, both of you, please keep going. Bob in the uk

[@vasilypupkin2107]

That was cool! Thank you!

[@michalrybinski3233]

Yup, handling of the bike is in Mod 1. Great vid, as always (Mark's laugh - priceless) thanks guys!

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks for the kind words Michal.. Glad you enjoyed the video :) and Marks Laugh is funny too!

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Good video for those intimidated by these beasts! Exactly the way I put mine off an on the stand. One thing to note is that bmw have put thought into the stand designs. Try the mk1 Tiger Explorer and it's much more difficult. My last one was hernia inducing to get it on and off the centre stand. The GSA looks i timidating but it's no harder than a middleweight to set on the stand in a controlled manner. Not all manufacturers put as much thought into the design. Beemets come in for a lot of stick but thetes no denying just how well thought out and weighted they are. Keep the good work up!

[@markholroyd3233]

Happy New Year and thanks for following us. Cheers and gone.

[@Null-zp3or]

It's been a while since I've heard the phrase Cheers & gone. Now that's how you make an exit.

[@Gerryinthewoods]

Well done, gentlemen and Happy New Year from The Woodlands, TX USA.

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks Gerry. Lovely to hear from you and Happy New Year to you too.... :)

[@ianmills35]

Well done great vid guys. Happy New Year. 👍🏍

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks buddy. happy new year to you too :)

[@artinat4847]

Thank you for that, I've just ordered an electric moped an Lexmoto E-lex Uero 5 and it's has both, a side stand and main stand.

[@edholmes4759]

It can be useful to have the bike in gear and use the the clutch to control it when taking it off the main stand on a slope. It stops it running away from you.

[@RiderCamTV]

very sound advice Ed, I always park my bike in 1st when using the side stand.. belt and braces and all that!

[@kevinstover5155]

Love that Toby wiggle!😂😂😂😂 you should do that in every vid!

[@RiderCamTV]

hahhahaa, thanks Kevin

[@adventurebikerentalscapeto4852]

For added security when lowering the bike from the centre-stand... you can position yourself on the right-hand side.

[@lynsmith1096]

Another good video

[@Ravan_Caw]

Well scripted 👍🏻 Great video something so simple that you don’t think about once again great advice. Hope you both had a great Xmas and see you both in 2019 👍🏻

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks buddy. Glad you liked the video. Happy New Year and ride safe :)

[@GopherChoker.]

👍👍 Good as always

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks buddy

[@SouthwestBlue1]

For the Mod 1 test you can just use the side stand. Good vid (as always) guys.

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks Peter, glad the video was ok :)

[@justmejohn773]

I like the idea for this series. A point that may improve the flow of the video, can I suggest that you edit the video to join the side stand elements together and do the same for the centre stand elements. Enjoying your videos. Keep up the good work. Regards Jad

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks for the comments buddy. will think about that moving on :)

[@AH-du8ck]

ive just had a 700 Deauville and can not get it on centre stand, and im 98 kgs tried always.

[@marklloyd4153]

Love you guys for doing this great idea . Both of these refresher videos have been well done . I like the way you are covering it in segments . Thanks so much I’ve just stated riding again and it’s nice to watch these kind of like having a college curriculum text book that’s been hi lighted by a A student . Can’t weight to c the next video . Do you guys have a opinion on BMWs new 1250 motor? Thanks again for another stellar rider cam vid .

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks for the kind words Mark. We are doing this series for not only instruction/learning and to help riders but also helps us brush up too! Ride safe

[@tonywheeler1281]

good video

[@davem5333]

A good idea is to periodically test the side stand safety switch. And inspect the springs.

[@kevinmobile]

Good video and my only comment on putting the bike on the side-stand (beyond rocking the bike from side to side to get a confirming feel that the two feet are BOTH flat on the surface as you mentioned) is to ensure that the front wheel is pointing forwards. It's also so much kinder to the tyres if you're going to leave the bike for a while and you can clean and lubricate the chain more simply. As someone else has mentioned, the mod 1 test only involves using the side-stand. Please don't give the DVLA any more ideas!

[@RiderCamTV]

very true Kevin, thanks for that... the front wheel needs to point forward :)

[@binness]

My insurance would not cover me, if I did not put the steering lock on when I leave my bike, even in my own garage, and off course you have to turn the front wheel in order to put it on, as to your other points I agree, bob in the uk

[@TheDervMan]

Nice one guys, not many videos out there which cover this type of thing. Although I’m disappointed there’s no R1250GS in the garage yet 😉👍🏻

[@RiderCamTV]

So are we.... maybe the 1250 will be in the garage later in the year as we rack the miles up on our 1200's eek!

[@Roy_Godiksen]

2:15 On the Kawasaki ZRX1100 you can select first gear, but the moment the clutch engages at all it cuts the engine. I love this little detail. It's unnecessary, but you know...

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks for the info buddy. Glad you liked the video... Ride Safe :)

[@gasguzzler5551]

My 269 Kg FJR1300 was a bit daunting to put on its main stand the first time, now it goes up onto it very easily, 3 weetabix also helps first thing in the morning ;)

[@RiderCamTV]

fab stuff buddy. Sometimes i know ive not had my weatabix when lifting the old 1200GSA... eek!

[@MrRazvansogodel]

👍

[@miyrides1180]

A habit I have is I usually grab a handful of front brake as I swing my leg over....Bikes going nowwhere

[@RiderCamTV]

I do that too, becomes habit to do that and certainly helps when getting on and off :)

[@davesmith4413]

not always my centre stand needs a extra little kick to get it fully up

[@mirekkudzia7052]

What about if your body weight is not so big? I weight only 10 stones so even if I stand on the lever I am not heavy enough to lift up my 210 kg bike..

[@RiderCamTV]

Good question but it’s now about weight it’s about technique and how YOU become the lever :)

[@KK-ev2xh]

Which fulcrum is best used to resist wind (effort) side stand or centre? And why if possible please;)

[@markholroyd5365]

KK I would say each scenario would dictate. Crap answer I know sorry.

[@wills_turtles]

When it's going to be really windy I use an external tether to make sure my bike can't move much horizontally, then either is fine.

[@andysmith6611]

Recently passed my bike test, purchased africa twin, problem im having is putting side stand down at the side of my road where the road drops lower, makes a high gap to the road surface, feels like bike is going to fall over due to the height and unable to hold the weight of bike and put her down gently as my foot is on tiptoe. The other problem is then getting back on bike due to the lower lean, cant get the bike upright due to the increased weight, lol, can you help please with any ideas or suggestions, hope this all makes sense, cheers guys

[@miyrides1180]

I have a gs adventure had the same probs ,I don't know about your twin ,but I got a side stand height increaser from nippy Norman's ,I'm sure there's one somewhere for your bike, or manoeuvre your bike for best position to get on or off

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

Just use common sense and park on the level, that is all you have to do.

[@andysmith6611]

@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff thats my problem, my garage is on a hill, does not matter which way i park i have issues of stand being too high, risk of bike going over, or too low, same issue, garage comes straight onto pathway, there is no level ground.

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

@@andysmith6611 - wow, weird garage? A few strategically placed pieces of 4" * 2" or similar will sort you out.

[@leechamberlain1273]

Simple answer , always make sure you have a brick and some sand cement and water in your top box . when you want to park simply cement the brick in road and place side stand on this . Yocan always carry a piece of wood or even buy an shoe that fits on end of side stand to give wider foot print . Hope this helps

[@jtwu8931]

Now do the power center stand get off in first gear!

[@RiderCamTV]

that would be fun!

[@sait33]

😂👍❤️🙏

[@adammoorby99]

I rock my bike off the centre stand 😂😂 but my bikes low and i can control it easy enough

[@davidforbes6464]

if you dont know how to get a bike off and on a stand....should they really be allowed on the road on one, maybe you should do a video on hip to work a zip next

[@RiderCamTV]

hahahahahahahha.... everyone starts somewhere!

[@binness]

David Forbes, I hear what you say and agree, but just as a pedantic note, a lot of bikers do not know how to zip their pants to jacket, they think it is too hard to do, and so don't bother, which could have very bad results, if your sliding down the road, bob in the uk

[@Mperzow]

Aa

[@andyreisch6755]

10 minutes for a 1 minute explanation