Can't decide if I should purchase the OEM center stand or just pick up the Pitbull stand designed for VFR1200's.
Anyone have any thoughts on the matter? What benefit is there to the centerstand when the bike is shaft driven? (e.g., no need to clean/oil chain...)
All input appreciated. Even nonsense! (it is winter here in Chicagoland).\
- Dan
I like having a center stand on my VFR800's but I think i have rarely used it other than for service in the garage. I used to use the center stand when parking on "soft" soil surfaces, but find that I rarely do that now too. The only benefit(s) for not having a center stand, at least that I can think of, is less weight and no worrying about scraping it while in a lean (not that I've had that problem...yet). As far as benefit(s) for having one, makes service work easy and no stands to trip over when walking around the bike, although Pit Bull has some stands with removable levers to help alleviate that issue. Also, if you have to do any "on the road" service work then having the stand built it does make it much easier to get the rear wheel off the ground if/when needed. Pit Bull stands are definitely a well built stand but I was looking into the Bursig stand (http://www.bursigusa...ter-lift-stand/) as this allows you roll the bike around and lifts both wheels off the ground, however they do not make it for the VFR800, but do for the VFR1200.
Cheers
Try one of these. http://abbastands.co...ike-stand&pid=1in conjunction with this http://abbastands.co.uk/product-detail.asp?item=superbike-stand&pid=1
Dunno if they are available your side of the pond.
Me personally, I like a centerstand. My kids like to sit on the bike when I am tinkering or washing. I also would use the centerstand when parked on suspect terrain. Now that I have the 7th gen, I can't see shelling out the money for both. So for maintenance it will most likely be the Pitbull stands since you cannot use the centerstand in conjunction with a front stand and have the rear wheel off the ground.
As for the Abba stands, you can only get the centerstand for it. None of the other goodies are compatible with the VFR1200. I had to cancel my order when they discovered their error.
luvtoleanit it will be here soon to tell you how awesome the Pitbull stands are.They seem to have a very devout following much like the VFR!
I know I don't have a 1200, but my lower front and raised rear makes my center stand virtually useless. Pit Bull stands are great!
Oh, I just remembered I have an ST1300! LOL! Center stand and shaft drive, but I rarely use the C stand except in the garage to save space. (Takes up less room then when leaned over...)
i use the center stand 100% of the time...i only use the side stand to get off of the bike and put it up on the center stand...it just feels more secure to me when parked...easy to clean too
I loved having the center stand for washing and oil changes, outside of that I considered taking it off. My biggest issue with the factory stand is that I would scrape in on the ground in left hand turns. Needless to say, it upset the bike when it would drag. I have used Pitbull stands in the past and love them. My next VFR I will not have the factory stand and will purchase a Pitbull to leave in the garage.
I'm leaning towards the pitbull stand. More weight and less ground clearance are changes I'd rather not make...
-Dan
That Bursig stand is interesting... I Assume it requires a part be installed on the bike for it to 'grip' for lifting?
Center stand's nice if you need to do repairs on the road. Pitbull isn't exactly portable.
Honestly, I use both.
I considered taking off my center stand, but it has many uses. Weight is a non-issue, it's so low you wont ever notice a difference. It makes the bike 'slimmer' for the garage, and makes maintenance easier, especially when working on the left side of the bike.
I do have front and rear T-Rex stands, because for in depth maintenance they are much more stable, and I don't feel comfortable raising the front wheel on just the centerstand. They also raise the bike higher.
Oh, and the centerstand-being-more-stable-than-the-sidestand comment is rubbish. The triangle profile is much narrower, and is more prone to tipover.
CAn't do both in the 1200, since the pitbull lifts the bike by sliding a pin in the mounts for the OEM center stand (which would be impossible if the center is there)...
90% of my riding is local, or in well inhabited areas. Of course, during that 10% I'll probably want it, but I'm leaning heavily towards the pitbull - I like to lean over and don't want to minimize ground clearance...
-Dan
...lifts the bike by sliding a pin in the mounts for the OEM center stand (which would be impossible if the center is there)...
I believe this is how the Bursig and Abba stands work as well. I have a pit bull standard swing arm stand that I got for $80! They really are beefy. From a few other forums, I saw the stand I have used with a single sided swing arm, but requires a metal rode to go through the center of the rear hub. The only issue with this, is that you can't remove the rear wheel once on the stand. With the 1200, you couldn't do it because of the shaft drive, which is probably why the Bursig/Abba solutions use the center stand hole.
...
Oh, and the centerstand-being-more-stable-than-the-sidestand comment is rubbish. The triangle profile is much narrower, and is more prone to tipover.
Well, I can honestly say I have never had my bike roll off the center stand, even with the lowered front and raised rear... can't say the same for the side stand
That doesn't make the side stand less stable, just an instance of being inattentive.
sure there are times when the center stand is not the best option, but MY bike is normally on the center stand..i feel more comfortable that way
It's a matter of geometry and weight distribution. Side stand is more stable.
Depends on conditions and axis of force... side to side on a hard surface I agree, it is more stable. Back to front I respectfully disagree...
luvtoleanit it will be here soon to tell you how awesome the Pitbull stands are.They seem to have a very devout following much like the VFR!
They are just the industry standard.
If you use the centerstand on soft surfaces, i.e. grass, dirt, then it's almost a certainty the bike will go over. The small foot of the centerstand will sink and the large foot, the one with the lifting tang, will not. Since it doesn't take much past center for the bike to topple over, it will. A larger footprint will be more stable than a narrow one, up to a point of course, a bike on the centerstand takes less force to tip over than one on the sidestand. Provided the bike is in gear of course.
A sidestand gives you the option of putting a larger surface under the foot and greatly reduces the possibility of it sinking. If the bike is in gear it simply cannot move enough to roll off the sidestand, unless you're parking on the side of a mountain. If it doesn't/can't roll off the sidestand, the only other option is for it to fall to the offside, and this will require that the bike move from leaned over to full upright and then on over. Basically impossible.
That doesn't make the side stand less stable, just an instance of being inattentive.
An "instance of being inattentive"... thank you, that sounds so much nicer!
I just thought I was a dumb@ss !!!
PS: I agree leaving it in gear when on the side stand and your most stable... problem I ran into was when warming up the bike on the side stand.
Well, having been "inattentive" myself so many times in the past I thought it sounded pretty good. :beer:
I'm sure I've mentioned this before... the kick stand is useless when the rear tire runs out of air. Park your bike after picking up a nail and see it for yourself. :cool:
I'd rather have the choice.
A blanket statement like that is not always true. A bike that leans sufficiently and has tires with stiff sidewalls, almost all tires anymore, is not very likely to tip over. I'm speaking from past experience with my '99.
A blanket statement like that is not always true. A bike that leans sufficiently and has tires with stiff sidewalls, almost all tires anymore, is not very likely to tip over. I'm speaking from past experience with my '99.
Them are some mighty stiff sidewalls!! Must be the Run-Flat tires I keep hearing about. I've changed more than a dozen sets of tires with my NoMar in the past 3yrs or so. None are anywhere close to stiff enough not to go completely flat with the weight of a typical motorcycle.
190/55 has a height of about 4.1". The typical kick stand on a bike like the VFR1200 sits at about 12" from the centerline of the bike. Do the math and you'll see that losing 4" of ride height will reduce the lean angle by some 20 degrees. No bike I've owned leans that much on the kickstand. Most lean about 10 deg at most.
When my rear tire decided to smoke a cigar on the last weekend trip, that rear tire collapsed in less than a minute. Sidewall stiffness?! Yeah, it was about as stiff as a wet noodle. The centerstand saved the day. It took all my might to lift the sagged bike onto the center stand, but at least it was an working option. Kick stand was useless.
I don't really see the point of a Pitbull stand if you have or can get a much simpler to use center stand.
Us 4th genners are lucky, We can remove the center stand and reinstall back, literally it in seconds (without the springs) to act like a service stand. I've had my center stand off the bike for many years now and have not missed it one bit on the road. If the 7th gen stand can be treated as such you might consider this approach.....especially if you want to lose a bit of weight on your bike.....
I don't really see the point of a Pitbull stand if you have or can get a much simpler to use center stand.
Us 4th genners are lucky, We can remove the center stand and reinstall back, literally it in seconds (without the springs) to act like a service stand. I've had my center stand off the bike for many years now and have not missed it one bit on the road. If the 7th gen stand can be treated as such you might consider this approach.....especially if you want to lose a bit of weight on your bike.....
On the 7th Gen, the Pitbull slides into the spot where the center stand mounts. Lifts in seconds. Combine it with the Pitbull front stand that lifts from the steering stem and you have great way to service the bike quickly.
[image: DSCF2467]It doesn't look like it because of the angle, but the tires are a few inches off the ground. If I get a flat on the road, I call roadside assistance. :)
If I have a choice, I'd have both a center stand and F&R stands. As an example, I installed a center stand on my Speed Triple R, and I got a T-Rex SSSA rear stand for it too. best of both worlds.
The VFR1200, however, forces me to choose one. :mad:
I chose center stand, because when I'm in my garage, I have all my tools at my disposal to mitigate any disadvantage the CS has compared to a rear stand. If I don't have what I need, my cars are only 5ft away... Occasionally, my wife comes to check on how I'm doing, and brings me a tall cold beverage to boot. And if I get frustrated with what I'm working on, I always have the options of calling it quits, stroll back in the house, wash my hands, and go relax on the couch reading VFRD.
Out on the open road on a touring bike, I have none of those luxuries. That center stand may be the difference between sleeping in a warm bed and staying up all night watching for grizzly bears.
I'm sure I've mentioned this before... the kick stand is useless when the rear tire runs out of air. Park your bike after picking up a nail and see it for yourself. :cool:
I'd rather have the choice.
I once had a rear flat on my Valkyrie that left me in the "leaning more to the right than left" pickle. Lucky to find a stick to shove under the right footpeg to keep it from falling over while I plugged the hole.
I went with the Pitbull rear stand and I'm wondering if a person could carry a pre-cut "stand" to wedge under the behemoth VFR footpeg to keep it from tipping over with a flat tire. Not necessarily to get the wheel in the air, just enough to keep it from flopping over.
Kinda sorta like this
I don't know, lifting the bike by its exhaust just scares the crap outta me.
All that weight on the exhaust by the looks of it? Scary stuff!
![[image: u8zZ2w.jpg]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/u8zZ2w.jpg){kind=link}
![[image: 44_150721.jpg]](http://shaunsaxon.com/images/VFR1200/44_150721.jpg){kind=link}