how do you park your bike? | GTAMotorcycle.com

how do you park your bike?

Michael0124

Michael0124

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Something I've been curious about. When I started riding I was taught that when parking you put your kickstand down then turn your wheel to the left, same side as the kickstand to make it more stable. Makes sense to me.

So why do I see some parked and the wheel turned to the right? Seems to be a cruiser thing. Is there a reason for it, or is it just part of the whole "rebel" attitude?

Yeah, stupid question but winter sucks and I'm suffering from parked motorcycle syndrome, my mind is turning to stupid questions.
 
While turning the handle bar to the left would be more stable (lowering the centre of gravity), there are times that you need to squeeze your bike into some tight parking space. And by turning the handle bar to the right, away from the kickstand, I think you can reduce your bike’s foot print by a few inches.




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Michael0124 said:
Something I've been curious about. When I started riding I was taught that when parking you put your kickstand down then turn your wheel to the left, same side as the kickstand to make it more stable. Makes sense to me.

So why do I see some parked and the wheel turned to the right? Seems to be a cruiser thing. Is there a reason for it, or is it just part of the whole "rebel" attitude?

Yeah, stupid question but winter sucks and I'm suffering from parked motorcycle syndrome, my mind is turning to stupid questions.
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BMW K series bikes you need to park on the centre stand and not the side stand, unless you want it to leak oil into the cylinders and smoke on start-up. The steering lock is on the left hand side of the steering stem so bars turned right is the only choice. I thought at one time that steering head lock position was mandated on euro models, could be misinformed on that point though.
 
Harley guys need to swing the bars to the right
how else you gonna safely dismount the 50 inch waist?
 
Trials said:
BMW K series bikes you need to park on the centre stand and not the side stand, unless you want it to leak oil into the cylinders and smoke on start-up. The steering lock is on the left hand side of the steering stem so bars turned right is the only choice. I thought at one time that steering head lock position was mandated on euro models, could be misinformed on that point though.
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Same with older Honda GL bikes. This is an issue with old boxer engines - used to happen on my 74 VW Bug.
 
You turn it to the left, because it's more stable than having it pointed straight ahead, it sits out a little further when you're parked at 60 degrees from the curb, so that others can see you, and because the steering can be locked in this position.
 
@Trials where's the video of the guy backflipping his bike into a pickup truck?
 
Wish I had video of the time a friend was loading his TL125 onto his trailer.
He lost control of it, over-shot the trailer and it stuffed itself completely into his trunk at wide open throttle and then died :ROFLMAO:
 
J_F said:
Harley guys need to swing the bars to the right
how else you gonna safely dismount the 50 inch waist?
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Speaking of dismounting, I've also seen people getting on the right side of the bike which seems like the long way around. You have to swing your leg higher and further to do it if the bike is leaning left. Usually cruisers again, I'm not used to such a low seat height so I could be wrong.

Apparently it's so that in case you lose your balance getting on, you'll fall off the kickstand side and not take the bike with you.
 
Michael0124 said:
You have to swing your leg higher and further to do it if the bike is leaning left. Usually cruisers again, I'm not used to such a low seat height so I could be wrong.
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I used to get off my VTX on the wrong side sometimes after my sciatica hit. My right leg is just more stable now so sometimes it just felt like it was going to be the stronger/safer/better option after riding for a few hours. I was able to dismount just as gracefully from either side, honestly.

Always remember that there's sometimes hidden medical reasons for another riders oddities. ;)
 
PrivatePilot said:
I used to get off my VTX on the wrong side sometimes after my sciatica hit. My right leg is just more stable now so sometimes it just felt like it was going to be the stronger/safer/better option after riding for a few hours. I was able to dismount just as gracefully from either side, honestly.

Always remember that there's sometimes hidden medical reasons for another riders oddities. ;)
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Medical reasons, sure I can appreciate why you would get off on the other side. This guy was saying it was the right way because of the falling over possibility.

If I rode a cruiser with a low seat height I probably wouldn't have an issue getting off or on the right side, but it's just awkward on anything with 30" plus seat height and a kicked up tail section.
 
You often mount a cruiser from the right so you can get the leg swing at max hieght first then slide over. you dont get boot prints on the bag tops.
Horses are always mounted from the left, because in a western they always get on the left side. John Wayne gets it.
 
<--- When on side stand, turn to the left. If I'm on a solid surface always centre stand. I've never even tried to see if the steering lock will work if the bars are turned to the right.
 
When I owned a cruiser I used to mount it from the right side of the bike just because most of the old farts in my riding group back then couldn't get their legs up high enough to do it and they would squawk something about "young punks". Been a lot of years since I had a bike with a seat height that low. Wonder if I could still do it or if I've joined the old farts?
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