Center Stand or Pitbull Stand?

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by jcubz, Feb 28, 2017.

  1. jcubz

    jcubz New Member

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    First time poster, but long time lurker (you guys confirmed my theory that this was the best bike for me to buy)!

    Obviously I have a standard model, and am wondering if I should install a center stand or get a pitbull stand to lubricate my chain most easily.

    The pitbull stand will cost $170 for stand itself plus $100 for the pin and $30 for shipping = $300
    The center stand costs $60 + whatever the dealership wants to change which I'm guessing will also land around $300 (but will call around tomorrow and get back on that)

    I don't plan on doing much more than oil changes (first time was a *****) and lubricating the chain, but even that will be much easier with the rear off the ground. So what would you recommend? Extra weight on the bike .... or extra stuff lying around my apartment complex's garage.
     
  2. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    I have nothing against the pitbull stand, but having a center stand to me is a must. There will be times when you wish you had it when you are not home (rear tire change/repair), checking oil level (need to be up right). I doubt very seriously if the weight would make a hill of beans!
     
  3. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    The centerstand will be affixed to the bike. A pitbull stand in a common parking area is fair game for thieves.

    Check around for some non-dealer help in mounting a centerstand.. 240 pesos for a half hour job by a shop is stealing.

    Consider that your chain not only need lubed but adjusted regularly and when the bike has a centerstand topping up the air in the rear tire is easy.
     
  4. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    If the only time you ever needed to do anything like lube the rear chain, or add air to the rear tire was in your garage then maybe the Pitbull would be fine. But you need to do those things away from your garage as well, so that makes the centerstand a no brainer in my book.

    Pitbull makes a fine stand, I have one, but you can't carry it with you.
     
  5. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I have it both ways, on my 6 Gen, my commuter/tourer, I have the center stand because as Allyance pointed out, you never know when you'll need it. On my 5 Gen, I took the center stand off and use the Pit Bull to do maintenance stuff. On the latter, I mostly do sport riding and track days, and preferred not to have it on.

    Note if you go for the Pit Bull, keep and eye on Craigslist as I was able to pick up a nice SSSA stand for $80 that has a movable handle so it can be used forward and rearward to lift the bike. I also found another one, fixed handle, for $60! Not sure where you priced the pin at but I bought the VFR pin for $30. It worked in either Stand but I sold the fixed handle stand to fellow VFRW member OutboardJohn for his Ducati Multistrada, I think he also picked up the VFR pin so he could it with his RWB VFR.
     
  6. Outboard John

    Outboard John New Member

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  7. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

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    jcubz, I think that you get the jist that the center stand is a good have no matter the weight add. But, as you mentioned to have a dealer install is a cost. I did addd this and my dealer did not really know and they quoted me $80 and they stuck to it. But in hind sight the Honda shop computer did not factor in that you have to remove the exhaust. I payed $60 for the stand and $80 for the install so out the door sort of speaking I was into it a $140 bucks. The dealer upon pickup told me that he found that the Honda dealer standard was around 2 1/2 hours at $80 a hour shop time. so $260 overall. I got lucky and you may to if you go to a dealer install. Ask for a quote first. Good Luck. Hell but a after market slip on at the same time and have them do if for you since they do have to take of the exhaust and make a combo deal. ;-)

    P.S. I have only had 2 bike under 500lbs! and over 500lbs I would recommend a center stand as long as you maintain the spring. I did not on my 95' Gpz1100 and after three years I had the center stand come up fully and almost high sided me in a sweeper with elevation changes that the bike did come off the road and the stand came down. Scared the shit out of the other riders behind me seeing it come down, but thank god slapped back up.
     
  8. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    By now the OP is probably wondering why he asked in the first place..
     
  9. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    In hindsight, I would not have negotiated for a free center stand. You need a front Pit Bull stand anyway so might as well get a rear. I wish I had Pit Bull stands years ago. There ya go.
     
  10. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    "Hindsight" and "get a rear" are more in the realm of Dr. Freud than a simple "there ya go".
     
  11. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Dont have centre stands on either "Mach1 or Mach2" do have one my EX 500. I like it on that bike, never wanted one on my Interceptors. Used to drag them on my nighthawks in joisy, its a hard part that doesn't fold up when it touches down.
     
  12. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    I use both. I will say having the center when out and about does come in handy more times than I'd think. I keep asking myself if its worth keeping, so far the answer has been YES! .
     
  13. jcubz

    jcubz New Member

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    Thanks for all this inpu!

    For pricing i made a few errors (doh!). There is a pin for $30 and for $100 which confuses my dumb ***, but I think the $170 stand comes with one to begin with because it does say vfr 800.

    But I think I want a center stand, ya'll are a convincing bunch. My coworker informed me of this place called "motoguild" near where I live, where I can have professional shoulders to cry on as I try to figure out how to install it. Plus I do want a new exhaust, so should just do both of those together over a weekend.

    ..... So I think Ima do both! RIP my bank account.
     
  14. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    Another vote for the center stand for all the right reasons.
     
  15. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

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    What pipe are you going with?
     
  16. Audible

    Audible New Member

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    Another reason for the centre stand.

    When the bike is up on the centre stand, it's very close to balanced so it's very easy to lift up the front wheel to turn it by hand. Very handy if the front wheel valve is in between the forks or when washing, you can turn the front wheel to clean the section that would be between the forks/brakes.

    If you put the bike up on the pit bull, you'd have no chance of turning the front wheel without a front lifter as well.
     
  17. John O

    John O New Member

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    I love my Pit Bulls, front and back, but a center stand would sure be nice on the road for lubing the chain and checking the oil. The bike's already so overweight that I suppose a few more pounds for the center stand wouldn't be critical. Get the center stand; maybe I should too.
     
  18. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Consider that the OP lives in an apartment. Pitbull stand or stands in a parking lot, garage, or carport in apartment complexes are easy pickings for thieves.

    Getting a front wheel off the deck when a centerstand is deployed is easy. Put a tool box on the seat. Fat friends work too.
     
  19. RllwJoe

    RllwJoe Insider

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    Not sure what year you have, but I purchased a used one off Ebay last month for $30.
    There are many available around the $30 to $40 range, some include the fasteners.

    BTW I didn't remove the exhaust, I gently used a pry bar to install the exhaust side bolt.
    This saved me all kinds of time.
    Another option is to get a longer bolt, and install it from the other side with a lock nut on the outside.
     
  20. mikem317

    mikem317 New Member

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    I ended up scoring a nearly new Pitbull Front Hybrid front stand locally for about half-off retail and just ordered a Pitbull Rear stand from an online seller. I ended up doing so because I've been waiting for my Honda OEM centerstand kit to arrive from backorder - which was placed nearly six months ago - still need to chase down that loose end.

    A front stand is great. I use it mostly for keeping the front tire off the ground during the 3 to 4 month winterization period. But it's also great for brake and tire maintenance tasks. I had some basic, non-Pitbull branded ones for my CBR and really wanted to spring for the more rugged and stable Pitbull ones. With the relatively heavier VFR, I think the Pitbull ones made the most sense this time.
     
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