Being a relatively new Harley owner (2,000+ miles since December), I've noticed that the side stand scares the crap out of me. I will get off the bike and stand there for like 5 minutes before leaving the Road King on the side stand. It seems like it always wants to move if there is but the slightest incline. It makes me always want to park with the nose uphill, but that can be bad, too, if the hill is too steep. Is there a better aftermarket side stand available out there? Am I the only one that is paranoid my Harley is going to roll over sometime?

 

I was wondering the same thing too. Not that the side stand scares me I was looking for an eaiser way to check the rear tire pressure on my SG. Have any of you guys or gals (sorry ladies) tried the the Wheel Dock EZ ride stand that sells for $199 ? I'm seriously thinking about investing in one if I can get a favorable report from someone who has used one. Chime in and let us know.

 

It's kinda like putting a letter in the mailbox and then going back and opening up the door to make sure the letter really really dropped down into the mailbox... I still kick the jiffy stand forward to make sure it's engaged and double check it. I'm sure you're not the only one that makes sure like that.... I wouldn't say too many people stand there for 5 minutes but yah.. I double check mine when I park it.

 

Park in gear. It'll help to keep the bike from moving. Get down on and look at the construction of the stand, you'll see how it fits together so it can only go so far. It's the way it was designed. There's a tab that fits into a slot. The tolerances aren't too close to allow for it to fit together without being fussy. That's what's allowing for the movement.

 

The HD jiffy stand is fool proof. WHen the bike moves forward a little bit and your thinking to yourself "it's going to roll off the stand", it's actually now locked in securely.

You can test this yourself if you have a bike lift, by raising the bike and pulling up on the jiffy stand by hand into the locked position, and try moving the stand as if the bike was trying to roll off. (As in pulling the stand to the rear of the bike)

It's a bit un-nerving at first but you can learn to trust it.

 

Jiffy stands are tough. I watched a salesman showing a guy the best way for his wife to mount the bike. The bike was on the jiffy stand and he had her climb on from the right side (she was not a small woman either) Then he had her husband get on from the left side and right to bike. I was thinking...poor Bike! They will take a load, but I always park mine in gear as well!

 

Yep, Just trust it like your tires laid over in a corner, its not going anywhere.

Used to fool me too, trust it, there a millions of them out there that all do the same thing, once they are fully forward and the weight of the bike is on it, it is locked.

 

Now that made me LOL. Cause it is so true. I don't think there is anyone that doesn't do that.

 

Park it in gear. My habit is to shut it off in gear with the kill switch and then turn off the key switch. If you develop the habit, it's really the best way to go and it is quick. No searching for neutral at shut down.

When I take off, I turn on the key, find neutral, start it and hit the road.

 

I just got in a habit of looking down and making sure that little tab/lock is in the right place before I get off the bike. If the tab is in it's place it ain't going to fall over. After a few thousand times getting off your bike and it rolling forward you wont even think about it anymore.