July 01, 2019

Motorcycle side stand extra uses!

Most bikes have them; however, one question emerges, how many uses can you think of for your side stand?

Yes, there are more than one, and regardless if you want to impress your friends, or take the most out of your side stand, this article will be worth a full read.

The primary use of the side stand is known to us all, and that is for parking, however, even here some people have questions, mainly, how strong it really is.

Sidestand missing popping beeds | Braaaaaapp

Reference: Image from Motorcycle Parking

Surprisingly to some, side stands are not as flimsy as they look, and they can hold a fair amount above the weight of the bike.

Knowing this, if you feel like you need a rest, don't worry, sit back and relax, your side stand will easily hold you, your gear, and the bike itself for a quick nap!

Reference: Image from www.google.com

Now that we know our side stands are sturdy and that we cleared the primary use for it, what further uses can there be?

EXTRA USE NUMBER 1

- As a kill switch as opposed to the key, or the handlebar kill switch

Another widespread use for the side stand is one that most of us were forced to learn the hard way.

I know I was.

I distinctively remember trying to start my first bike to no success, only to be told by a police officer that was giggling at my despair, that I needed to stow the side stand before the bike would start.

A lesson and embracement I won't forget.

I know my story is not unique, so many of you have also been over this rite of passage and will never forget that your bike has a kill switch sensor on the side stand.

What many may not know, is that in several off-road biased bikes, that sensor is either inexistent from stock, or removed to prevent unexpected engine shutdowns due to a malfunction or damage on a rocky trail.

It is critical to remember that the side stand kill switch exists for a good reason, and that is to make sure you won't drive away with it deployed.

Getting to a corner and having the side stand hit the road can be enough for a crash, so if you ever find yourself on a bike without the sensor, remember to make sure your side stand is stowed before driving away.

If you are on a bike with the sensor there, keep in mind that deploying the side stand is a great way to shut down the bike, and as safe as turning the key or hitting the kill switch on your handlebar.

Reference: Image from www.riderchris.com

EXTRA USE NUMBER 2

- For spinning the motorcycle around

Getting to this point is where most people stop being confident or knowledgeable of the side stand capabilities.

For me, this point is not only one of my favorites, but also one I use daily either to park the bike or to spin it around to whatever way I want to go next.

Imagine yourself in a tight parking spot or a dead end road or trail.

If you can't properly reach the floor with both feet to perform slow speed maneuvers, or you just can't be bothered to do a bunch load of back and forward to get the bike aiming to were you want to go, this is the maneuver for you!

This technique, however, has a few tricks and details, and although we will soon enough produce a video detailing them, I will jump the gun and list them out for you:

The aim is to get the bike balanced between the front wheel, the side stand, and your body

Some side stands are positioned in a way that when you pull the bike, either it will lift both wheels - as in the picture below - or it will raise the front wheel instead of the rear one.

Due to the instability of this position, it is not advisable to proceed with this manoeuvre when that happens.

Reference: Image from www.motorcyclistonline.com

The best way to lift the bike is by getting your body on the side stand side, pull the throttle side of the handlebar all the way to you, and push the handlebar by the handlebar line from the throttle side, to the clutch side, as shown in the picture below.

Do not push the bike to you, that will either make the manoeuvre impossible or extremely more difficult.

By pulling over the handlebar line you will offset the bikes balance point and forcefully create a three-point triangle between you, the side stand, and the front wheel.

Pushing the bike alone will force both wheels to want to lift up, balancing the bike between the side stand and you, as shown in the image above.

In some smaller bikes that can work, but it is harder, and extra stress on the side stand.

Once the rear wheel is rised, there will be a position where the bike will become almost weightless, but as that varies from bike to bike, you will have to get a feel for it.

Don't worry; it is a very telltale feeling, you won't miss it, and even if you do, there will be little safety range above the weightless point.

Pushing way above the weightless point may result in the bike jumping the side stand and falling to the ground, so start lifting the bike slowly until you know where that point is on your bike.

Reference: Image from www.braaaaaapp.com

Once the bike has the rear wheel up, and to achieve a successful rotation, it is vital that you push the throttle towards yourself without ever letting the handlebar off the steering stopper.

You will only achieve a safe and effortless rotation by walking back and rotating the bike as the picture below describes.

Reference: Image from www.braaaaaapp.com

EXTRA USE NUMBER 3

As a crutch to get on top of the bike

We are not all graced with legs for days, and as such, it can be troublesome to get on top of some bikes, and even for those that can do it effortlessly, if we are talking about a fully packed bike, it may just be impossible to swing the leg over.

The best way to get around that?

Use your foot-peg as a step to get up while your side stand makes sure the bike stays upright.

Have you ever seen anyone get up on a horse?

Same thing!

Once on top, stow the side stand and get riding!

Reference: Image from www.digibless.com

EXTRA USE NUMBER 4

- As a tire changing tool to break the bead

Although more common in off-road motorcycles, if you are running any kind tube tires, it can happen that you have to change a tube by the side of the road, and if you ever had to do it, you know how hard it is to break the tire bead.

If you never found yourself in this situation, or if you are unclear on what the tire bead is, allow me the side note.

As you can see from the image below, the tire sits on the rim very snuggly.

That snug section where the tire and the rim "glue" itself together, is called the tire bead.

Do you know the popping sound new tires make when they are first inflated?

That is the tire sitting on the bead.

As we are on the side note route, one thing you can do to avoid having to pop any beads on the road or the track in the first place is to use puncture preventing products, which work on tubes and tires alike, or use plugs. Plugs however, can only be used on tires that do not use tubes. With different levels of success, you can find kits to transform your tires into tubeless tires as a DIY, or with the help of a professional tire specialist.

Regardless of you are running a tube or tubeless tire, you will always need to reinflate your tires, and for that, I do not advise the little old school CO2 cartridges. If you want to be properly self-sufficient when it comes to tires, I strongly recommend carrying a pump to pop the bead and run the adequate tire pressure afterwards.

Break the bead | Braaaaaapp

Reference: Image from www.ctx700forum.com

Breaking the bead to get the tire out on the field is usually achieve with tire irons, but since the ones we can easily carry often don't have a big enough lever to make tons of force, we end up bateling the tire quite a bit, especially when they have stiff sidewalls.

No need for that!

We have a heavy bike right there, and we can apply much of that weight onto the side stand for our gain.

Aim the side stand to the bead area, force the bike onto the side stand, pop the bead, and move along!

This is not always an easy manoeuvre, but it is by far more comfortable than wrestling the tire with some flimsy tire irons, plus, it looks super cool!

Reference: Image from www.advpulse.com

Now that you are armed with an array of side stand uses, its time to get out there and ride!

Although side stands are designed to do all of these things, and potentially more, if you use yours for anything other than parking, it is advisable to inspect the side stand screw often.

The extra stress you are submitting that screw to may be more than it can to handle, so breaking or loosening may occur.

Regardless, I’ve never heard of a side stand/screw combo that is continuously checked to break, so do your maintenance, and take them most out of your side stand.

Sidestand extra uses!

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2 comments

Zé Duarte June 25, 2020

Thanks for the words Kannan!

Well, I have no issues with duck foot, but personally, I don’t use them, as I believe it’s a Farkle that doesn’t solve any real issues.

Let me explain.

The duck foot, side stand enlarger, or any other name those go by are used to increase the side stand base in order for the bike not to sink when parked on soft ground, right?

Well, I’ve never been anywhere I needed to stop where my side stand was sinking where I didn’t manage to find a rock, a piece of wood, or even a card in my wallet that I couldn’t put under my original side stand.

It does exactly the same function, it’s free, and it doesn’t add one single gram to my bike.

✌️🏍
Kannan Rama June 25, 2020

I read all the 4 additional uses of a Side Stand…….The first 3, were fairly straight forward , but I am afraid, no one would have thought about these uses…..The fourth one is little bit tricky and nevertheless, can be tried when changing the tyres. I have seen duck foot being widely used in Adenture Motorbikes……It increases the foot print of the side stand…..It is a simple design and easy to DIY in most of the models……What are you views about using Duck foot on side stand……?

Motorcycle side stand extra uses!

HAVE YOU SEEN THESE POSTS?

Areia não é só cu para trás e acelerador!

Ainda achas que formação é cara?

Porque é que a mota vai para onde olhamos

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