Hi all,
I’ve just gone outside to check my bike in the wind and it is fine but another bike is on its side (a Honda CBF).
Should I be using a side or a centre stand when parked up on a flat road?
I am thinking the side stand would be best as it gives you two wheels and the stand in a wider triangle than you would get with a centre stand- but I wanted to make sure this is the case.
Thanks.
Depends … if your bike is italian just kick it over now and be done with it . If its got a proper method of keeping upright I would go for the side stand in wind conditions, with the sidestand on the leeward side ,so the wind has to push against the stand rather than lift it up .
LOL- thanks NumNum.
I have a YBR125.
My old bike blew off its centre stand in the wind
The mathematics agrees 
Definitely side stand. When I had a 125, I always parked it on a centre-stand. Then some wandering strong winds showed me the folly of my ways… twice. Since then, always on a side stand and no more problems.
Brilliant- thanks people.
Bugger.
Woke up this morning to find the bike blown over onto the my car.
Bike is 100% fine but the car has a dent from the handlebar on the boot.
Anyone know a reputable bodywork guy in West London who won’t charge me an arm and a leg?
Dent is about 3cm diameter and goes in less than 1cm into the body so it should be fairly minor repair.
Car is BMW 3 series.
Another good tip is in high winds Do not use a cover as its similar to a sail !
Good point.
This could be what tipped mine over the other day.
Yes the cover will be what done it , if you had mentioned cover and addition to my advice would have been remove it . But I do not think cover automatically as I have never needed a cover .
Also (and I might be stating the obvious, so sorry if that’s the case) try to park your bike with the front facing the direction of the oncoming wind… if that makes sense?
When I was out & about the other night (Mon/Tues) and we had that severe wind, I saw 3 scooters (Bank, Holborn and Bethnal green) all horizontal. None had covers but I suspect all were previously on centre stands.
Moral of the story - buy a bigger/heavier bike 
(If you park it on the side stand leaned in as close as you can towards something big, there’s less chance of the wind getting under it)
I’ve decided to man up and put it in the front garden each night.
It involves lifting the bike up a couple of steps but I can do it with some effort.
Means I can lock it up properly to the railing too.
Just think of it as mod 1 practice, manual handling!
hmmm getting it up there may be relatively easy but is it the same to get it out in reverse? Lifting
it down the steps … or can you turn the bike round easily in the garden ?
Yes, I can turn it around- no problem at all.
"lifting it down the steps … or can you turn the bike round easily in the garden ? "
I made that mistake at my old house many years ago. Rode my brand new 125 up a couple of steps, through a fairly snug fitting gate & into the front garden. A 90degree turn to the right, in shingle and all was good…
…until i tried to back it out. No room to turn around, feet slipping and wheels digging in.
Sweating like a rapist trying not to drop it.
It went in the garage after that! 
