Bikers remove bike stands to improve the bike’s performance and aesthetics. Removing the stand reduces weight, enhancing the motorcycle’s speed, and lowers the bike’s center of gravity, improving handling.
Bikers often customize their bikes to enhance their performance, aesthetics and riding style. One of the modifications done to improve the bike’s agility and aesthetics is removing the bike stand. The stand acts as an added weight to the bike, which can reduce its speed and maneuverability, particularly in competitive racing.
It also lowers the bike’s center of gravity, making it easy to handle during turns while cornering. Despite its usefulness, the bike stand is often removed, especially by riders who are looking to reduce weight and enhance the bike’s agility further. In this article, we explore the reasons why bikers remove the bike stand and the effects of removing it.
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Understanding Bike Stands
Bike stands are one of the essential components of a motorcycle. They keep the bike upright and prevent it from falling over while it’s parked. However, many riders tend to remove their bike stands for various reasons. In this section, we’ll look at the types of bike stands, their purposes, and the benefits of using them.
Types Of Bike Stands
There are primarily two types of motorcycle stands:
- Center stand: It is located at the center of the bike and is designed to lift the entire bike off the ground. It is ideal for performing maintenance or repairs, changing the bike’s oil and filters or storing the bike for a longer period.
- Side stand: It is located on the left side of the bike and is designed to support the bike while parked. The main purpose of the side stand is to hold the bike in an upright position when the rider is not using it.
The Purpose Of A Bike Stand
Some riders believe that removing their bike stand enhances their bike’s look, or they might want to reduce the weight of their motorcycle. However, removing bike stands can have a substantial impact on the bike’s functionality and convenience.
The primary purpose of the bike stand is to provide stability to the motorcycle when it’s not being used.
- Allows the rider to park the bike quickly
- Makes the bike more accessible to load and unload
- Enables the rider to perform maintenance work on the bike easily
Benefits Of Using A Bike Stand
There are several benefits of using a bike stand.
- Prevents the bike from tipping over and damaging expensive parts.
- Allows oil and other fluids to circulate smoothly through the engine and other components.
- Keeps the tires from developing flat spots while the bike sits for an extended period.
- Saves storage space by lifting the bike off the ground, making it easier to store.
Bike stands are a crucial component of a motorcycle that provides stability and convenience. Removing them might make the bike look sleek, but it is not worth the risk of damaging the bike. By keeping the bike stand, the rider can benefit from its features and enjoy maintenance-free rides.
Reasons Why Bikers Remove Bike Stands
Bike stands are essential parts of motorcycles, helping keep them upright even when parked on uneven terrain. However, some bikers choose to remove their bike stands for various reasons.
Weight Reduction
Every biker understands the importance of reducing bike weight, which translates to better performance, more agility, and faster speeds. Removing unnecessary accessories and parts is the go-to strategy for most bikers looking to reduce their bike’s weight. Since bike stands are often bulky and heavy, some riders choose to remove them for a more streamlined and lighter bike.
- Removing the bike stand reduces the weight by a few pounds, making the bike lighter and more agile.
- Lightweight bikes are easier to accelerate, corner, and maneuver while riding.
- Reducing bike weight improves the bike’s overall performance, increasing fuel economy and speed.
Aesthetic Reasons
Most bikers take pride in their bikes’ appearance and will do anything to make them stand out from the pack. Some bikers believe that removing their bike stands enhances their bikes’ overall appearance, giving them a sleek and modern look.
- Removing the bike stand gives the bike a cleaner and more minimalist appearance.
- Some bikers prefer the look of a motorcycle without bike stands, giving their bikes a more streamlined appearance.
- Aesthetics can influence a biker’s decision to remove bike stands, regardless of how necessary they are for functionality.
Performance Reasons
Bike stands play a vital role in keeping a motorcycle stable, especially when parked on uneven terrain like rocks, hills, and gravel. Additionally, the stand keeps the bike upright when the engine is off, preventing accidental falls. However, some riders believe that bike stands might interfere with performance and choose to remove them.
- Removing bike stands increases ground clearance, allowing the bike to negotiate steep angles with ease.
- Suspension tuning enthusiasts remove bike stands to customize the bike’s suspension settings, giving them more control over the bike’s performance.
- Bike stands can affect aerodynamics, reducing the bike’s top speed and overall performance.
Parking Convenience
Parking your motorcycle can be a hassle, especially in crowded places with limited space. While bike stands provide additional stability, they can also get in the way when parking, taking up valuable space and making it challenging to fit your bike into tight parking spots.
- Removing bike stands frees up valuable parking space, making it easier to park in small spaces.
- Bikers looking to store their bikes in tight spaces like a cramped garage or a small driveway might remove bike stands to accommodate more bikes.
- Some bikers prefer to park their bikes on their side stands, which have a smaller footprint than the bike’s main stand, allowing them to fit in tight spaces.
Removing bike stands might not be ideal for every biker. However, understanding the reasons why they might choose to do so can give you a new perspective on customizing and modifying motorcycles to fit your needs and preferences.
Risks And Challenges Of Removing Bike Stands
Bikers have been removing bike stands for various reasons ranging from style, easier maintenance to saving weight. However, as with most things, removing a bike stand comes with its own set of potential risks and challenges that every rider should be aware of.
Stability Issues
Bike stands are an essential part of a motorcycle’s stability, especially when parked. Removing them puts the motorcycle at risk of falling over, either when parked or during wind gusts. This can lead to damage to the bike, as well as injury to the rider or bystanders.
Increased Chance Of Bike Damage
Without a stand, the motorcycle must rest on its kickstand, which can increase the risk of damage and wear and tear to the stand. This can lead to more expensive repairs and replacement costs in the long run.
Legal Implications
Bike stands are usually required by law; hence, removing them can lead to legal problems. In some countries, removal of bike stands is illegal and could lead to fines or penalties. Additionally, if a bike falls over and causes damage to property or injures someone, the rider can be held liable for the damages.
In general, removing bike stands is not advisable, as it comes with more risks than conveniences. If the reason for stand removal is weight savings, there are other ways to accomplish this without endangering the rider or the motorcycle itself.
Therefore, before making any modifications to your motorcycle, ensure that you understand any risks involved and evaluate if it is worth it in the end.
How To Properly Remove A Bike Stand
Why Do Bikers Remove Bike Stand?
If you’re a seasoned biker, you may have noticed that many riders remove their bike stand. If you’re new to the biking world, you may wonder why bikers do this. Removing a bike stand has several benefits, including improving the bike’s stability and making it easier to maneuver.
We will focus on how to properly remove a bike stand.
Tools Required
Firstly, before you start removing your bike stand, it’s essential to have the appropriate tools available.
- A socket wrench
- A pair of pliers
- A kickstand spring tool (optional)
Step By Step Instructions
Now that you have gathered all your tools, it’s time to remove the bike stand. Follow these simple steps to ensure a safe and correct removal of the bike stand.
- Park the bike in a secure and level location. Shift into neutral gear and turn the engine off.
- Locate the mounting bolt that holds the bike stand to the frame.
- Remove the mounting bolt with the socket wrench.
- Locate the spring on the side of the bike stand.
- Using pliers, remove the spring from the mounting location on the bike frame carefully. Alternatively, you can use a kickstand spring tool to disconnect the spring.
- Remove the bike stand by pulling it out from the bike frame.
- Once the bike stand is removed, insert the mounting bolt back into the frame’s holder to prevent dirt and debris from getting inside.
Additional Tips For Safe Removal
Here are some additional tips for safely removing a bike stand:
- Wear gloves, eye protection, and appropriate clothing when working with your motorcycle.
- Make sure that the bike is on level ground and secure as you work on it.
- Follow manufacturer instructions, if available, for removing the bike stand.
- If you feel uncertain about removing your bike stand, consult a professional mechanic.
Removing your bike stand can have a significant impact on your biking experience by increasing stability and making maneuvers easier. By following the step-by-step instructions and additional tips provided above, you will be able to safely remove your bike stand and enjoy the benefits that this simple modification provides.
Conclusion
After a thorough analysis of why bikers remove their bike stand, it is clear that the reasons behind such a practice vary from one rider to another. For instance, some riders do it for safety reasons, while others remove the stand for aesthetic reasons.
Additionally, some bikers remove it to reduce the weight of the motorcycle, while others do it to reduce the risk of theft. Irrespective of the underlying reasons, one fact remains constant, removing the bike stand does have its advantages and disadvantages.
Therefore, before taking the step of removing the stand, it is advisable to consider the benefits and drawbacks and make an informed decision. Nonetheless, it is always important to ensure that safety comes first in everything that you do. With that in mind, it is safe to say that bikers remove their bike stands for a variety of reasons, and it is a common practice on motorcycles these days.