Security cameras and social media are a perfect combination for us to find ourselves in situations that happen every day and that can help us avoid making those mistakes ourselves. On this occasion, a security camera shows us what happens if we put the motorcycle on a rear stand, forget that it is downhill and continue on with our business.
We’ll let you press play and then we’ll continue…
On this occasion there was a mishap that did not result in a disaster thanks to the fact that, at that moment, there was no one passing by and the quick intervention of a person unrelated to the situation who prevented the motorcycle from falling. And although the motorcycle stand has great advantages, there are a few points to take into account in order to try to avoid these scares.
The first thing we must take into account, especially because we have seen it in the video, is to make sure that the bike is not going to move. If you stop the bike with the gear engaged and there is a slope, the engine will prevent it from moving forward. But if you put the bike on a rear stand you lose that option, and the bike will tend to continue up the slope. To avoid these situations you can put a stopper in front of the front wheel. Or, more simply, a rubber pad on the front brake that exerts a little pressure to block the front wheel.
But there are more things to consider when putting your bike on a stand, and this advice is based on the stand you choose. Basically, when talking about the rear stand, we have two types of hitch. One is to the swingarm and the other requires the installation of spools. Most bikes are prepared to be able to put these spools, and this is the most stable system for your bike, since those that work by resting the bike on the swingarm are more complicated to balance and keep the bike 100% stable.
Moving on to the front, we must also remember that we have stands to lift the front wheel off the ground. In this case, we find two different types, one that comes from below to the forks and another that is higher and is placed on the steering head.
The fork type, which is usually less stable and we cannot remove the bars, has two options: one that rests like the rear one and another that goes inside the bar. Obviously, between the two, the one that mounts the bike on the bar is better.
Choosing a good easel will make our lives easier
But as we said, the one with the seat post will always be more stable and will also allow us to work in a way that is not only safer, but also more comfortable in terms of the elements we can touch.
Once we have chosen the type of stand with its pros and cons (the downside of good stands is that they are more expensive), it is time to raise it. At this point, it is always easier to have someone help us by talking about the rear stand. If you do it yourself, you will have to prepare the maneuver carefully and conscientiously, because once the bike starts to tilt, it is very likely that you will not be able to get hold of it. It is best to do it from the side opposite the kickstand, and use the kickstand as a “safety” in case it tilts.
Another thing is the front stands, because to put them on you need to have the rear stand on and therefore you will have more stability overall. It is something you can do yourself and then you can get to work and do the maintenance your bike needs.
