On sidestand/centerstand...does it matter?

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MexicoMike

MexicoMike

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After redoing my 850 MKII isos and head steady over the past few weeks ...

The front isos were a disaster - the rubber donuts in terrible shape, compressed badly off-center and all the metal internal parts were nearly solid rust. The rear, which had been changed sometime in the past to the MKIII style looked fairly good but the main donuts were also noticeably compressed off center.

So I got to thinking if having the bike mostly on the centerstand or mostly on the sidestand contributes more to the donuts being permanently compressed off center? I would think that the Cstand would tend to do that more but maybe not. I'm also wondering if it matters at all. ;)
 
MexicoMike said:
After redoing my 850 MKII isos and head steady over the past few weeks ...

The front isos were a disaster - the rubber donuts in terrible shape, compressed badly off-center and all the metal internal parts were nearly solid rust. The rear, which had been changed sometime in the past to the MKIII style looked fairly good but the main donuts were also noticeably compressed off center.

So I got to thinking if having the bike mostly on the centerstand or mostly on the sidestand contributes more to the donuts being permanently compressed off center? I would think that the Cstand would tend to do that more but maybe not. I'm also wondering if it matters at all. ;)
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Think of it this way. If you are on the centerstand then about 260lbs (400-140lbs (engine, cradle, gearbox, etc)) are resting on those rubbers (depending on how much load the headsteady takes). If you support the bike by the frame then only 140lbs are resting on the rubbers.
 
Yeah - makes sense to me...I guess the C stand should be only for maint and kick starting though I'm told some folks (with obviously far better balance than me) can kick start the bike on its two wheels alone (no C or S-stand at all).
 
MexicoMike said:
Yeah - makes sense to me...I guess the C stand should be only for maint and kick starting though I'm told some folks (with obviously far better balance than me) can kick start the bike on its two wheels alone (no C or S-stand at all).
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I'd only worry about the weight if you knew you were going to store the bike for a long time (years).

KIckstarting without a stand requires that you know how to get the pistons past TDC, not have too much compression and you weigh more than you should.
 
I never start a start a bike on a stand. I think it is downright dangerous.
On the centrestand, the frame etc., is resting on the rubbers. On the sidestand, the motor & gearbox is resting on the rubbers. Dunno which is heaviest.
 
Flo said:
I never start a start a bike on a stand. I think it is downright dangerous.
On the centrestand, the frame etc., is resting on the rubbers. On the sidestand, the motor & gearbox is resting on the rubbers. Dunno which is heaviest.
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I just did the math for you above. :|

Starting on the centerstand is pretty safe, sidestand not so much. If you're not very big then there really isn't much choice.
 
Flo said:
On the centrestand, the frame etc., is resting on the rubbers. On the sidestand, the motor & gearbox is resting on the rubbers. Dunno which is heaviest.
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I would have thought the cradle assemby (cradle, engine, carbs, primary, gearbox, S/arm rear wheel and brake etc.) would easily be the heavier of the two, so there would be less weight on the Isos. with the bike on its main stand as only the "frame" weight will be bearing on them, also a certain amount of that frame weight would be supported at the front end by the wheel and forks?
 
I'm 11 stone (154 lbs) and 5'9". I don't have any problems starting off the stand provided I'm on a solid level surface. It just requires perfect balance and a degree of natural grace. :D

It is of course a bit of a gamble as it requires a full body leap and the price for getting it wrong can be painful. I wouldn't try it with baggy trousers that can hook up on anything.
 
MexicoMike said:
I'm also wondering if it matters at all. ;)
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If your rubber is good, they should be resiliant to take the effect of either stand for years. The only possible issue I can think of is storage for the winter and beyond, which for you may be no issue at all. I block up the bike and block the motor slightly, brink the wheels and painted item inside.
So to answer your question, does it matter? No!
 
"I'm 11 stone (154 lbs) and 5'9". I don't have any problems starting off the stand provided I'm on a solid level surface. It just requires perfect balance and a degree of natural grace."

I guess I just need to practice - I weigh about 8 pounds more so it should be easy once I find a pill that can give me perfect balance and natural grace. Oh wait...I have a bottle of Mt Gay rum; that should do it! :)
 
On sidestand/centerstand...does it matter?


Will this do you?
 
Always on the sidestand unless rear wheel/chain service time.

Almost the entire weight of the bike is suspended on the center stand, putting much more pressure
on the iso donuts than on the sidestand.

Starting since 1970 without either the center or sidestand, practiced balance over the years?
 
My 69 centerstand mounts on the frame, so where does that leave me?

I used to not have the centerstand, and I would always start the bike with no stand by pushing to just over TDC (not hard to find) and putting all my leg muscle into it including my weight (165lb) and I can't remember having any problems, like kick back, etc. with points. I was impressed one day when some guy pushed it over sitting on the seat and using just his leg muscle to push it over, I could never do that. I'm now 185 (too much), and a lot older, so we'll see when I get it back together. At least I have a very large hill from the house to roll down, unfortunately gravel. I think that is what I did with my 500 BSA in Monterey, everything was downhill from the barracks so that was no problemo if the bike got up the hill.

Dave
69S
 
swooshdave said:
DogT said:
My 69 centerstand mounts on the frame, so where does that leave me?

Dave
69S
Click to expand...

It leaves you with nothing to add to this discussion. :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

That's what I thought.

Dave
69S
 
I believe L.A.B. is correct on this one. On the '71 and later with the center stand mounted to the cradle, the engine, transmission and rear wheel are supported by the center stand. The iso rubbers support the frame, fuel and oil tank, battery and seat. On '70 and earlier with the frame mounted center stand you have the same weight on the isos regardless of whether you use the center stand or side stand.

I doubt you are going to prolong isolastic life in any event by choosing one over the other. Once the rubber deteriorates it will sag no matter what, and needs to be replaced.
 
As far as kicking over the bike on the centerstand or the sidestand goes, it's been said that it is the primary cause for clapped out centerstands and bent sidestand lugs. They probably just aren't up to it.
 
Could we come up with a way to turn the ISO a half a turn every say 500 hundred miles? The front one would be easy but the back one might be a challenge. Phil
 
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