Center Kick Stand

[MajorMalphunction]

I have a random question for the experienced riders:

I've been told that the center kick stand scrapes when the bike corners hard. Is that true? Reason why I ask is because I don't have one installed on my bike an I recently acquired one and I am debating about installing it. Any suggestions? Thanks!

-Major

[Suzuki Stevo]

Install it, it makes many common maintenance tasks very easy to do...such as oiling the chain, try that on a Sport bike without a second person 

[MajorMalphunction]

Install it, it makes many common maintenance tasks very easy to do...such as oiling the chain, try that on a Sport bike without a second person 

That was what I was thinking.

But of course, I'd like to ride low on the turns 

When you think about it, why not have a second person to share a beer with after the work is done? 

[Suzuki Stevo]

Also...try removing either your front or rear tire on the side of the road without a center stand 

[MajorMalphunction]

Where would I get a spare?  

I get your point though.

[Asym]

I've never had a problem with the center stand dragging. My shoes and pegs drag but have never noticed the stand causing a problem.

[black and silver twin]

I've never had a problem with the center stand dragging. My shoes and pegs drag but have never noticed the stand causing a problem.

yeah my feet drag first but ive got size 12 steel toe work boots that I ride with so they stick out far.

[BaltimoreGS]

Never had a problem with the center stand dragging and it is very handy for maintenance/repairs.

To the above poster, if you are scraping the toes of your boots in turns try riding with the balls of your feet on the pegs.   

-Jessie

[tt_four]

I think I usually hear about people rubbing their center stand when they have the bike lowered. I was going to take mine off this spring, but I'm gonna wait until I get my tires changed and can spend more time riding rather than working on the bike. You can also pick up a rear stand for maintenance like lubing your chain. In about 37k miles of riding I've never needed the center stand while I was out on the road. No to say i won't ever, but it's not one of those things I can't survive without.

[kylegod]

I took mine off. My foot would hit it and it was annoying me. I just use a small motorcycle roller thing from harbor freight for 10 bucks to lube chain. Pitbull stands to get bike off ground.

[jeremy_nash]

I had to take mine off on a track day, because it was rubbing on the track.  still havent put it back on.

[MajorMalphunction]

After reading all of this, I decided to put it back on. I don't see myself doing track days, and plus I don't own a jack for motorcycles. I'm going to have to do the carjack with wood type deal.

[Bridger]

I took mine off because it is hideous.

[MajorMalphunction]

I took mine off because it is hideous.

I guess some details sticks to certain people...

[Bluesmudge]

I took mine off because it was getting really dangerous in the corners. Definitely doesn't hurt the bike's figure to take it off, but I miss it every time I do a maintenance task.
If you are not hitting steep lean angles, leave it on. If you are, take it off because you don't want to end up in the bushes because of it.

[pandy]

I do miss the GS's center stand, but I've gotten good at getting my boy on and off his rear stand on my own.  You probably won't have trouble with scraping on the street...likely would have trouble at the track (heck, my side stand almost scrapes at the track  ). 

[ohgood]

leave it off if you like, the gs is light enough you can side stand it and turn the rear wheel by hand while lifting on the grab bar. don't think ill be doing any roadside tire changes

[tt_four]

I do miss the GS's center stand, but I've gotten good at getting my boy on and off his rear stand on my own. 

Even though I plan to remove mine, I'm still gonna keep it around incase I want to use it. I think it's too much of a hassle to install it properly, if I remember right because of the exhaust being in the way of the bolt. If I want to use it to do something I can just stick a bolt in from the other direction and put the bike up on it without the springs or anything and it should work fine, then just pull it off when it's done. I have a rear stand too, but I just grabbed one of the cheap $30 stands from HF so it's pretty flimsy, and I don't really trust it for much.

[Bridger]

Ya I keep mine around for maint.  I just stick a big screwdriver in it when I need it.  I couldn't stand that giant heap of crap hanging off the bottom of my bike.  That damn centerstand and the factory pegs make me wonder what GS designers were smoking back in the late 80's when they designed these bikes.  And why the F don't they update the look a little? sheesh...

[tt_four]

They were thinking those footpegs were in style back in the 80s, and the centerstand probably wasn't so much of an eyesore back then. I agree though it could do with an update. I know the F is technically an update, but I'd like to see a nice tail and a fairing that actually flows with the lines of the bike. I know the bike has been around so long that it's doubtful Suzuki wants to put any money into the bike at all at this point, and they're really just milking it for all it's worth, but a nice 04+ style gsxr tail and a shorter fairing and I think it'd look like a whole new bike.