Center Stand or Side Stand?

Sailboat13 · Post by **Sailboat13** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:58 am

With 5000 plus miles on my scoot I bet I've used my center stand less than ten times.

mandelia · Post by **mandelia** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:04 pm

ericalm wrote:
mandelia wrote:my coworker used to put his ducati up on its center stand, until one day it melted into the asphalt and the bike fell over. now he uses the side stand with a coaster. i suppose you could use coasters with the center stand, too, but it's much easier to position a coaster under the side stand.
His bike would have fallen over if on the side stand under those same conditions.

I use the puck with my center stand when needed; it's not hard at all to position it.

so do you use two pucks, one under each prong? (center stand prong... am i making up buddy parts?

)

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 8:10 pm

iwabj wrote:Need I say more DennisD, need I?

Drumwoulf · Post by **Drumwoulf** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm

Here's something to chew on: The side stand installation on the Buddy is actually ILLEGAL!
I don't know how Genuine gets away with it, but in the USA all sidestands on PTWs either have to have an engine cutoff
switch for when they're deployed, or else be automatically retracting (as on the Vespa accessory side stands)!
The Feds have mandated against being able to ride off with a side stand down,
but somehow Genuine seems able to ignore this regulation?

I'm NOT complaining here, mind you. Just curious..?

Drumwoulf · Post by **Drumwoulf** » Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:05 pm

Syd wrote:
Drumwoulf wrote:...And the idea of an extremely lightweight scooter ...being "hard" to get up on a centerstand strikes me as ludicrous!
My sentiments exactly.

Then I got the Fiddle. Compared to the HD200, it's a bear getting it up on the Fiddle.

Yeah, some bikes are odd that way... My Vespa GT200's centerstand isn't terribly difficult,
but it's not a creampuff like the Buddy is either...
Worst scooter I ever saw for centerstand difficulty was the Honda 250cc Big Ruckus. It was impossible!!
I was able to get a big '81 Gold Wing MC up on it's centerstand okay, but couldn't BUDGE the Big Ruckus!!

richmintz · Post by **richmintz** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:55 pm

Slightly off-topic but I'm hoping one of you scooter wizards can help: I have a SYM Symba (though I've ridden a Buddy too) and can't figure out how to reattach the center stand retract spring. Any advice?

Details here: http://symforum.com/index.php?topic=2843

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the intrusion. This is a very active forum (I've been lurking) and I thought someone might be able to help.

guzziknight · Post by **guzziknight** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:16 pm

After 15 years of putting a 600lb motorcycle on it's center stand, the Buddy is just so easy! I almost always use the center stand on it.

iMoses · Post by **iMoses** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:57 pm

I've had my Buddy since 2007 and have used the center stand since day one. I've only used the side stand a handful of times.

I prefer to use the center stand because I know there is less chance of the scooter falling over. It has become second nature to do so, I can put my foot on it without looking whereas I have to visually locate the side stand in order to use it.

I also have a 2009 SYM HD200 and have never used the side stand.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:27 pm

Sidestand in the garage. That way I don't have to move forward to get off the center stand. Leaves room for more scooters!

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:28 pm

The BV350 is harder to get off the centerstand than it is to get on, so it's centerstand always.

In case richmintz never comes back, and you didn't see his (currently) last post on the SYMForum, he thinks he's got it:

richmintz wrote:After seeing Underboning's message I went through the entire service manual looking for a picture that might help me... and I eventually found one. In this picture, the parts are shown -- it's the spring at bottom (the bottom end of which attaches to the right side of the center stand), and the crescent-shaped metal piece that appears to enclose the root of the brake pedal like the letter C.

Given that this latter piece has a slight bend in it that is clearly visible in the photo, I bet I have enough information now to figure out what to do.

Picture: https://www.dropbox.com/s/syw7s0ytzt45p ... -stand.jpg

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:19 pm

richmintz wrote:Slightly off-topic but I'm hoping one of you scooter wizards can help: I have a SYM Symba (though I've ridden a Buddy too) and can't figure out how to reattach the center stand retract spring. Any advice?

Details here: http://symforum.com/index.php?topic=2843

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the intrusion. This is a very active forum (I've been lurking) and I thought someone might be able to help.

I've replaced worn-out hardware on my Buddy center stand and can assure you it's just not easy to get that spring back on.
I've had success 2 ways.
1. Put the spring hoop on one of the stubs and just stretch the spring as best you can with one hand and a pair of tongue and groove pliers. Use a screwdriver to help wedge the other spring hoop on the remaining pin but watch out if you lose grip of the spring! It is, after all, a spring and will live up to it's name.

2. with the rest of the center stand hardware loosened and/or partially removed, attach both spring hoops to their pins and maneuver the holes into alignment for the rest of the hardware while stretching the spring. This is the easiest technique but takes a little longer and requires removing additional center stand hardware.

I don't know what the set-up under your scooter is like compared to a Buddy, but that's what has worked for me.

Good luck!

Modern Buddy

Center Stand or Side Stand?

To change oil and wash the scoot, thats about it.

Center stand on a Symba

Re: Center stand on a Symba