Blacktops & Kickstands

[Lord Timelord]

My Local Multi-Brand Dealer has a 12"x12" Ceramic Tile Showroom Floor. I noticed that all the bikes had plastic circles under the kickstands to keep them from scratching the Tile Floor.

Turns out that HD makes these plastic discs (and the dealers have them to sell), and they only cost $8.50 each. The disc is about 5 Inches in diameter, and has two raised portions that form a "broken V", where the bottom of the "V" isn't connected. It allows both small and large kickstands to sit on it, and spreads the weight load of the bike over several square inches.

It's a little overkill for asphalt, but works wonder on dirt/sand. Best of all it's PLASTIC so it's easy to clean and it's only about 1/4" thick (not counting the raised "V", which is about 1" in height. It easily fits under my seat on my Ninja 500.

Best part was that I suggested to the guys at the parts counter to put some up on the counter so people KNOW that they are for sale. So I got a couple of bucks off on mine.

It looks similar to this image:

[Ruger]

Some great ideas for keeping bikes from sinking in hot asphalt. I buoght a "parking puck" from a guy that used to be on this forum. I can't remember his name right now. He made them special up there in the frozen north lands of Canada and they are really nice. I just carry it in my tool bag. I had a KZ1000P sink into the parking lot while on the center stand!

[Lord Timelord]

Originally Posted by Ruger

Some great ideas for keeping bikes from sinking in hot asphalt. I bought a "parking puck" from a guy that used to be on this forum. I can't remember his name right now. He made them special up there in the frozen north lands of Canada and they are really nice. I just carry it in my tool bag. I had a KZ1000P sink into the parking lot while on the center stand!

I remembered the parking puck after reading your post. WebBikeWorld.Com did a story on it which you can read HERE.

And as far as a motorcycle tipping over on the center stand, I had it happen this spring to my Ninja 500 as well. A HUGE thunderstorm / weather front moved though my area while I was at work at the 911 Center.

I was watching the Radar and Weather Monitoring equipment, and it recorded a wind gust of 68 Miles Per Hour. I was thinking to myself... "Whoa! That's a pretty big gust of wind!". So I opened up a browser and pulled up my webacm to check on my bike remotely. This is what I saw:

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...-25_191337.jpg

According to the local Airports Radar, the weather front measured over 8,000 Feet from top to bottom, and had an average speed of 72 MPH at the 150 Foot Level! The cover on my bike (which was on the center stand) acted like a Sail, and the bike blew over.

Fortunately the damage was minimal. Slightly scratched up mirror, slightly bent rear brake lever, slightly scratched up exhaust can, and the right front blinker's cover screw stripped out. The cover saved all the paint from getting scratched up, so that was 35 bucks well spent on the cover imho!

And before anyone asks what webcam software I'm using, it's freeware called YAWCAM.

[pagemastr]

For home, when I had a new driveway put in I had them put in two layers of blacktop, mostly for the truck but it is solid enough for the Nomad too! Block of wood at the trailer in the grass.

[messer00]

My garage has been switched-over to a game room with carpet. I keep my bike in there and use one so it doesn't screw-up my carpet.

[aaronrkelly]

Originally Posted by Bummer1

I use an electrical junction box cover plate … cost less than 50 cents and I keep it on the bike. Works well on blacktop, grass, dirt and even sand ~ Patrick.

Im with you...why buy a piece of plastic from the HD dealer for $8.50 when I can score a metal junction box cover for $.40 at any hardware store.

They come in different sizes and shapes....and if it really doesnt suit you then shoot it with some spray paint or something.

Cheap enough that if I ride off and leave it on the ground I just keep going.....at $8.50 a pop I would be doing some occasional back tracking to chase down my over-priced plastic circle.

I keep three or four on me so I can hand them out when someone needs one....and for the occasional spare due to "ride off".

[Lord Timelord]

Thanks for the pics of the electrical box covers. Now I see what you were talking about.

I'll be picking some up the next time I hit Lowes/Home Depot. LOL

[Belrix]

Anybody have trouble with the VN900 sinking? The "foot" on the kickstand looks long & wide enough to be immune. I park on concrete at work & home so I've never considered this before.

[vulcan_dude]

I've never had this happen to me on the 900 even in 100*+ weather in Arizona. Maybe I've been lucky and haven't had really soft or fresh asphalt. But I do like the electrical box cover idea - I think I will pick up a couple today as it has been +100 here lately. And would also come in handy for other surfaces I imagine, like dirt, gravel, grass, etc...

[gage75]

Originally Posted by Belrix

Anybody have trouble with the VN900 sinking? The "foot" on the kickstand looks long & wide enough to be immune. I park on concrete at work & home so I've never considered this before.

It is not immune...trust me...read the beginning of this thread that I posted...I got very lucky.

[coachrgraves]

I would have to attach a string or something to pick the thing up off the ground once I was on the bike!!! maybe add a magnet and stick it to the bottom of the frame on the bike??? Lots of possibilities!!!!

[anarkust]

Originally Posted by Lord Timelord

So I opened up a browser and pulled up my webacm to check on my bike remotely. This is what I saw:

How cute!!! Your bikes taking a nap.

[mwmalotte]

Originally Posted by Belrix

Anybody have trouble with the VN900 sinking? The "foot" on the kickstand looks long & wide enough to be immune. I park on concrete at work & home so I've never considered this before.

I've never had the problem on mine but my previous bike ('81 Honda CB900 Custom) had a postage stamp-sized area for a foot and it did take a drop in an asphalt parking lot. I've been extremely careful of that ever since.

[jeffs99vulcan]

We have a computerized plasma cutter at our shop, once I read this thread it occured to me I SHOULD carry something...

With my total lack of imagination for coming up with any interesting shapes, I just had our shop tech cut me out a piece of 14 gauge metal in the shape of a stop sign and painted it red...

[Rocket_88]

Originally Posted by Belrix

Anybody have trouble with the VN900 sinking? The "foot" on the kickstand looks long & wide enough to be immune. I park on concrete at work & home so I've never considered this before.

I always carry one of the free giveaway pucks you get at bike shows. They work fine. The one time I forgot, I had to use the old drinks can trick because my 900 was sitting on a grassy area.

I have seen a few bikes of different sizes keel over because of soft tarmac.

[rigormortis879]

Originally Posted by idmtchris

Had a bike or two fall over like that when I lived in Texas and California. I used to carry a flatened alluminum can under my seat for just such occasions. I don't seem to have that problem in the PacNorWest at least on the cool side of the Cascades. Anyway if I think it is too hot I just look for a can to slip underneath the kickstand.

Worst one was. I had parked on what was compacted dirt and gravel, went inside becuase of a downpour. When you mix hard dirt with water, guess what you get? A sunken kickstand and tipped bike.

What part of the Pacific Northwest are you in? I live in Lincoln City, OR...the central Oregon coast.

[idmtchris]

Originally Posted by rigormortis879

What part of the Pacific Northwest are you in? I live in Lincoln City, OR...the central Oregon coast.

Near Tacoma WA. I through in Lincoln City a few weeks ago heading for the Dunes.

[Baitis]

I use a cheap electrical box cover - painted bright yellow - now I don't forget to take it home. Went camping with the bike in Pocomoke, MD two weeks ago. Stopped in the Green Turtle sportsbar on Rt13 and they had a sign attached to a bucket filled with wood blocks for bikes.

[tomazws]

Wow... I NEVER knew your kickstand could sink into hard concrete O_o

[moongirl]

Originally Posted by herk

I'm sorry but I have to say it.....tacky!!!! A pop/beer can, peice of wood, carved out hockey puck, coaster, anything else is way better!!!