Tips for Parking your Motorcycle

There is more to consider when parking a motorcycle over a car. This week let's discuss some do's and dont's of parking your motorcycle.
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[@richardleeclewell]

Great advice. I would also add for the newbies to put the bike in first gear as a parking brake.

[@freeways3947]

Yep

[@davidbreen4727]

yeah, i always leave it in gear, and sometimes use the fork lock.

[@oknevals]

You always leave anything with manual shift in gear. I guess it needs to be told to people in N America or younger generation. It used to be common knowledge and part of learning to drive.

[@davidbreen4727]

@@oknevals exactly. and if you are on a steep hill facing downward, turn your wheels, or wheel towards the curb.

[@WhippyWhip2]

i'm a new rider, i got myself a bit of velcro to strap around the front brake

[@lancerbiker5263]

I also believe in "no harm, no fowl", however I have found the safest way to park is use a spot away from the main crowd. Back into a spot with a curb, and optimally near a light post. I don't mind walking a bit.

[@dougrobinson8602]

I stay away from light poles, because birds love to perch on them. The odds of a bird dropping ending up on your ride are higher. In a high crime area, I'd take the chance and make sure the area is well lit to discourage thieves or vandals. ride safe!

[@lancerbiker5263]

@@dougrobinson8602 Bird droppings are easy to "repair". Cheers

[@goldie6579]

@@dougrobinson8602 maybe because of birds is why he said “no fowl” 😂

[@wingandhog]

Here in Albuquerque, from what I read, apparently we are second in the nation for motorcycle theft. I like to park close to a building entry or windows so I can keep an eye on the bike if at all possible. I think thieves are less prone to mischief when foot traffic is heavy. But these days, everything is a gamble for sure.

[@lancerbiker5263]

@@wingandhog Not so bad here in small town Canada 🙂

[@theprodigalstranger5259]

I like to park my motorcycle in parent with infant parking. I strapped a car seat to the back as well. The confused looks on peoples faces are priceless!! BTW J/K

[@tomquinn607]

Apply the rear brake before you pull in the clutch to start off. I parked against an incline on the highways hard shoulder. When I pulled in the clutch to start the bike I felt the rear tire go "plop." Off the shoulder into gravel descending to a culvert. Everytime I feathered the throttle It sank deeper until I sat on my Hayabusa at the bottom about 10 feet down. It took 2 corn fed good samaritans who stopped their pickup to help to rock the bike up and out of that miserable spot without any damage done.

[@lpete531]

When pulling in a parking area the first thing I do is scan the surface, make a quick determination the angle of the surface and park accordingly

[@daveplogman2995]

Ive got a tip with regard to using the kickstand pucks. Ive got a 1/4" thick aluminum puck and if on a slope, I also have one made with 3/4" plywood. The extra thickness helps straighten the bike if she's leaning way over. Also, Ive got a orange length of Paracord line on the puck, slip it over the left side grip when parked. That way I dont have to try to retrieve the puck while seated on the bike. Just sit, lean over to take weight off the kickstand and with the Paracord, pull up the puck.

[@Earthneedsado-over177]

That is puck ing clever!

[@cummings37128]

Thanks so much for these tips! Here in middle TN, there aren't very many designated bike parking areas, we have to take our chances. I've read here of folks who don't think that bikes should occupy a space sized for autos. My answer to that is that I pay my registration fees and insurance just as they do. I will, however, park a further distance away from autos and utilize curbs, trees and any other structures to protect my bike. Our downtown area is typical of old south construction- most of the streets and, by default- the parking spaces slope from street to sidewalks and drains. There are several bars/eateries on the square and there are a few spaces designated to be loading/unloading zones. We petitioned the city council to designate these spaces as bike parking areas from 6p.m. to midnight since none of the eateries accepted stocking traffic past 5 p.m. They refused. We all showed up to make our case, no cutts, no offensive art-work, mostly coats and ties. They didn't really pay attention to anything that we said. We decided that we'd eat and drink elsewhere for two weeks. I got a phonecall from a commissioner asking why we did this. When I explained, very calmly, that if our bikes weren't welcome- neither was our money. We made a conscious effort not to spend our money there.

[@JackTRyan]

USA, right side traffic: Parking downhill on the right can be tricky I find, especially with the heavy GL1800. I avoid that if at all possible, otherwise tend to creep/waddle into the right geometry and of course, leave it in first gear. Also, going up hill to park on a right hand space, I always use the turn indicator and go pretty slow approaching the space. This is pretty important because the impatient college kids where I live will come right up behind me, not realizing I'll be stopping in the traffic lane, then rolling backwards into the spot (just like a car would, but I guess they don't consider that it's the same for a massive MC). Nice topic choice, Kevin.

[@dougfreeze]

I park in unused space all the time! But even in that space, I'll park so as to not impede anyone walking or driving by.

[@Pnove50]

Hey Kevin: another important point about parking your motorcycle is if the pavement is sloping forward then it can cause the kickstand to collapse

[@wingandhog]

Leave it in 1st gear. That may help

[@coryturner9140]

Always park it in gear, problem solved.

[@capt.nandhakumar2009]

Make sure that gear is engaged and no free play on the wheels remaining after kickstand is deployed. A small free play may still result in kick stand disengaging itself. Learned the 'hard' way.

[@shngsam8777]

yep thats the first thing i will check too learn it the hard way, parked in slightly sloped forward area and my bike fell down, damaging the handle bar, signal lamp and other stuff

[@echevarriawilson]

Kevin always has a great road strategy tip to use. Parking is the thing you can learn the hard way, or listen to MC rider and learn it the easy way

[@threedogracing]

Good advice, I once made the mistake of parking in a down slope and in the grass. Fortunately I had a passenger with me to help push it out. Since that time I am very cautious of where I park. The other thing I am careful about is the surface, a little loose gravel, especially fine gravel or sand can get your attention if your foot slips pushing your motorcycle back. I have a Honda Valkyrie and it is not a bike easily picked up if I drop it.

[@wingandhog]

True!

[@heleti0000]

I parked on a side-slope “once” - the bike was stable but again, hot weather cause some sink of the stand. What a job to get the bike upright and mount it safely. Here in Oz, most shopping centres have designated bike parking areas near the entrance. If not, I usually find a car park away from the “crowd” and make sure to park reverse-in a little towards the front, so car drivers can readily see the spot is taken. Enjoying your no BS channel 😁👍🇦🇺

[@dwightmcsorley7292]

I live in Canada. My buddies and I travel into the US every year for two weeks ( Covid exception )30 years now and counting. The last thing we want is a ticket. Motorcycles follow under motor vehicle laws, so unless there is a sign that says motorcycle parking , we park with the tin cans in the lot. The benefit for us is we are 4 to 6 riders , so parking has long become routine. One bike per parking space ( this gives the guys on the end room to move inwards to avoid car doors ) or side by side on the street. One year one bike was just into the no parking zone, and got a warning. We felt if we were local, the ticket would be a given but mostly feel the warning was to remind us,don’t do what you want. As a side note, doesn’t matter where you live, you give some people to much room, they will take more room just because. The lines on the ground for some is just a suggestion.

[@MotoLopez1k]

I think that the key is to think about others. You should be good then. Also stay away from red fire truck lines…

[@TravisTerrell]

Thanks! Good tips for situations I tend to think about too late. I love my kickstand foot--really adds confidence without using a puck every time.

[@ItsJDonYouTube]

Having a bike as a kid taught me a lot about this and many other things that translate to motorcycles

[@liammorris6354]

I’ll drive a few extra feet to find a spot where: A) 2 adjacent spots, pull in, execute tight U-Turn, park front tire outward, and GW sitting slightly diagonally in the spot. B) pull straight through in open spots that are nose to nose. Park as above, (A) Then there’s my “least favorite😜”, in the garage, which means the riding day is over ☹️

[@motzoh]

Exactly!

[@joeminter]

This past March, I bought a Honda PCX 150 and took up biking at the advanced age of 60. Mostly because I'm cheap and like getting 100+ MPG on the work commute. Of course many bikers don't consider scooters proper bikes, and I never get waves back from Harley riders; but I don't really care. Still having a blast. I find your instructions always helpful and try to dedicate at least an hour per week to practicing better riding technique. Thank you for the great content which makes me a better rider. I'm also grateful my scoot has a center stand, for sketchy parking situations. :)

[@wingandhog]

I ride a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide and a GoldWing GL1800. I always wave at scooters. Hell, I even wave at bicyclists 🚴….. I’m a friendly guy!

[@oknevals]

Parking on center stand can create whole bunch of problems on uneven ground. :-)

[@wingandhog]

@@oknevals ….From my own experience. Very true🤔

[@joeminter]

@@oknevals I'm sure I'll have many more experiences. My driveway is relatively soft gravel and the center stand seems to burrow down and find stable hard ground, ha. Of course the PCX is also only 300#.

[@cheifreal]

If ya on two ya get the wave from me. I know women on scooters that log more miles rain or shine than "real bikers" on Harleys. Machine don't really matter. It's the smiles per mile that I'm looking for. I have 3 bikes, 79 xr500, 72 Aramaci Harleys m65s leggero, and 01 suzuki vs 800 intruder. Notice my Harley is my smallest bike since my first honda monkey 50 at age 5. Ride on man.

[@whiskeyshots]

Great recommendations, Kevin, and this is a good topic. I've almost hit a few motorcycles that pulled all the way up in a parking spot. I always park where my bike is even with where the rear end of a car would be. Sidestands sinking into asphalt on hot days is a great warning. I've seen that one happen a few times. If you don't have a puck, a crushed soda can is an excellent option.

[@ridermak4111]

Although my current bike has a permanently added bigger foot, I used a kickstand puck for decades. When it comes time to leave, it is all but impossible to retrieve it when sitting on the bike. If you retrieve it before you straddle the bike, you risk falling over while trying to swing your leg over while the kickstand sinks. A short length of paracord tied to the puck and looped over the mirror not only makes it super easy to retrieve, but also reminds you to not ride away without it.

[@ginadonica9717]

Very helpful. I always struggle with how to park and where. I’ve been riding since 2017. Harley soft tail. I still haven’t gotten the backing in down yet but I’m a work in progress. Thank you for covering this. Always your videos are awesome and very helpful!

[@manfredkrain6418]

Thank you for your useful tips. I can add one too. Don't park your bike on the mainstand when you are in doubt the asphalt is hot. It happened to me that my beemer tipped over in the Death Valley. A broken windshild, a scrached mirror and a new learned experience were the results.

[@TJRohyans]

I always park in a designated parking space; generally near the shopping cart return since it's safe to say it won't get hit with a shopping cart there! As no one seems to ever return their carts!

[@bw6078]

Great information here always. Even if we have heard it before it's always good to hear it again. Always picking up gold nuggets of info. Thanks for sharing.

[@clemc5457]

Just want to add this: I keep it in 1st gear, when parked, to keep it from accidentally rolling.

[@harryhowell5644]

Great topic Kevin. Many of these lessons were learned the hard way for me. My first heavy bike was a 17 ultra limited. Parked it on a slight decline and had a hard time getting it out alone. Now I know to back it in. Also a sloped or inclined parking lot you got to plan where to park. Learned alot from it now on a 21 roadglide much smarter now!

[@sjp8201]

Always a good reminder to be careful when parking! Definitely takes some planning/thought.

[@rockyriddell8671]

Thanks for sharing. I would appreciate video of creative parking in challenging situations. Beautiful camping pics with your gorgeous Valkyrie.

[@juliochingaling5824]

Thank you brother for your knowledge. God bless n ride safe..

[@vikingplumber9541]

Man, I wish you still had that Valkyrie. I'm riding my 2000 Valkyrie to the InZane rally in Montana this year. With all that I have learned from you, It's sure to be a safe, & enjoyable trip. Thanks Kevin.

[@willmcgregor7184]

Good tips. Can use a compressed pop can etc as Side stand support on loose surface.

[@iallso1]

You story with the Valkyrie is reminiscent of an incident that occurred shortly after I bought my Vstrom. I was riding a quiet gravel road between Port Levy to Pigeon Bay, and there was a lovely vista over Pigeon Bay as I came down a slope. I stopped on the side of the road, there was no verge, just a drop off of 50m/150ft. I put the kick stand down and swung my leg off, went around back to get my camera out of the top box when the bike rolled forward, off the side of the road and down the bank. I had left the bike in first hoping this would prevent it from moving. I tried without success to get the bike started, I couldn't get it into neutral and checked my phone only to find that I was in a location that did not have any coverage. I realised I hadn't told anyone where I was going, I was making my route up on the fly. I was beginning to think I was in a spot of bother when a car came around the corner. A German couple on holiday stopped to help, the mature guy slipped coming down the bank stopping at the same blackberry bush that had prevented the bike from going further down. We decided that we needed to use the car to pull the bike up the slope. The guy drove down the road to be able to turn around and face up the slope while I secured two strops together and to the grap handles. With the other end secured to the car, his wife and I lifted the bike onto its wheels to start the tow, unfortunately due to the slope and slippery grass, I slipped and the bike fell on top of me. I was now pinned under the bike. The guy had to disconnect the strop, find another place to turn around and pull from the other direction to free me before we could consider our next option for the bike. While we were discussing what to do next another car came by and was blocked by the first. The French couple joined the rescue attempt. Suddenly the road became busy with an English couple next to arrive followed closely by a Kiwi in his ute. Between the 8 of us we managed to drag the bike back onto the road and get it stood up. The mirror had been twisted loose, as was the bar end weight, the oem plastic handguard was cracked and there were a few scratches but beyond that the bike was in good shape. I thanked everyone for their help and they went about the rest of their days. I learn a valuable lesson about parking on down slopes and the weight of mid sized adventure bikes. While I managed to ride home safely, I found myself bruised and stiff for the next few days.

[@mrbritesideoftheroad]

Thanks Kev for the tips, made me chuckle as I've made some classic parking errors ☺️ I'm ordering a puck right now 👍

[@MrDan1713]

I like to motorcycle camp, and have used paracord and heavy duty tent stakes as guy lines for my motorcycle (in addition to a kickstand puck) when storms are predicted.

[@ganeshchellam7591]

Thanks for the tips. A very important part of Motorcycling. Once my kick stand sunk into gravel. I lost balance and fractured my shoulder.

[@johnnylightning1491]

Like I'm sure others have done I parked slightly downhill in some pretty rutted dirt one time. Needless to say I was in a predicament. Fortunately there was a friendly parking attendant nearby that helped me get the bike out. Lesson learned, watch where you park. I have learned that pretty much any parking spot can be used depending on how you park in it. Keep the good stuff coming Kevin.

[@artiecisneros4691]

Years ago, I was in Sedona Arizona on my 90 Virago 1100 and parked the bike on the side of the road on some flat hard dirt. I put the bike on the center stand to keep it centered since the temp was over 100 and using the side stand would probably sink. Well, I had gone on a hike for about an hour and when I returned, the bike had sunk all the way that the center stand was not visible. I ended rocking the bike back and forth till I was able to drive out. I also found that a beer or soft drink can crushed placed under the side stand, prevents it from sinking into the hot pavement. Thanks for the useful advice.

[@skyking228]

Not sure why some riders park on the sidewalk 20' or so from a store/business entrance. You can feel the heat from the engine/exhaust when you walk by. Not sure who would be liable if a youngster got burned and required a trip to the ER. Always interesting, thanks.

[@scottrichardson608]

Molas Lake! Did that last year and know the view. As for parking near businesses, also consider those curbs painted red for Fire Truck zones. Some municipalities consider those "no parking" zones anywhere inside that area (from Curb-to-Building). Thanks for the great work at McRider.

[@warrenberckmann3509]

Your advice on parking on non-designated areas is perfect! I park that way all the time when I can and never get ticketed. Don't impede any other legitimate use as you mentioned and it works out. I frequently park at or near bicycle racks, next to walls where there is a wide sidewalk or in a painted circle at the end of a parking row that is not a real parking spot.

[@loosingparts6159]

Parking and stopping on side slope is where I always dropped it when new. Always tried to reach the ground on the far side. Took me a while but I got it.

[@joshuabrightman5984]

This came in handy today. Went for my first ride ever(yes I am a newb rider, freshly out of the msf course) and parking choice is very important when out riding, especially in a group. Appreciate ya brotha, your videos have been extremely helpful

[@MCrider]

Awesome Joshua, thanks for watching. www.MCrider.com/Member

[@iallso1]

My role is that of a Parking Officer and I regularly issue notices to motorcycles that park on the footpath, especially those that think they are a pushbike and park in areas designed for pushbikes. In my area there are designed motorcycle parks, most of which are free of charge and are all day parking, some even within the multi storey parking structures. I only have authority for areas within the public road reserve, (property line to property line, not for private property), but within a stores car park I suggest that rules are followed because private parking contracts may be in operation and they probably issue fines of a higher value than those issued on the street, certainly in my area. At my local supermarket I was asked by a member of staff to park in an area surrounded by bollards close to the store entrance to free up the parking space for cars, but I would not have parked there without being instructed to do so, in case it had been against the rules.

[@arizmo]

Much needed advice. always a struggle with my Tiger 800.😅

[@themrrd12345]

Nice video, at work I have to park downhill in the back area and I gotta park it sideways. I am able to have it lean over pretty good and its not hard to push it up when I'm getting on. Since I back in to the spot I just accelerate out and it's easy.

[@Rufford72]

Im glad you mentioned the handicap spots.I’ve seen lots of motorcycles at Walmart parked next to a handicap spot on the yellow stripes .To be honest I’ve done it myself thinking I was doing the right thing by freeing up a spot for a four wheeler.That said I heard of a person getting ticketed for their tire touching the yellow stripe so I don’t do that anymore.

[@stanman9786]

The striped areas next to handicapped spots are often used for side-loading ramps or other wheelchair access. I don't even like to crowd them at all.

[@Fantasiawave]

Handicap parking is for handicapped people and you cannot park even in the Striped area because that's where their wheelchair needs to go you should get a ticket because it still considered handicapped parking not for motorcycles to use I have a friend who has a handicap parking sticker for his vehicle he also has a handicap parking license plate on his motorcycle so now he legally can park his motorcycle and a handicap parking spot otherwise do not park there you could have a ticketed and towed

[@PetrolJunkie]

This is largely dependent on location and how the spots are configured. Locally the police will only ticket if you are actually blocking access to a car and someone complains. 99% of the locals are smart enough to park clear of the cars. That said, usually if you move over a lane or two there is a striped area with no handicap parking nearby and you'll find a motorcycle in it all summer long. Generally speak, and my greater point, do what the natives do. If you don't see another bike in the stripes take a regular parking spot. There may be a good reason why they are not there. If you see a couple of bikes in the stripes, it's probably not a big deal. Just don't be a jerk about it.

[@wingandhog]

I stay away from handicap parking spots. This folks need the room in many cases.

[@richardmourdock2719]

I had been riding less than a year. Joined my first group ride for a couple days in West Virgina. We stopped at a lunch spot, about fifteen bikes, and the lot was, like pretty much all of West Virginia sloping. Everyone pulled in "in formation" so to speak. I was last in line so ended up at the far end of the line of parked motorcycles. During lunch we heard the unmistakable, metallic/crunchimg sounds of falling bikes. One went on another, on another and so on. The last in the line to fall was a new H-D. The rest of the trip was a tense one at each stop as the rider of the first bike over was definitely on everyone's s-list. More than happy to stay at the far end of the line and park an extra distance from the others. A lesson learned well, learned early.

[@johnnyboy6260]

Good stuff

[@cpuuk]

Had a few experiences over the years with side stand sinking into the ground (hot day\ soft ground)- kickstand puck is pretty much the first thing I fit on any bike I buy.

[@4loyal]

Hi Kevin, I typically park my motorcycle in designated parking spaces, close to the entry of the parking space where it can be readily seen by other motorist. On rare occasions I have parked in blank spaces between a parking space and the street, hashed marked and not. I usually err on the side of caution in a highly congested parking areas such as shopping malls etc.! I enjoyed your video, thanks! Loyal.

[@riderramblings]

I try and find a spot where I can park with my back wheel against the curb taking into account the slope of the road and the other factors you mentioned. In Europe, we tend to have designated motorcycle (moto) parking areas which also have "solid objects" you can chain your moto to.

[@garycordle5295]

I always park away from the busy areas and I always put it in 1st gear and I have what I call a parking chalk what they gave me from my MSF class 👍 good advice be safe everyone ✌️

[@7734Kromm]

Some of my favourite parking spaces are at the corners where the stalls are hard to get into for most vehicles, so they are usually in good shape with no oil drips. I back down into angle parking stalls as they seem to be sloped down to the curb steeper from the road crown. I also like to find a stall that I can drive straight out of in the large lots.

[@Rebel-Forces-Earth-007]

It's been my experience, and from speaking to police officers for their opinion, that most cops understand a motorcycle riders' perspective of not wanting their bike knocked over or damaged by a careless or distracted driver, and for that reason, they will usually not ticket a rider for parking on the sidewalk, as long as you are not blocking any pedestrian foot traffic.

[@frankroberts3292]

As often as is it possible I look for a drive through spot so I just have to pull out. Most lots in a store are mostly level.

[@johnnyhart340]

I had a friend that was a newer rider park his Harley on a hill and well when he came back the bike was not where he left it. But still on the kick stand and no damage but lesson learned. I usually park at the front of parking lots where the parking spots end and there is generally lines marking the unusable by cars area puts me right at the front of the store and leaves my motorcycle very visible. Easy in easy out

[@vf5126]

Excellent basic info. My 2 bikes have both too long, and too short kickstands.. But, as with riding in general, you should always be thinking ahead ..and I’ve not lost either to a drop, yet ~

[@jamesburgess8097]

I keep a block of wood in the saddle bag as I take my 83 Wing to lakeside areas, my driveway is gravel and dirt... even on hot asphalt, this works well, not to mention, it's a cheap way to spread out weight and help in situations of over lean. Cheers from Canada Kevin!

[@rickcastillo3573]

Hot asphalt got me one day. Well almost, didn’t fully tip over. I started using a crushed 12oz can as my puck. Works great.

[@TennRides]

When I go to Wal-Mart, I always park my bike up front near the building. Several reasons; one of my sons had his bike, parked in the parking lot, get run over by a lady that was caught shoplifting and had jumped in her car, backed into my son's bike and caused major damage. They didn't catch her, and the store wouldn't pay for it. Also, near the store it is cement, rather than asphalt, and no matter how hot it gets, I know my kickstand will not sink and possibly drop my bike. I have talked to a number of Walmart managers in this area of TN and they all say it doesn't matter to them, as long as bikes don't interfere with people coming in and out of the store, prevent the cart pusher from doing their jobs, or hinder emergency teams if ever needed.

[@mikem597]

Spot on! The kickstand on my older BMW K1200RS is a nightmare. First, it is tricky to deploy, amidst other hardware in the same location. Next, when deployed, the bike is nearly straight up. It can easily tip over, either left side to right side, or front to back. Guess I need to modify the kickstand, I've had two tip overs. Location-wise, if possible, I try to park out of the way, leaving car spots for cars.

[@mr.electric8559]

You covered a lot of good points. I am a rule follower and tend to park in designated spaces. Seeing a bike parked on a sidewalk, or other "look at me, I'm special" location gives that entitled persona. Same way I feel when someone parks their Vette in two spaces. Not a good look as far as I am concerned. Why give the non-riding public another reason to harbor a bit of disgust against riders. Just my opinion.

[@Jcampz01]

I think it depends. If a parking lot or place to park in general is somewhat full/populated and there is ample area to park my motorcycle that would be completely out of the way I will go ahead and park in a non-designated spot. I also don't necessarily do it to park closer, sometimes I'll park in what most would consider a "farther" spot. I have witnessed car drivers get angry on both ends: Mad if a motorcycle "takes up a car space", and also mad if they park not in a designated spot, so there's no winning with some people.

[@wingandhog]

@@Jcampz01 …. Very true. At 62, I tend to not really care what anyone thinks these days. No one really cares what I think, so it’s mutual.

[@cinpa2968]

Never heard it called a puck but I carry one in my Goldwing fairing. Back in the day I had a piece of flat 1/4” aluminum I kept for soft surfaces. I always use a marked spot to avoid bringing any negative attention to bikers and don’t mind walking a little to keep away from crowded store entrances. Stay safe.

[@dougfreeze]

Making house calls all day here in Los Angeles, I come across a lot of 'Hills' (Hollywood, Beverly, Monterey, Baldwin, Windsor...). It's kind of hard finding a spot on a steep hill to park but if you angle it just right, it'll work. I've never had an enforcement problem parking on the wrong side of the street if I need to.

[@maxcorey8144]

I used to carry a flat wooden block to set my kick stand on because it would sometimes slowly sink into hot asphalt or sand. I would carry it in my jacket pocket.

[@dennisw4654]

Personal story regarding parking my bike on asphalt. Work days at the hospital sometimes went from sun up to sun down. There were a few us riders that would park behind the hospital by the supply loading ramp that was tucked out of the way on asphalt. One evening, past sunset, went to get on my bike and leave to discover the Florida sun had softened the asphalt allowing the kick stand to sink in 2 to 3 inches only to harden back around the stand once the sunset. Could not free the bike until I called security who contacted maintenance to chisel the asphalt around the stand. The following week the hospital dug out the asphalt and poured a concrete slab designated for bikes. I also learned to carry a puck for next time.

[@machwheels8642]

Thank you parking is my most issue I have as I have a big bike and I am short

[@x-man5056]

At WalMart, Home Depot, Lowes, grocery stores, I park right up next to the store in an out of the way spot. Nobody has ever said boo to me about it. I would say watch for, people, fire hydrants or other obvious hindrances when parking in unusual or unmarked parking places.

[@melsbels74yi]

Nice bike ❤ Thanks for the tips...Ivebeen struggling with my morals, my 'known general parking rules' and 'what I've seen others do' < 🤣 to make my decisions and just wasn't sure what to decide. 😁

[@chrisherman7531]

I park with the slope....depending on the angle of the slope. My Roadstar 1700 has a shorter kickstand, so I may park with the kickstand on the "high" side of the slope. In a parking lot, I park with my bike even with the ends of the cars on either side, so a distracted driver doesn't pull in and hit my bike. Soft ground is no problem...I carry a couple of kickstand plates in my bag....one is aluminum with a rubber backing and the other is all rubber ,but thick with a tread on the one side. One is goid for hot asphalt and the other for soft/ muddy ground or grass.

[@dahveed284]

If I'm at a big box store, I'll usually park up on the apron by the store's wall. There is often much unused space there. Sometimes I'll park in the empty space at the end of a row as long as I'm out of the way. Most of my bikes are advtouring bikes and they have side stand feet enlargers installed to prevent the foot from sinking into the sand. My little WR does NOT have that and I cannot find one. So I'll be making something for it soon.

[@warren8601]

Good tips. I always park in a designated parking space when they are available. Also I primarily use the center stand on my motorcycle as I believe it’s more stable and less prone to getting knocked over. Of course some motorcycles don’t have a center stand and some are too heavy to make using them practical.

[@Fantasiawave]

Ever have a problem where somebody has been sitting on your bike when you come out of the store just trying it out however they have no right to be sitting on your bike and on the middle stand yes it is elevated if still could fall over being on a kickstand could it fall over worse or easier is someone in the parking lot decided to hop on your bike just to try it out I hate those kind of people who think it's okay to sit on your motorcycle when you're not there even though it cannot be ridden away it's invasion of privacy to me to sit on somebody else's motorcycle totally rude

[@michaelhoward142]

@@Fantasiawave People sitting on someone's motorcycle without permission is the same as sitting in someone's car without permission. No normal person would get in a stranger's car but they think hopping on a bike is OK.

[@motzoh]

I love a center stand for hot mushy pavement and just in general, my old bike had one. My newer one does not. I hate slanty or unstable surfaces and pucks.

[@Earthneedsado-over177]

@@Fantasiawave Who would do that? They must have less brains than an acorn.

[@arturobarrios8327]

I learnt the ‘front wheel goes up’ the hard way. I thought that my Harley would remain there for ever but I eventually gathered the strength to pull it up. Haven’t done it ever since.

[@sebas888888]

I wet would also add careful in a slope and having the kickstand in opposite direction of slope you don't want it to fold and the bike roll away. It happened to a friend.

[@postersm7141]

Speaking of parking in unusual spaces, last winter I had to go out of town for a week so I parked my motorcycle in my living room.

[@mattwarner5912]

A great backup for a motorcycle puck is an old hotel card key or loyalty card. They fit in your wallet and work reasonably well. They aren’t super durable but they do work in a pinch and are much better than nothing.

[@zridah1890]

I always keep a flattened soda can in my tank bag. One of the mini ones. I will put that under my kickstand if parking on gravel,sand or asphalt.

[@4DMASTR]

It all depends on the location. Large places like Lowes or Walmart there is usually a huge area near the front of the store I can park out of everyone's way and not take up a spot. Most smaller locations I'll roll back into a regular spot far enough up to be seen.

[@aldolajak1267]

A company I once worked for lined off a section of the employee parking lot just for motorcycles and even provided 12" X 12" X1/4" steel plates at each position for resting the side stand so it wouldn't sink into hot asphalt.

[@PetrolJunkie]

The plant I work at has designated spots right next to the building, and not far from the entrances. There is a section near every door the employees use to enter. It's sort of amusing because the motorcycle parking is actually closer to the building than the handicap parking and usually far easier to get a spot because no one cares if the bikes line up past the end spots. Some days there are ten spots and twenty motorcycles. lol

[@iallso1]

Sometimes on the street there may be areas that fall beyond the marked parking bays and before a restriction begins, that may be large enough to fit a motorcycle in. It may be that it is sneeky without committing an offence. An example would be on the High street of my town there are narrowed areas where the pedestrian crossing are, there are gaps between these narrowed areas and the first parking bay that have no restrictions. They make ideal motorcycle parks.

[@PeterKaitlyn]

I always park in a way that my motorcycle can be seen by others... I learned the hard way that parking deep in a space or some place that isn't easily seen can get your bike damaged... gravity is unforgiving... and people can't see motorcycles well from inside cars... they also don't always look closely... so I always keep it in mind... I also like to park in an end space if I can... again visibility is way safer then invisibility....

[@killyourtelllievision]

I've spent the better part of this morning listening to your Wisdom so I'll impart a little tidbit of mine in regards to parking at grocery or other stores (in OH to be sure). If I go to Kroger or Meijer they typically have diagonal yellow lines indicating the entrances to these stores right up by the doors. I have consistently parked there for years and occasionally right in front of cops. Not one time have I received a warning or ticket or even a hairy eyeball from anyone other than maybe a pissed off customer who parked at the other end of the lot. You see? On a MC you can even get closer to a fire hydrant though I typically don't and advise against it because chances are, someone on that fire dept knows how to at least move a MC if not being a licensed rider themselves making a ticket negligible unless you want to waste a cops time which would take longer than moving my bike if necessary. Attitude is everything so killem with kindness and NEVER admit you have a broken turn signal, tail, brake light, etc. cause you'll get a ticket for it if you knew but only a warning for the cop advising you

[@dawnhopson7538]

Once, in Houston, I was parking in a church parking lot. I found a spot which I liked, but the security guard said that I could not park there. He directed me to a more open area across the lot. I drove over there and I had my feet down and was about the deploy the sidestand, but I was standing on a carpet of acorns from the live oak trees. They were like ball bearings. I lost my footing and down went the bike. The old security guard was really embarrassed for causing me to park there and offered to help me get the bike up. It was ok, I knew how to lift it up. I will never get in that situation ever again.

[@iallso1]

The one that I find most problematic is there the is camber on the road forming a gutter between the edge of the road and the parking space. The parking space will normally also slope down to the gutter, so you want to park front wheel in. But you have the situation when leaving the space that your rear wheel is climbing the camber when your front wheel is coming down the slope. Suddenly you loose momentum and find the ground at its lowest right under you, maybe several inches more than if you were on level ground.

[@edwardhodges8637]

The road where my son lives has a very sharp camber and on a hill so I park facing uphill but at an angle of maybe 45° to reduce the camber then leave the bike in first gear

[@davidbreen4727]

at walmart-when i go to a walmart, there is open space between the main store and the liquor store, that's where i park, no problems. grocery store, i park in a regular parking spot. i pull in about half way, and angle the bike across the spot. so cars can see the bike from the aisle so to speak, i don't want anyone hitting the bike. i usually have a couple of feet from deep in the spot, and a good amount of room behind the bike. so far no problems.

[@yarekk]

I parked once at a university campus to attend a class open to the public. No parking in sight but the sidewalk was really wide and there were big bushes leaning over it. So I parked my Suzuki gs500 (a small bike) under the bushes, not taking any usable sidewalk space. Came back to an $84 ticket two hours later. That was 10 years ago. I was not happy

[@beepbop6697]

4:42 A crushed soda can makes a great kickstand puck.

[@robertwingender5920]

When I visit Wal-Mart there are the end of the parking striped areas and they are fairly large. I always park there and have never been accosted for it. Lucky me.

[@Fantasiawave]

For me when turning on a corner on a road where the road is consistently turning left or right I usually kicks down into a lower speed or I will just change my hand off the gas slow the bike that way and don't use the break at all using the brakes can make you slide and go crazy and flip the bike if you use the front and even using the front brake and a back brake can make you have an accident and slide either downshift or take your hand off the gas

[@robertpeterson2825]

Make a cheap kickstand puck using a metal electrical outlet box cover - either round or square.

[@shaneroddy8244]

I usually "tuck" in to areas at stores that are out of the way. Usually an area that is striped ( yellow stripes) and my bike can fit in. Also if I'm parking on an incline, I usually leave the bike in gear. I guess I feel like it's less likely to roll back 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@genuzz]

at your best, avoid of the slopes, any of them, specifically those filled with gravel. Reverse gear is simply ought to be a must option for most heavy bikes nowadays.

[@Fantasiawave]

I always have a parking stand guard to put under the kickstand if I am parking in a place where it might be gravel dirt muddy sand or something like that where the kickstand will sink in do I always have that parking guard to put under the kickstand also you can just get a piece of wood you carry in your saddlebag do you have a flat surface but a parking guard is better

[@sergiocamargo4698]

gas stations :the pavement may not be horizontal near the pump. It takes a lot of muscle to get the bike back straight up.

[@georgeszilva1223]

A crushed aluminum beverage can under the side stand works well,..flat and light too.

[@sebas888888]

Also when parking on slopes I will always engage a gear and not leave bike in neutral, this way I ensure I have the bike in a natural brake and not rolling away

[@ablastmac1]

In Australia ( or at least the state I reside ) we can legally park on the pavement. That is, so long as it doesn't block pedestrian access or impede on access to stores. A point to remember. If you are not on a flat surface it is advisable to leave your bike parked in first gear.

[@joebellows5110]

No bike deignated parking spots in my area.. Shepherdsville KY... I do however kind of cross the parking space with the bike. Not straight in , but a little sideways, to be seen