Center Stand or Kick Stand?

[DarbyWalters]

Do you have a preference and why?

[robtaylor]

center stand because i had it fall over on a very slight incline (my driveway) the first time i used the kickstand. i will use the kickstand if i'm off the bike for just a second or if i am still on the bike parked.

[DarbyWalters]

Yeah, parking anywhere nose down (incline) is not good. Sidestand is much easier to use but lately I have been working the centerstand.

[Parkerl]

I use the kick stand when its just sitting at my house. but when im at school i use the center stand. or any where a lot of people will be walking by i will use the center stand

[KRUSTYburger]

I rarely use my side stand, only if I'm on my lunch break & I'm at home... even then I sometimes use my center stand. It's much sturdier & almost as easy to use... I think the side stand is kinda hard to get out (at least it is with paratrooper boots on!)

[Syd]

I (almost) never use the sidestand on my HD200. It's a nasty little ankle-biter, because the return spring is so strong. And even at 300 lbs the SYM is pretty easy to roll back onto the center stand. So I do.

[Lisa I]

I have never used the side stand. I actually forgot it was there. I don't find the center stand difficult at all, and it's very sturdy that way. shrug.

[DouglasLive]

To me, it's hard to find the kick (side) stand with my foot unless I tilt the scoot away so I can see it peeking from beneath the plastic. Center stand all the way.

[ScooterTrash]

I modified my side stand so it won't tip even on a down hill, plus it leans more and looks like a Harley

[jfrost2]

My bike fell over in the wind with the side stand, scratched my bezel, left turn signal, and fender very lightly. I only trust the center stand now.

[Eddy Merckx]

Center stand , except when in my garage or when I got my cool going...

[toddrw2251]

I would never use the side stand, because occasionally I will give the scoot some gas to get the engine running smoothly when I start it up, especially in cold weather. Accidently doing this with the back tire on the ground spells trouble.

[SteMer]

I would never use the side stand, because occasionally I will give the scoot some gas to get the engine running smoothly when I start it up, especially in cold weather. Accidently doing this with the back tire on the ground spells trouble.

Same here.

[ScooterTrash]

haha, i did that after I put my pipe on, I saved it though

[hcstrider]

I only use the center stand. The reasons why I only use the center stand are:

1 - Compared to the side stand, the center stand provides a more stable support so there is less chance that my Buddy will fall over (due to my own clumsiness, wind or a parking space that is not level).

2 - When I start my Buddy usually the engine runs a little faster during the first minute or 2 while the engine warms up. During this time the rear wheel is spinning and so I would rather have the Buddy on the center stand so that the rear wheel is lifted off the ground and there is no chance that my Buddy will accidentally lurch forward.

[zemacar]

I have never used the side stand. Is the center stand hard to operate? You lift the back of the bike slightly while pushing the center stand down w/your foot.

[Christy]

i find the buddy center stand the easiest center stand in the world to use!

The only times I ever use the side stand is in my garage and even then I usually use the centerstand.

[afriendofcheese]

On smooth surfaces (like in my garage, on cement) the center stand is no bueno because when trying to disengage it, the scooter just slides forward. And so, the only place I really don't use the center stand is in my garage.

[jmazza]

Is there damage that can occur using the side stand for a long time? I read that in a thread here recently- someone was having a leak of some fluid from some place (how's that for specific information!) and a poster asked if the scooter had been left on the side stand for the winter, and then commented that damage can occur because of stress to some parts while on the side stand.

I almost always use the center stand except when I park in my storage space over night.

[rajron]

Center stand almost always; it’s so easy to use, and more secure than the side stand.

[maribell]

I would never use the side stand, because occasionally I will give the scoot some gas to get the engine running smoothly when I start it up, especially in cold weather. Accidently doing this with the back tire on the ground spells trouble.

Doing it with the back tire on the ground would spell burnout.

I am a side stand person. The motorcycle parking is weird at school and it seems like it is slanted downward before it turns into sidewalk. Buddy always rolls backwards to hit the curb so whenever I go center stand I hear **SCRRAAAPE*** and that it never a good feeling... even if it's plastic

[Apiarist]

I prefer the center stand's stability, but where I park her at night is locked to a signpost where the scooter sits half on the sidewalk, half in grass. If I used the center stand, it tilts against the sign. I use the side one as it rests on the sidewalk. If it ever tilts the other way, it will just hit the sign.

[Drumwoulf]

I use the centerstand only when I'm stopped.
Because the kick stand works better when I'm moving....

[zemacar]

I posted earlier that I always use the center stand.
But... last week, my husband got his new Kymco scooter and used the side stand to park it. I asked him why he did that, then noticed that maybe it was OK after all, maybe on pavement. So I used the side stand on the road in front of my house while I ran into the house for something, and in that short time my Buddy heeled over onto a small patch of crushed rock. OUCH!
There are some small scratches on the side of the windshield and I had to realign and tighten the mirrors.
Never again.
A tip from a MSF rider coach if you do use the SS: keep a crushed aluminum can handy to put under it and keep it from sinking in loose stuff.

[jfrost2]

They gave us Side stand platforms at our MSF, they said they were actually cup coasters, but they worked as a spot for the side stand too.

Same happened to my buddy, mine fell over from the wind with the side stand on, I always use the center stand to park it, whether on or off. Luckily my kick start lever took all the beating, not a scratch on the bike.

I have never used the side stand. Is the center stand hard to operate? You lift the back of the bike slightly while pushing the center stand down w/your foot.

Actually, if you just balance yourself on the center stand, holding the left handle bar and rear rack/rails, it will come up very easily.

[thepezident]

2 - When I start my Buddy usually the engine runs a little faster during the first minute or 2 while the engine warms up. During this time the rear wheel is spinning and so I would rather have the Buddy on the center stand so that the rear wheel is lifted off the ground and there is no chance that my Buddy will accidentally lurch forward.

This happened to me this past weekend. Down she went... Scraped fender, brake lever and rear silver cargo thingy. Center stand from now on

[toddrw2251]

Another reason is the side stand sinks into asphalt on hot days and the bike falls over on its own.

[jfrost2]

I think the bike is too light weight for a side stand, a side stand is for all weight to be pushed onto it, that's why most motorcycles use a side stand only. But the buddy being so light, there isnt much weight being pushed onto the side stand. I've seen some light weight motorcycles use a center stand too because of this.

[SScooterG]

I only use the side stand when I'm stuck behind a train...I don't want to get off and do the center stand, but I don't want to just sit there and try to balance the bike either.

That's about it...