Soft asphalt reminder

Soon as you let your guard down, there it is. I came back today to my bike laying on its side and slowly dripping its fluids out.:pinch: Yip, soft asphalt on a very hot day. I was even on the center stand ! No real damage other than a scraped exhaust and points cover. Took then off and flat blacked them again. You'd never know that it went over. It sure is a butt clenching scene when you see your bike like that though. I RAN to it! I got off easy on this one.:S

Definitely something to remember.. what's the general temperature that asphalt goes soft ?

aww man that sucks, i'v never had my bike fall but i'd probably have a brain anurism if i seen it on its side.

Having only the side kickstand on my bike I carry a block of wood with me in my tankbag. It works great any time that I have to park on the asphalt.

from what little i have researched it looks like at about 80 degrees it starts to soften. on days above 80 degrees i watch where i park or i put a small plate of stainless under the stand to disperse the weight.

old650 wrote:

...I was even on the center stand !...

Hmm.... I don't think centerstand is a good idea for parking. Especially on soft surfaces. I think if it was on the sidestand, it might have had a better chance.

I mean on the sidestand, it has to go waaaaaaay down before it will fall, but on the centerstand, the balance can just be a little off and it will topple...

Either way, Voodoosoup is right. Stick anything you have under that stand. I got a free little sidestand shoe from an insurance company at a motorcycle show I use.

I bought a temp gun the other day. It was 81 here yesterday, my driveway was 127

I use a metal pancake electrical box. Round and about 1/2 inch deep 3 in diameter. I keep it uder the seat for those times.

pumps wrote:

I use a metal pancake electrical box. Round and about 1/2 inch deep 3 in diameter. I keep it uder the seat for those times.

pan box;)

The spot I park most often and for the longest time on asphalt is the parking lot at work. Luckily, I can park on the north side of a building under an overhang so there is always shade where the centerstand contacts the ground.
Mother Nature blew my old Z1900 over whilst on the centerstand once. I was visiting Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho and it was ~~~~~~~~w i n d y ! ~~~~~~~~~some nice people picked the bike up for me and told me about it as I was hiking down the hillside. I had parked head into the wind and had a full load of gear but she still went over. I was back on the road after minor repairs and straightening...

pumps wrote:

I use a metal pancake electrical box. Round and about 1/2 inch deep 3 in diameter. I keep it uder the seat for those times.

Off to the electrical supply store for me today.

Hmm.... I don't think centerstand is a good idea for parking. Especially on soft surfaces. I think if it was on the sidestand, it might have had a better chance.

That is concerning. The one time my bike did sink in new asphalt it was on the center stand. It sank over an inch staight down. I was able to push forward just like normal to get it out.

Anything to help displace the weight on the side stand should help. Even a crushed/flattened soda can.