Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Triumph bulletin board Center stand: yes or no?

I used to put my Trident on the center stand while still seated on the bike. Did it for years after I broke the side stand lug off.
Can't be done with an OIF though.

reverb, I have never just ridden a motorcycle to get some place. It's always a race. A trip to the grocery store became the Ilse of Man. The more curves the better. I got very good at leaning way over in the bends. Avon Super Venom tires made an old Triumph stick like glue to the road. Too bad they wore out so fast. First the center stand went. Then I put on taller Shocks and made shorter brackets to get the mufflers up higher. That's when I started sliding around bends on the frame. Not much you can do about that except learn to control and enjoy it. And I certainly did that. I hate getting old.

Years ago when I was a callow youth an older gent showed me how to use the centre stand,body weight on the stand bar does 90 % of the work,10 % pull back.

That's why Triumph made the stand bar LONGER beginning in 1957. The '54 to '56 ones were more difficult to use.

Hi Gavin; 650s are easier than the later 750s. pre units 500 are easier. Be a big guy or tall one helps a lot.
I only managed 2 times to make it with that technique and plenty of effort with my 79.

My '78 GoldWing is a cafe-inspired show bike, and because of that the mount for the center stand is cut off. I use a pit stand on spools attached by longer lower shock bolts. However - NO CHAIN! - that makes a big difference. All of my chain-drive bikes have center stands.

If you have a nice oil-tight Triumph twin that is kept on a mainstand while being stored in between riding sessions, my opinion is to leave the mainstand fitted to the motorcycle. Once removed and left on the sidestand for any period of time, you may discover leaks you never had before on the left side of the bike. 😉 -Dave

When I bought my 68 T120 it didn't have a center stand. I had a hard time finding the correct one and installed it. I love center stands. My 68 Bonneville and my 75 Norton 850 Mk3 are always stored on the center stands.

I removed the centre stand from my pre unit 6T purely because it was touching down when cornering. Having removed it I then found I had to keep replacing the foot plate on the side stand. Eventually corners became two wheels and a footrest.

Centre stands are great for maintenance procedures but a pair of track stands are equally suitable and maintenance is invariably carried out at home anyway.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YYQCtwBvbEJQLXaJ8

My simple solution for working on a motorcycle. That office chair in the back ground has wheels so I don't even have to walk from one side to the other. About 30 bucks in parts and an hour of my labor. I recently cut about 8" off the sawhorse legs and the back leg. It got to be too hard to push a bike up the steep ramp. Now it's easy again.

Until you have a flat tire away from home.

...you can have the spray foam on the backpack always for those cases.

Does the "spray foam" have enough pressure in it to re-inflate the tire (tyre)? Once? Twice? Three times?
In the USA, we often call such as '"half-assed solutions."

My M C insurance includes having someone come get me with a M C trailer and taking me to where I need to go. My insurance is dirt cheap and I have great customer service. If I'm a LONG way from home I just hitch hike back and get my truck. Only had to use the trailer service twice and hitch hike twice in 35 years. A little inconvenience is part of the adventure of owning a Triumph and makes for good conversation when sitting around drinking with friends.

...the foam (Motul) does inflate a tyre and you can go home without major problem; no matter if you are few hundreds km away.
By the way I have the center stand in one Triumph; the others are a 48 so no center stand; and the other is a modified one (makes from bits) no place for a center stand.

I think the AMA is supposed to rescue me if I'm broke down.
But fixing a flat by the side of the road when it's 95 degrees out makes for better campfire stories.

Hi All, I have carried at "flat tire repair in a can" for some years in my bike bag. Not had to use it yet. Gotten lucky! It is not supposed to be used with inner tubes, but I've used it once on my wheel barrow to good results. Lasted about 10 years until the tire rotted & needed replacing.

I've used it & seen it used in tubeless car tires many times. It really does work well. I've always had the tire repaired as soon as possible. But on rental cars have ran over screws & large nails. Held air good for over a week.

Have used it in bicycle tires where dozens of goat head thorns have punctured tube. Worked good for the rest of the day & then some.

Depending on material in can it's a chore to clean the tire or tube to patch it. Sometimes it sticks to rim also & a real chore to clean rim.

Still, a long way from home or a tow it's nice to have an emergency back up. In some of the remote areas where we occasionally ride you may not see another car or bike for 2-3+ days. No telling how far from cell phone service.

Desco, Some of the roads especially the dirt roads, out of Bishop, you could be on your own for many days... Sometimes gets kind of spooky out there by yourself. If your riding buddy is on a Triumph, you could have 2 rides stranded!
Don