f800GS centerstand
 

Hey All,

Just picked up a new f800GS (yes, yellow ... the fast one) a few weeks ago and am LOVING it so far !!! I've put nearly 2,000 miles on it in the past 3½ weeks from a 150 mile dirt road ride to a 1,200 mile trip up to Lake Placid NY on all side roads ..... the bike is a VERY nice platform and is handling ALL ya dish out at it with ease.

My question to other owners .... did you get the stock center stand with the bike ??? or no centerstand ???? or opt for an aftermarket one ??? When I got the bike I did NOT get the BMW centerstand and I have to say that I'm glad cause I'm not crazy about the looks / design of it but now in having the bike for a while I am considering getting a centerstand to ease doing maint and oiling the chain.

I'm looking at the SW-Motech http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade...view/4389/723/ and am wondering if any of ya'all have experience with this center stand ??? The web images show a great picture of it in it's down position but I can't find anywhere a pic of wha tit looks like UP. Also, how does it compare perfomance wise due to the BMW stock ?

Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks

Thought I better add a picture of my new toy .... to try to entice anyone into helping out with my centerstand question. :evil

http://mct.smugmug.com/photos/404530846_oC69d-O.jpg

I got the factory center stand, and have found it quite useful. Even got scrapes in the paint on the sides of the center stand where there was some sand involved in some off-road riding.

Factory for me as well. So far no complaints other than I can't get the bike onto the stand while sitting on it.

OEM 4 me
 

I popped for the BMW unit as well. No complaints except that it's a bit ugly and gets uglier with use when the paint on the bottom gets scraped. I looked at the SW-Motech unit on the web and the tiny looking feet made me think it wouldn't do well on soft surfaces. I can drop a crushed beer can to supplement the sidestand's ballerina-sized foot, but dropping two in just the right place to fix a centerstand could get tricky.

As an aside, I've thought of having Line-X put on the bottom of my centerstand to cover/prevent the scraped-paint fugliness. Any thoughts?

Linex
 

I have the factory stand
although it may not be the greatest looking it works well and is extremely easy to put the bike on it

hmmmm, thanks all so for for the replies / ideas. :nod

There's gotta be some industrial type heat shrink that you could slip over those center stand legs that'll keep the scratches at bay for a season or so.

The scratches are quite fugly, but the center stand looks quite functional.

Maybe something like this??
http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshr...lyolefin.htm#B

I found this spray-on liner in an aerosol can.
I think I'm going to try it:

http://www.autobarn.net/aertrucbedco.html

I used the non-skid tape that is used on ladders and stairs. Biggest reason was that the stand would slide on my concrete floor when trying to take the bike off the centerstand. Didn't feel like using my foot each time to prevent that slide. Scratch protection is a bonus.

I opted for the factory stand...not the best looking but the curve works well...

Yup, me too. It's fine. Wouldn't hesitate to do it again. :D

That's the simplest yet...how's it holding up??

The funny curved center stand just plain works. It's been around since at least 1990.

http://levity.smugmug.com/photos/106..._ajK2y-L-1.jpg

http://levity.smugmug.com/photos/107873571_nZuWj-L.jpg