First days: Living with a motorcycle: Difference between revisions

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It may seem counterintuitive, but parking with the sidestand on the downhill side works really well. If you park with the sidestand on the uphill side, you're reducing your bike's angle to gravity. The closer your bike is to straight up and down, the more likely it is to fall over when a squirrel drops a nut on the seat, or an errant breeze happens to blow the right way. If, on the other hand, you've parked with the stand going downhill, your bike is far from that dangerous straight up and down condition. Sidestands are quite strong, so this is usually safe. If the hill is so steep that you are worried the bike is going to fall over the sidestand, find a better parking spot.

In any of these cases, the final trick to parking on a hill is to leave the bike in first gear. That prevents the bike from rolling. Once the engine is stopped, let out the clutch lever, and let the bike take up any slack in the engine before you set it down on the stand. It acts just like a parking brake. Remember to take the bike out of gear when starting it, or you could have trouble with safety interlocks in the clutch or sidestand keeping the bike from starting.

'''Where to Park'''

Motorcycles fit in a lot of spaces where cars don't. When I park, I usually try to avoid taking up a full-sized car spot, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Check your local laws, but some alternate parking spots may include:

* On the sidewalk, out of pedestrians' paths, and leaving room for parallel-parked cars

* In the triangular spots at the end of angled-parking aisles

* Multiple bikes in one car spot

If you choose to park in a non-standard parking spot, follow this simple checklist to see if it's an acceptable spot:

* Is it in anyone's way? (Pedestrians, vehicle traffic, wheelchairs, bicycles, etc.)

* Is it legal? (Hint: parking in a Fire Zone is a bad idea)

* Is it safe?

Parking in such a way that you block anyone's access to anything is sure to get you bad attention, so pick spots which don't block anyone's door opening, or walking path. Never ''ever'' park where you might impede access to a handicapped spot, even if you're not in the actual parking spot.

If you find another motorcycle parked in a car spot, and there's space to let the other guy out, it's probably alright to put your bike there too. Use your judgement, sometimes it's better to avoid parking too close to another bike. Make sure you leave the other motorcyclist room to get his bike out safely.

If you decide to park in a full-sized car spot, park near the entrance to the spot, with your bike's tail towards traffic. There are several factors at play here. Leave the bike near the entrance (closer to traffic) to make it obvious that the parking spot is filled. A bike pulled way into the spot looks empty until the car driver pulls part-way in, and that may make the driver angry. An angry driver can smoosh your bike flat, or may take it out on another motorcyclist later. Leave the bike parked with the tail towards traffic because the tail is more durable than the front-end, in case an inattentive or angry driver ''does'' hit the bike. Parking at the back of the spot also helps you avoid the big grease-spot where cars' engines have dropped motor oil for the last 20 years. This grease can cling to your tire, making for a very exciting time at your next turn.

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 It may seem counterintuitive, but parking with the sidestand on the downhill side works really well. If you park with the sidestand on the uphill side, you're reducing your bike's angle to gravity. The closer your bike is to straight up and down, the more likely it is to fall over when a squirrel drops a nut on the seat, or an errant breeze happens to blow the right way. If, on the other hand, you've parked with the stand going downhill, your bike is far from that dangerous straight up and down condition. Sidestands are quite strong, so this is usually safe. If the hill is so steep that you are worried the bike is going to fall over the sidestand, find a better parking spot.
 In any of these cases, the final trick to parking on a hill is to leave the bike in first gear. That prevents the bike from rolling. Once the engine is stopped, let out the clutch lever, and let the bike take up any slack in the engine before you set it down on the stand. It acts just like a parking brake. Remember to take the bike out of gear when starting it, or you could have trouble with safety interlocks in the clutch or sidestand keeping the bike from starting.
+'''Where to Park'''
+Motorcycles fit in a lot of spaces where cars don't.  When I park, I usually try to avoid taking up a full-sized car spot, but sometimes it's unavoidable.  Check your local laws, but some alternate parking spots may include:
+* On the sidewalk, out of pedestrians' paths, and leaving room for parallel-parked cars
+* In the triangular spots at the end of angled-parking aisles
+* Multiple bikes in one car spot
+If you choose to park in a non-standard parking spot, follow this simple checklist to see if it's an acceptable spot:
+* Is it in anyone's way? (Pedestrians, vehicle traffic, wheelchairs, bicycles, etc.)
+* Is it legal?  (Hint: parking in a Fire Zone is a bad idea)
+* Is it safe?
+Parking in such a way that you block anyone's access to anything is sure to get you bad attention, so pick spots which don't block anyone's door opening, or walking path.  Never ''ever'' park where you might impede access to a handicapped spot, even if you're not in the actual parking spot.
+If you find another motorcycle parked in a car spot, and there's space to let the other guy out, it's probably alright to put your bike there too.  Use your judgement, sometimes it's better to avoid parking too close to another bike.  Make sure you leave the other motorcyclist room to get his bike out safely.
+If you decide to park in a full-sized car spot, park near the entrance to the spot, with your bike's tail towards traffic.  There are several factors at play here.  Leave the bike near the entrance (closer to traffic) to make it obvious that the parking spot is filled.  A bike pulled way into the spot looks empty until the car driver pulls part-way in, and that may make the driver angry.  An angry driver can smoosh your bike flat, or may take it out on another motorcyclist later.  Leave the bike parked with the tail towards traffic because the tail is more durable than the front-end, in case an inattentive or angry driver ''does'' hit the bike.  Parking at the back of the spot also helps you avoid the big grease-spot where cars' engines have dropped motor oil for the last 20 years.  This grease can cling to your tire, making for a very exciting time at your next turn.
 ====Filling It Up ====