I took my Turbo out today and found an ideal parking spot . The only problem was that it was windy and next to the space was a motorcycle parking . One bike was leaning on its kickstand . I parked it but felt uneasy.

The garage is somewhat sheltered from the wind but does have ventilation . As I got out of my car I asked the security guard if he ever saw a bike fall onto a car in that spot. He said "nope' . Another biker came and parked . I asked him as well. . He chucked and said "it looks ok" .

As I walked away I started thinking about my car . Finally I reached a decision --I was going to go back and move my car out of the number 1 parking space and find another.

So I go back --it's all still ok. The security guard and i had a laugh but he understood why i had doubts.

So .. do you park next to a bike which is leaning in the wind ?

I won't . This was the closest I ever came because my car was actually parked for a good 10 minutes .

 

I try not to be too **** about where I park, but also try to use common sense. So if I had seen bikes parked in a way they looked unstable, I likely would have found another space too. My biggest worry is being next to cars that don't look well cared for, and especially if they have big doors. Of course, they usually show up at the empty space next to you after you parked, and then park 12 inches from your car. I hate it when that happens, and feeling that tension as you return to your car and inspect the side of it for any new dimples.

 

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Nope! sure wouldnt. last time I parked a 911 next to something/someone was two 911's ago and i dont plan doing that again anytime soon. Came back to a big ***** in my door.....spewing! Silly me thought I was safe parking next to a brand new Benz....NOT! Now I will only ever entertain having something parked either in front or behind me, that is so long as it doesnt have a tow bar or is an SUV etc. Its all too risky for me now. I now take one of my other cars if i plan going anywhere where i know the parking will be dodgy .

 

A motorcycle is not going to fall over from the wind unless its a hurricane/tornado. The only time you should worry is if it's leaning close to your car and it's parked on asphalt when it's really, really hot out - the weight of the bike can push the stand down into soft asphalt enough so that it might tip over. Usually bikers are smart enough to put a crushed pop (soda) can under the kickstand when parking on super hot asphalt to distribute the weight better.

 

Very true topspd. Only weak link tho is if some **** sees an opportunity to spoil your day by giving that bike a wee nudge on the walk past. So to quote a line out of dirty harry "you feelin lucky"?.... me....hmm so long as its far enough away from the car if it does take a tumble then no worries .

 

I have seen a motorcycle that had a cover on it pulled over by the wind. The cover acted like a sail and caught a good gust of wind. Fortunately it didn't hit anything or result in any severe damage to the motorcycle.

Most cruisers (HD, Victory, Yamaha, etc) use a side stand and lean enough when parked to withstand a good gust of wind without falling over. Bikes that use a center stand (most sport bikes) and are parked upright have a greater chance of being blown over. Those I'd watch out for.

 

In my 30+ years of motorcycle ownership, I have never seen or heard of a bike being blown off its centerstand. Most owners don't use them because it tends to be more difficult to push the bike off the center stand than the kick/side stand. It's really all about the surface (angle/composition) of where the motocycle is parked.

 

Bikes have no doors - if I have to park next to something, seems like "no doors" is a leg up.

 

Ditto. I've never seen a bike blown over in any normal weather. And they don't have doors so there is that safety as well. But there is the risk that some thoughtless biker or passenger will use your car as a 'staging area', placing their helmet/gloves/whatever on the roof of your car as they don their gear in preparation for a ride. As an ex-rider I can state from experience that it is very tempting. I HAVE seen this done and for this reason I would not park next to one.
I can't remember the last time I parked my Porsche in a parking garage - for risk of dings, dents and the far less likely risk of motorcycle issues. However given the choice, I'd surely park next to motorcycles before I park next to any car.

 

I wouldn't and I NEVER park next to a handicapped spot either. No offense to the handicapped.

 

Was it a motorcycle or a moped? Most 600cc sportbikes are 400+lbs wet with litre bikes heavier, and cruisers even heavier. Virtually all sport bikes do NOT have centre stands, and any that do, also have a side stand. Think about side stands, the 2 wheels and side stand form a tripod, a very stable shape, with low centre of gravity. Many people will pull the balance of a sportbike's weight onto it's side stand and rotate the bike 180 degrees when moving a bike around - the side stand can withstand a lot of force.

The proper way to 'park' a bike is to put down the side stand (on the left), pull the left bar/push the right so that the front wheel turns to the left, then pull back on left bar when getting off to ensure that the side stand is fully extended. If you see a bike on a side stand with the wheel straight or to the right, then avoid parking next to it.

I'm paranoid about parking next to minivans because of careless kids/moms or opposite any kind of SUV/Pickup/Van who are lucky if they can see any cars at all when they backup.

 

I was pulling into a space next to a 2009-10 Jaguar XJ just as the driver's side passenger door literally flung open. A 4 or 5 yr old (who was too small for me to see sitting in the backseat) used her feet to kick it wide open as she was getting out -- the door swung merely inches ahead of my front bumper when she did!! Her parents had already gotten out of the car and were standing on the sidewalk in front of it when it happened. My first thought was of course for the safety of the child...a close second was the dent she'd have put in my car had I pulled up a half-second sooner...a very distant third was the damage I'd have done to the Jag's door if I had continued to pull forward. I sat there behind the wheel just staring at the parents as the father's jaw dropped (as if to say "oh 'crap'!!!") -- the mother remained suprisingly calm and simply said, "Be careful honey." We were all very lucky.

 

There you go thats my man. For a minute while I was reading your opening lines, I was like....is that yrralis1 doing that...I can't believe it.

 

Many are correct that it might not have fallen . I also agree that a car door can fling open too . So why was I so hesitant ? I think the factors and conditions just weren't favorable enough to risk the park.

1) It was windy .
2) Bike was leaning towards the parking space where my car was .
3) licence tag stated "under 21" on the bike. Usually young adults are even more careful --but if you neve know ..if his day plus the wind . plus the lean woild have not ended up as a Turbo painted panel event.

Either way --I wasn't enjoying myself thinking about it .. so i went back .
A day later, no dings,. the bike didn't ding the car that parked when I gave up the spot -- it all worked out .

 

on the contrary ...rarely used, and, around here at least, these spots are larger, and sometimes have large buffer zones on either side - a win win?

..that said, they are always up front, I usually just don't bother going that far - park out back and walk