Centre stand question.

[Saraya]

Hi all. Probably a daft question, but…
My bike is going to live, parked on the road of a cul-de-sac, on the edge of an open green. It’s a bit like a wind tunnel here. Me and my neighbours frequently have to play ‘go find the wheelie bins.’

The YBR (coming tomorrow! ) has a centre stand, which I presume in theory will be more stable. But I can’t help wondering, if on a windy day, leaving her on the side stand will make her less likely to get blown over? As she’ll be leaning and there seems to be more ‘give’ with the side stand, I wondered if that gives strong wind less of a target? I don't know if it will make a difference - but she'll always have a bike cover when not being ridden.
Thanks.

[Silver_Fox]

Bike cover's actually increase the chance of being blown over, think parachute....

I can't answer the side stand/centre stand question, however, security wise, that location doesn't sound overly secure from a theft perspective
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CBR600 F3 FV
CG125

[6r4h4m]

I left my 125 on its centre stand, came back to find it sprawled. Interviewed the nearby ice cream van man, and every nearby driver to find out which bastard had knocked into it. No one had seen anything. I finally asked the security guard of the building it was outside if there was any CCTV evidence. "Oh yeah, I saw that go over actually mate. Wind's terrible out there innit?"

So yeah, centre stand not gonna withstand a strong gust. I haven't experimented with side stand - just avoided being side on to the wind since then

[stinkwheel]

Light bikes have a tendancy to fall off mainstands in a wind. Not enough weight down low and a fairly narrow footprint on the stand legs.

Wind can also blow bikes off their sidetands, in either direction.

I think my ideal would be on the sidestand, with its back wheel to the wind.

If it's very windy, I'd say safest thing is to lean it against a wall.

Be aware covers can act like a sail.

Do you have a ground anchor? You could strap it down to the ground anchor using a camlock strap with it on the sidestand (so the strap is pulling the bike down onto the stand).

If you don't have a ground anchor, it's probably an academic question because there's a term for a YBR125 that's parked in an open public space and not chained down. That word is "stolen".
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Saraya]

It’s a quiet area and I’m in a first floor maisonette. No garden, garage or parking space. I have a huge chain and lock. Weighs a ton! Have a disc lock too. Hubby tried a screamer disc lock on his bike, but the wind just keeps setting it off. Though there is a lamp post or holly tree that I could possibly utilise for added security?
Sounds like the side stand is best then. And no cover in a gale. Thank you.

[Rogerborg]

I'd agree with sidestand and no cover but would probably try to keep the wind on its starboard bow (where the Klingons come from). Probably a bit academic given gusts. Oh, put it in 1st gear when you park it up.

Are you getting the YBR delivered, or are you dispatching one of the menfolk to fetch it for you?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Commuter_Tim]

It may be unconventional, but I buy very cheap covers that only have one wheel clip, and don't even use the clip.
My working theory is that the parachute flies away long before the bike blows over.

I rode a 125 for 4 years and it blew off the bike several times, only lost 1 cover a year though.
Acceptable losses IMO.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[Teflon-Mike]

Tie it down with BIG lock & chain!
Local-Low-Life are more likely to make it move from where you leave it than the wind! IMO
Concern is often raised by folk who live in windy spots; I live on a hill, pretty much on the edge of a large plain, my house faces South, and prevailing winds can get a bit blustery.. leave the front window open and you can struggle to shut the back door some-times... Wheelie bin has been blow down the drive and into the road so many times I have given up asking the council to come replace the lid that always gets bashed off... bin men have the lucky habit of 'loosing' the whole thing in their wagon often enough.. bound to be replaced sooner rather than later anyway
Bikes live out-doors, I've never had one 'blown over', even ones precariously propped up 'work in progress' without a engine or a proper stand or something... and they are most often the light-weights I keep around to play mechanics on....
In fact there's one in the 'wind tunnel' that's been sat there, no engine, balanced on a pair of car axle stands for the last nine months.. doesn't seem to have budged an inch!
Plenty else has been bunted around.. half full watering cans, caravan door regularly gets blow open, bonnet of my Range Rover got wrenched off its 'second' catch and blown back over the wind-screen where it hand't been latched main catch properly, and banged hard enough by the wind to bend it a bit, once! But not had a bike 'blown over'. Its a worry / problem, I have to say I have never encountered.
Local scroats on the other hand... that IS a real worry, I have had to deal with!
Lock and chain, dear, lock and chain!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Saraya]

Teflon-Mike, yep! When we know we have a storm coming, everybody round here uses dog leads or bungee cords to attach bins to the nearest tree/bush/fence/post. I was tempted to try attaching my bike to his company car - but hubby has banned me from doing that as apparently the excess on the company insurance is unpleasant.

I have a really heavy chain and lock as well as a disc lock. I have 2 of everything actually as they're too heavy for me to ride with - so I've left a set at work. I'm actually more worried about the bike at work than at home. I work nights in a mental healthcare home. She'll be a lot more exposed there than my quiet little cul-de-sac. Though I guess I could utilise hand rails or even the clinical waste skip as anchors!
Today's the day. She'll be here in approx. 7 hours!

[Rogerborg]

[Saraya]

Not Oxford? Uh oh! Please would you recommend a chain – quick. So I can get it before bike gets here at 2pm!
And I’m far too matronly to be considered a sexy nurse.

[Rogerborg]

Sorry to be the bearer of unwelcome news, but again and again and again we see bikes stolen with bits of Oxford products left scattered around. Granted, that's because they're very popular, but they're popular because they're cheap, and in this case you really are getting what you pay for.

No immediate panic, but Almax and Pragmassis are the two chain brands that aren't sold for novelty purposes only. They're not cheap, but neither is having a bike stolen.

Short of that, you can buy 16mm+ anchor / lift chain by the metre from eBay for reasonable prices. It won't resist cutting as well as properly hardened chain, but it will provide some visual deterrent that might ensure that it's hubby's bike that gets stolen.

[Saraya]

Thanks Rogerborg. I have the Oxford Monster. Am going to start googling/phoning places right now.
Sorry to be a pest - but what disc lock would you recommend? That's Oxford too...
Much appreciated.

[Hefty]

[Rogerborg]

Disc locks are tricky, I'm not sure there is a really decent one. They're a fairly low grade of deterrent to casual thieves, so the Oxford is probably fine for that purpose.

Then you get to the serious thieves equipped with a van. They'll just lift the bike in, and yes, they'll have a YBR if it's the best thing around.

That's where the chain and anchor come in. Anything up to 13mm can be hand cropped. 16mm+ will need power tools or hydraulics, which gives you that little bit more security.

It's all just balancing risks though, nothing is entirely safe. Chances are you'll be fine with what you've got: I'm not trying to panic you. It's just that if you stick with biking then your security is going to be an investment.

All of which is neither here nor there though: has the bike arrived yet? Have you bonded with it?
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Commuter_Tim]

[Saraya]

Thanks again for the advice. It really is appreciated. I've attacked a few lower branches of a holly and hawthorn hedge outside my window, with a hacksaw - and sort of reversed into it. And the chain is now around the trunk of the bush. So I kind of have a DIY anchor.

And yes, Rogerborg - I have! I've only done 2.5 miles around town, but I did it! And I only stalled once! I have a 10 mile round trip, of 40 limit roads that I'm going to brave at 7am tomorrow. Hubby is going to follow me to keep any early drivers off of my arse.

[Commuter_Tim]

...and if the thief brings a saw?
Better than nothing, but really a cheap ground anchor in concrete or brick is your best bet long term.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[Polarbear]

Get hubby to make you one from an old 25 litre can filled with concrete and a loop of chain or steel if you can't actually fit one into the ground.

No , it won't stop the most determined but are they going to go to all that trouble for your little bike.

The idea is to make it as difficult as possible.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Rogerborg]

[Chuffin Nora]

[talkToTheHat]

Seen my 535 go over in the wind when it's been parked on the path outside girlfriend's house. No shelter. Wind gust blows it on to sidestand and jacks it up, it bounces down and momentum carries it over. Bandit is a lardy beast and appears unfazed by being parked in the wind. Fortunately she is moving out of the current hellhole this week to a house with a driveway and tall hedges.
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Bandit. does. everything.