Yes. When parking it I always use the sidestand.

 

I think it's actually pretty stable on the center stand, but it's much more convenient to use the side stand. I've seen folks use the center stand for parking, though.

 

in the grage center stand, so far side for parking lots and such. But I know my grage is level floor, the parking lot may be a little off and I know my luck lol

 

Same here!

 

I always use the centerstand wherever I go. But that's just because my sidestand is one of the ones that slowly, over time gets bent and now it's pretty much useless for setting the bike on.

 

I like to use the center stand as much as possible. However, on most uneven surfaces the sidestand seems to work better.

 

On relatively level concrete I use the centerstand. On black top, gravel, dirt, or unlevel concrete I use the side stand.

 

Center Stand or Side Stand

Measure the distance between the 3 points of contact when using the center stand and the 3 points of contact when using the side stand. The distances that are further apart should have the best stability. If you take a tripod and put the feet close together, you can tip it over very easily. If you put the three tripod feet further apart, it becomes harder to tip over.

 

Put the bike in gear when using the side stand though. Also, the weight of the bike is centered on the center stand. Although the anchor points are farther separated with the side stand, the center of mass is not centered between the points. Note the terrain variations each time.

 

Center stand : Beware

Beware ashpalt in the warmer temperatures. Center stands have a tendency to sink into the ashpalt. You'll walk out to your bike and find it laying on it's side ! :yikes: It's a real kick in the gut. I have a friend that had the same thing happen to him also. I only use the center stand for maintenance and parking in the garage to save space.

Moe

 

Beware ashpalt in the warmer temperatures. Center stands have a tendency to sink into the ashpalt. You'll walk out to your bike and find it laying on it's side ! :yikes: It's a real kick in the gut. I have a friend that had the same thing happen to him also. I only use the center stand for maintenance and parking in the garage to save space.

Moe

Parked on a BRAND NEW asphalt lot in the sun. The bike just sunk downwards and the ashplalt cooled. Made a real mess getting the bike free.

 

The only time I use the center stand is on a hard level surface where there is not much chance of cars or people bumping the bike, or when I'm doing maintenance.

I don't think that it would take as much impact force to knock it over on the center stand as it would on the side stand. The "footprint triangle" of the front tire and two sides of the center stand is so much narrower than the triangle that both wheels and the sidestands makes.

 

I don't feel safe puting mine on the center stand out in public. It comes off the stand way to easy and I'm afraid someone would come by and just bump it and down she goes.:jawdrop:

 

If you are taking your bike across on a ferry, my guess is that the side strand would be best. Any Islanders ever use the centre stand on BC or Washington State boats ??

 

I used my center stand on every single ferry while on my Alaska trip and never had a problem.

 

Side stand is more stable. I use my center stand only for maintenance and on the Park-n-Move dolly in my garage.

 

ALWAYS on the side stand on the BC Ferries! In gear, chock in front of rear wheel and another under the engine to stop it moving to the right.

 

I seldom ride the Washington State ferries in Puget Sound, since it is more fun and cheaper and usually faster to just ride around the Sound. But when I do it's ALWAYS on the side stand. Like others, I use the center stand for maintenance only. I also think (unproven) that kids or others who want to sit on your bike in a parking lot might find it more tempting if it was up and level on the centerstand.