The only time it really became a problem was on the way back up through Italy across the Passa Della Futa when the rain had stopped but it was damp conditions. The tyres were on ~3000 miles and despite a fair bit of rubber left were very much end of life grip wise so felt very dodgy around damp hairpins across the mountains to Bologna. That said they were actually still pretty good once it dried out and they were able to warm up again despite the mileage. I reckon I could have got another 1000 miles out of them in the dry, I just wanted something I trusted a bit more in the damp.
Ha, is that the services around Parma/Modena? I reckon it's got it's own lightning cloud, we were going through at around 2100hrs in torrential rain and fork lightning was hitting the ground around us as well.
When it rains in the Alps it absolutely fucks it down with venom and firecrackers. The lightning was unreal. Be nice to watch from somewhere warm and cosy. Not nice sat on a metal bike in the pissing rain. I had waterproofs on and I still got soaked. Went down neck and up sleeves etc. Ive only ever witnessed rain like that in Hong Kong when a typhoon hit.
Glid - are we talking single sided or 'ordinary' swing arm? Single sided is a doddle of course - double sided I am officially pap at and hate balancing it whilst manouvering the stand
I do mine on my own all the time. Insert stand fully. Grab seat in middle rear to keep stable. Push down on stand as bike rights itself and continue until in the air. Easy.
I use a re-usable zip tie on the front brake lever when I put mine on a paddock stand. Very handy to have.
That's nothing, I once rode to France - scratch that - to America without using a boat. Actually off the cliffs at Lands End and arrived at Boston Beach via the sea bed. Got soaked to the skin too! :Wideyed:
I simply bolt my paddock stand into the rear spindle with the bike on the side stand then move to the rear left of the bike and push it upright with one hand whilst pushing on the back of the paddock stand with the other. Unless I'm unfortunate enough to carp it at the wrong moment there's no way I'd drop it and if I did I'd be dead so wouldn't much care!
I just bought an Abba stand, dont need to worry about any of this stuff and it raises the front and back if needed
For what it's worth my take on the question is that I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
I think that's the one. I looked for a hotel in Parma (possibly) but it was full with some music festival or other so had to go to the services. That was one tedious day (I was by myself, of course).
Yes, double sided (999). You have to sort of position the stand under the bike, where it comes up against the swing arm on the stand side, then you have to go around the back and push the bike upright. If it has too much momentum, it will just keep going and fall over on the right. I have done it, but it's really hairy - just an accident waiting to happen which means it will happen, if I carry on doing it. I normally get SWMBO to hold the bike upright with the brake on.
In that case you need to cut yourself a block of wood to put under the side stand sufficient to get the bike upright and use a bunjee between the bike and the garage wall to hold the bike in position whilst you relax with the stand stuff
Fit done bobbins then you can have it on the side stand, clip the stand in, straighten and push down as they can't go anywhere
