Parking Trick

Out for a ride, stopped at Panda Express for lunch. I was sitting outside in front of an empty parking space and this guy pulls in on an older street fighter bike, gets off, puts his foot on the kick stand, reaches over and pulls the bike towards him, wheels off the ground he turns the bike 180 degrees around! Anybody else ever done this? Don’t think it’s possible with a VFR because of all the body work, no place to grab.

 

I’ve seen it done but don’t recall with a VFR.

 

i do it all the time on all my bikes - really easy - just make sure the kickstand bolts are tight - lol. The VFR800 is a 'little' heavy for this trick but does it fine - I use the pillion handle on the throttle side to stabilise the bike in position & then pivot it around the kickstand. My CBR600rr I used to balance on the stand - both wheels off the ground but it was about 60kg lighter.

 

I figured this wasn’t unique, but I had never seen it before! if I was 40 years younger, I could learn to do it, Now I am too old and uncoordinated to risk messing up all my plastics,

 

Wouldn't mind seeing a video of this. My plastics are marred up due to a drop in Mexico so I can afford to put a few more scratches on it trying to learn this maneuver

 

Hopefully someone can make one, it’s a great idea if you have the strength.

 

Youtube to the rescue!!!

 

Well guddam already. That seemed simple as a peanut butter on white sammi. Thanks for this. I should give it a try. Maybe I will video it and create my own funny follies.

 

With my luck it would slip out of my hands or the stand would break!!!

 

i wont lie - the stand does 'bend' a little especially when you balance the whole bike on it. But i normally pivot around the front wheel rather than the back - because the VFR800 is front heavy (from a stand point of view) so you just 'hop' it around.. They are times to do this & times to NOT do this. If its NOT CONCRETE then DO NOT DO IT. Tarmac or grass is a absolute no no..

 

I am only happy to do that for the much lighter street triple.

For the heaver 6thGen I remove all luggage and then use the rather more robust main-stand to do a pivot turn.

Again it means just tilting the bike towards me so it is supported on just one of the main stand feet and then pivoting it around - taking care to ensure I do not lift the weight off the stand or allow it to shift forward allowing the main stand to retract. Take your time and don't squash your feet.

This comes in really handy when I need to get both bikes parked up out the way over winter. I can quickly and safely turn a bike around within the confined space of my garage, which fortunately has a flat solid concrete floor but with all the shelving along the side it is only a few inches longer than my 6th Gen. Loads better than trying a million point turn.

 

That's one of the reasons you see sooooo many sidestand failures across various forums in the US. Will admit to having used it once or twice though when moving bike in Garage not I a parking space.

 

Saw a guy do that with his Triumph 800XC, the alloy side stand snapped ....

 

Hmm - My street triple has basically the same aluminium side stand as the XC. But as it weighs around 45kg less, it shows no sign of failing or gives me any concern. The only issue for the street triple side stand related to the mounting bolts possibly vibrating loose - an issue which also affected some VFRs - and was easily fixed with a dab of thread lock and a proper torque wrench.

You do not need to be a rocket scientist to realise the main stand on the 6th Gen is a lot more robust than the side stand if you really do need to do a pivot turn.

 

I believe some Ducatis have the stand bolted to the engine case.
Seems like a baaaad idea for a bike with that setup.

 

Sounds like a good way to F up your back.

 

Not even close, you reach over to the rear of the bike with your right hand & pull towards you - also pulling with your left hand on the left bar. You can 'lean' the bike on you - all you are really doing is tilting it.
Once its on the balance point of the stand then stop pulling - lol... You turn the bike by applying more pressure to either the back hand or the front hand & you just 'waltz it about.

IF you have never done this then practising on a LIGHTER bike is probably recommended.