Yesterday's storm blew over my bike

[spoonyfork]

My 2008 R1200R was on the center stand as it bore the brunt of the sustained +70MPH wind gusts that went though south of Detroit yesterday. It almost made it through the storm but unfortunately it was blown over. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it happen with my own eyes from the window. It turns out the only damage appeared on the left side case which landed first and the left valve cover. Handle bar, mirror, pegs, and peddles never touched the ground. Careful inspection for cracks, gaps, and oil all around the left side of the engine revealed nothing but a nasty scrape. The engine started up just fine and sounded normal. No engine warning lights. No visible oil leaking. I took it for some laps around the parking lot and had no issues. I felt sure enough to ride it home which I did successfully. Today there is still no oil or obvious damage other than the scrape. The question is, am I foolish to think that my bike just took a punch to the gut and aside from a scar, everything is OK on the inside? Again, no obvious noises or performance issues, no oil, no cracks, nothing obviously wrong. Since I still consider myself a newbie I'd like some more experienced opinions on what I should do, if anything.

[mogu83]

I can assure you that the R1200R will take a few bounces off the ground with little serious damage.
I won't get into specifics.

[dbrick]

I can assure you that the R1200R will take a few bounces off the ground with little serious damage.
I won't get into specifics.

And we shouldn't ask how you know this, right?

[Dr. Strangelove]

You're likely fine, except for your pride. I wouldn't do any further investigation.
It's a character mark; a story to tell.

Was the bike naked, ie without a cover? On any type of incline?

John

[towerworker]

Many years ago my '03 was on the side stand, covered and a high wind blew it up and over on it's RH side. Like yours it sustained just cosmetic damage to system case and valve cover. Yours is probably ok.

regards
Wayne

[Anyname]

And the lesson learned is that if the wind blows in a consistent direction, point the bike into the wind or hide it behind something.

[deilenberger]

Actually the lesson is - the bike is MUCH more stable on the sidestand then on the centerstand. It's a large triangle on the sidestand, and the wind would have to lift it off the stand for it to fall over. Also - parking it in gear when outside is a good idea...

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

I really don't understand the penchant some people have for putting the bike up on the center stand. Such a lot of work for an unstable parking system. Blah blah blah, so old airheads would smoke a bit when oil went past the rings on the low side cylinder. What does that have to do with bikes today?

[rockbottom]

On several discussion boards I've asked about the advantages of the center stand other than when working on the bike, and didn't feel that I got a definitive answer. That said, I almost always use it just because most motorcycles don't have them and I'm a chronic contrarian. If most motorcycles had them, I wouldn't use mine.

[Jed]

I'm a chronic contrarian.

I'm guessing that the "contrarian gene" runs deep in the BMW owner's gene-pool. I have no empirical data to support this assertion but there seems to be no shortage of anecdotal evidence.

[rockbottom]

I'm a chronic contrarian.

I'm guessing that the "contrarian gene" runs deep in the BMW owner's gene-pool. I have no empirical data to support this assertion but there seems to be no shortage of anecdotal evidence.

Also, I'm a professor and I'm pretty sure that the Constitution limits us to BMW, Triumph, or Moto Guzzi.

[angellr]

I'm a chronic contrarian.

I'm guessing that the "contrarian gene" runs deep in the BMW owner's gene-pool. I have no empirical data to support this assertion but there seems to be no shortage of anecdotal evidence.

Also, I'm a professor and I'm pretty sure that the Constitution limits us to BMW, Triumph, or Moto Guzzi.

Believe you are right!

[spoonyfork]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the weather, the forecast was only 30% chance of rain, possibly a thunderstorm, wind less than 10 MPH from the northwest. I came to find out later that an hour before the storm hit the forecast changed to 100% chance of rain, thunderstorm, and winds up to 20 MPH. What we got was rain and +70 MPH wind. There are trees and branches down everywhere. Treemageddon. The actual weather was so suddenly different that I didn't have time to move the bike to a safer location.

That said, I am no longer parking at work on the center stand. I got into the habit of using the center stand to save space in my home garage and it carried over to parking at work and strangely nowhere else. Given the parking orientation to the wind patterns, if I was on the side stand I highly doubt the bike would have gone over. Hopefully this is the only change I have to make. That and a new left valve cover and 2 valve protectors at my next scheduled service.

[angellr]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the weather, the forecast was only 30% chance of rain, possibly a thunderstorm, wind less than 10 MPH from the northwest. I came to find out later that an hour before the storm hit the forecast changed to 100% chance of rain, thunderstorm, and winds up to 20 MPH. What we got was rain and +70 MPH wind. There are trees and branches down everywhere. Treemageddon. The actual weather was so suddenly different that I didn't have time to move the bike to a safer location.

That said, I am no longer parking at work on the center stand. I got into the habit of using the center stand to save space in my home garage and it carried over to parking at work and strangely nowhere else. Given the parking orientation to the wind patterns, if I was on the side stand I highly doubt the bike would have gone over. Hopefully this is the only change I have to make. That and a new left valve cover and 2 valve protectors at my next scheduled service.

SW Moto-Tech guards are your friend in this area. Saved my bacon a few times.

[rockbottom]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the weather, the forecast was only 30% chance of rain, possibly a thunderstorm, wind less than 10 MPH from the northwest. I came to find out later that an hour before the storm hit the forecast changed to 100% chance of rain, thunderstorm, and winds up to 20 MPH. What we got was rain and +70 MPH wind. There are trees and branches down everywhere. Treemageddon. The actual weather was so suddenly different that I didn't have time to move the bike to a safer location.

That said, I am no longer parking at work on the center stand. I got into the habit of using the center stand to save space in my home garage and it carried over to parking at work and strangely nowhere else. Given the parking orientation to the wind patterns, if I was on the side stand I highly doubt the bike would have gone over. Hopefully this is the only change I have to make. That and a new left valve cover and 2 valve protectors at my next scheduled service.

SW Moto-Tech guards are your friend in this area. Saved my bacon a few times.

I've always avoided those on the belief that the Motorcycle Gods would think I was taunting them.

[angellr]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the weather, the forecast was only 30% chance of rain, possibly a thunderstorm, wind less than 10 MPH from the northwest. I came to find out later that an hour before the storm hit the forecast changed to 100% chance of rain, thunderstorm, and winds up to 20 MPH. What we got was rain and +70 MPH wind. There are trees and branches down everywhere. Treemageddon. The actual weather was so suddenly different that I didn't have time to move the bike to a safer location.

That said, I am no longer parking at work on the center stand. I got into the habit of using the center stand to save space in my home garage and it carried over to parking at work and strangely nowhere else. Given the parking orientation to the wind patterns, if I was on the side stand I highly doubt the bike would have gone over. Hopefully this is the only change I have to make. That and a new left valve cover and 2 valve protectors at my next scheduled service.

SW Moto-Tech guards are your friend in this area. Saved my bacon a few times.

I've always avoided those on the belief that the Motorcycle Gods would think I was taunting them.

[daveyator]

I had my K1200RS blow over once when it was on the side stand (so much for its more stable than the center idea). Santa Ana's here in So Cal. My R12R has had a 2mph excursion on its side. The only casualties were marks on the cheesy (but in this case they worked) BMW protectors and brake lever.

[deilenberger]

I had my K1200RS blow over once when it was on the side stand (so much for its more stable than the center idea).

Actually - all that proves is it IS possible to blow a K1200RS (which has a lot of plastic to catch the wind) over when it's on the sidestand. It proves nothing about relative stability. Chances are good the same bike in the same wind would have the same result - perhaps sooner - on the centerstand.

Take a quick look at the footprint "triangle" of centerstand vs sidestand and you'll see why the sidestand is inherently more stable and resistant to blowing over.

[Caroanbill]

Take a quick look at the footprint "triangle" of centerstand vs sidestand and you'll see why the sidestand is inherently more stable and resistant to blowing over.

Hmmm. Depends a lot on the sidestand - this is not such good advice for the spring-retractable sidestands. Wind comes along, pushed the bike up, eases the the pressure on the sidestand, retracting spring does its job and ... bike falls over! There was a domino effect from this in a multi-bike parking space in Sydney a few years ago - one of our famous southerlies (south is our nearest pole - it's our cold wind) blew up, lifted at least one bike off its sidestand, and the first falling bike took out the rest!

I did post here of my riding mate's Street Triple blown right over its side stand ... by a helipcopter!

[qfman]

I just left my R12R parked outside my house for 3 weeks while I was in Europe. I set it on the centrestand, ensuring the rear tyre was not blocking water and debris from running along the gutter. I then put the cover on and fastened the belly straps etc so that the wind would not get in under the cover. I arrived back in Sydney this morning to the second day of wild winds and heavy rain. Bike was where I left it.

Maybe I prefer the centrestand because the suspension is de-weighted. The bike is propped up an a solid platform. You don't have the variable of the suspension compressing as degree of perpendicularity changes. The centre-stand provides neutral (perpendicular) lateral weight distribution and the little feet provide a concentrated footprint for the bikes weight which is naturally resistent to tipping forces.

I have also seen bikes tip over due to rear tyre going flat and bringing bike upright. Cannot happen on the centre-stand.

I guess the broader question is how to prevent tip-overs due pushing/pulling from one or both sides. If I was going to let some kids clamber around on the bike (under supervision) I would always have it on the centrestand. If I'm leaving at risk of 'touch-parkers', again - centrestand. I use the sidestand only on hills or soft ground that render the centrestand out of the question.

Not wishing to start a new key/kill-switch debate (I've been a key man ever since), but I just never feel the compulsion to check and re-check the bike after I leave it on the centre-stand. On very windy nights I will take the cover off the bike to let the wind blow through the bike and prevent the 'sail effect' which is possibly a more common culprit than the manner in which the bike is parked.

Tom