jogged at a park, came back, GS tipped over!

Rippa_MD · May 29, 2004, 06:39:24 AM

whent for usual jog. came back bike was on it's right side! on my way back you should have seen me run to pick it up. the good news is that almost nothing got damaged. I'm guessing some punk got on it and when they heard my alarm freak out and boom.

I say almost because some battery acid juice spilled and landed on parts of the muffler, nothing to serious but I got a couple of freckles if you will.

The only thing that is bothering me is that the front fender is now slightly tilted to the left, so when I'm getting ready to ride, I hear the tire somewhat chafe with the fender. Also when I'm making right turns I really hear the rubbing from fender-tire.

I'm lazy and on top of that I don't have a bike stand, are the screws on top middle of fender that I can adjust so I can straighten it?

Or should I start looking for a bike stand so I can remove front tire and reinstall fender?

gs500fromnb · May 29, 2004, 07:24:27 AM

thats your forks/triple clamp if I understand what your saying correctly...

Happened to mine, got tipped over in the wind, and it looked like that, then I crashed and it was really crooked ... I just loosten up the triple and had someone on front holding the wheel and straightened it up and the fender was alligned too.

Pkaaso · May 29, 2004, 07:58:32 AM

I can't stand it when people mess with my stuff.

I didn't read this in your thread but, If you didn't leave it on the center stand you should. It's a lot harder to tip over when on the center stand. Sometimes howerver the grade of the parking area forbids this.

It there even one on your bike?

My $0.02

Paul

chupacabrah · May 29, 2004, 08:02:21 AM

Quote from: PkaasoI can't stand it when people mess with my stuff.

I didn't read this in your thread but, If you didn't leave it on the center stand you should. It's a lot harder to tip over when on the center stand. Sometimes howerver the grade of the parking area forbids this.

It there even one on your bike?

My $0.02

Paul

i've heard quite the opposite.

using the center stand only has 2 points of balance, whereas using the sidestand has 3 points of balance--therefore being more stable.

Nick · May 29, 2004, 12:32:04 PM

Quote from: chupacabrah
i've heard quite the opposite.

using the center stand only has 2 points of balance, whereas using the sidestand has 3 points of balance--therefore being more stable.

Chupacabrah,

I have heard your position before, and I don't understand how the two feet of the centerstand plus the front tire's contact patch don't add up to three points of balance.

Kerry · May 29, 2004, 12:38:23 PM

Think about the triangles formed by the contact points in both situations.

With the sidestand the 3 points are: front tire, rear tire, and sidestand. And the weight of the bike is already biased toward one side, making for a slightly lower center of gravity.

With the centerstand, the 3 points are: front tire, left tang of centerstand, right tang of centerstand. That's not only a smaller triangle; it's a much THINNER one. And with the bike sitting stock upright, a force from either the left or the right will be able to exert the most "pushing over" torque - using the centerstand as the pivot point.

Rippa_MD · May 29, 2004, 01:40:24 PM

just to clear things up, i used the sidestand...
the good news is that I loosen up the screws on the fender not the ones right in the middle but the ones on the clamp just like gs500nb said and
boooYA! no more tire-fender chafing.

mrslush50 · May 29, 2004, 02:12:29 PM

Kerry is correct. the sidestand is more stable. Center stand is for changing tires, lubing chain etc... not for bike storage.

stephan · May 29, 2004, 08:10:12 PM

For future reference if you do need to support the front while you work on it put the bike on it's center stand and use car jack stands on the bike frame . . . worked great for me!

Eklipse · May 29, 2004, 10:15:23 PM

Actually what I use depends on where I am. Soft asphalt, definitely center stand. In my garage, sidestand usually.

If I park in public or someplace where I think someone may be tempted to mess with my bike, sit on it, I put it on the center stand. Why?

Because if they decide to sit on it, they won't have to try and hold it up, then mess up and drop it. They may not even want to sit on it after they see that they can't hold it up.

The bike is pretty stable on either one really, they're just both for different situations. I guess your bike would be less likely to be blown over by the wind or other uncontrollable forces, while it would probably be less likely to be accidentally dropped and whatnot by someone playing with it while it's on the center stand.

Anonymous · May 30, 2004, 05:27:34 AM

The GS when on the side stand sits too verticle for my tastes. If there is ANY grade sloping down to the right when using the side stand the bike is almost straight up. I wouldn't be surprised if a wind gust pushed it over. There are MANY times I move the bike around or even to another parking place because I don't like the "lay of the land" and feel it's sitting "too straight up" for my own comfort.

As for side stand vs center stand. Depending of how far "over" the bike is leaning on the side stand and whether the bike is facing uphill, I'd have to say that the center stand is more stable. Think about it. The triangle made on the side stand is VERY flattened. The two wheels make one line and the side stand the "point" is very close to the frame. On the side stand the bike is almost strainght up and down, very little lean. The side stand also sticks almost straight out, if the bike faces down hill it's very easy for it to "close up" and allow to bike to fall. Now the center stand sticks out past the frame (not much) and is about as wide as the center of the wheels and the side stand out and maybe a little wider. That and the front wheel make in my opinion a "larger" or "wider" triangle. Plus, the centerl stand "locks" by going over center. So, if there is a favorable slope (left to right sloping up and rear to front sloping up) I'd use the side stand. If it's not favorable then I'd use the center stand.

I still think it blew over. I'm VERY careful how/where I park mine.

gs500fromnb · May 30, 2004, 09:57:24 AM

Quote from: Rippa_MDjust to clear things up, i used the sidestand...
the good news is that I loosen up the screws on the fender not the ones right in the middle but the ones on the clamp just like gs500nb said and
boooYA! no more tire-fender chafing.

Was glad to help ya...

Pkaaso · May 30, 2004, 10:30:50 AM

WOW!

Lots to think about. I have to agree with it being dependent on the surface. When I park in my garage (flat surface) I always use the center stand. I have little ones who come through the garage while playing and I'm sure try to get on the bike. It just feels so much more stable on the center stand than on the side stand.

Also, when I park in public, I always leave it in 3rd or 4th gear. This way someone can't move it with out finding nuetral. And, if someone bumps it from behind, it won't roll off the side stand.

By-the-way... I'm working on a new design for training wheels for the GS. They will have spring loaded arms so the bike will still be able to lean in a turn.

This may just solve the prking problem too. :mrgreen:

Paul

Scottso · June 03, 2004, 01:14:42 AM

Who knows, someone could have whispered near the GS to knock it over. The GS stands WAY TOO UPRIGHT. Everytime I throw that kickstand down and start walking away from it I can't help thinking "man, that's way too upright to be secure!"

MarkusN · June 03, 2004, 01:32:53 AM

Disagree heartily. I find that the GS kickstand (at least on mine) strikes a good balance between good stability in the flat, possibility to park even on ground slightly declining towards the right, and moderate kickstand load, so that parking in slightly soft conditions (gravel) doesn't make your kickstand sink in and the bike tip over.

It doesn't sit like your typical hog, though. Would be a bit difficult to fit a kickstand with this much length on a GS.

June 03, 2004, 01:51:41 AM

You should always keep the bike in 1st gear also, although I must say, unless I am on an incline I never do.

The reason for this is that I hate having to stuff around to get the bike into neutral before I start her up - I like warming the GS up while I put my gear on.

Even still - I have seen my bike fall due to an incline.... :x

Stay Safe

Lars · June 03, 2004, 02:50:52 AM

My GS sits ok on the sidestand. It leans over far enough to be really stable. I wouldnt rely on putting it in gear on a slope. In 4th gear you already can almost push it through the compression by hand. If you wait a while, the air leaks out past the rings and you can push the bike through compression.

Also, at least on my bike, you can start it while in gear. That means that the bike hops forward if you push the start button and forget to pull in the cluth cuz you think it's in neutral.

glenn9171 · June 03, 2004, 03:27:45 PM

Install a Katana shock on the rear and it won't stant up as straight on the side stand. And you get a much better ride in the deal.

Ed_in_Az · June 03, 2004, 03:51:45 PM

At work, I park mine in gear, on the sidestand, steering locked, up close to a building on it's right side. it has no where to go.

I've done that ever since it blew over.

Traveler · June 05, 2004, 08:56:56 PM

I like the centrestand for flat surfaces and the side stand when I can get a decent lean angle, flat or uphill (up camber) but never facing downhill.

News:

jogged at a park, came back, GS tipped over!

Anonymous