Parking at a Store!

[tricker]

i guess i've been lucky? I never use a puck or anything.. but i generally use the center stand

[B-Rex]

Originally Posted by MikeHump

I have a question regarding this. Does it depend on the area, or will ALL asphalt do this?

I bought my bike in the winter time, so I haven't experienced heat yet. It usually gets to about 110-115 degrees in the summer here (I'm not sure if I'll even be riding on these kinds of days, but just in case...) so I'm not sure if I should carry around a puck when it starts to get hot. My bike is pretty light, but 400 pounds still seems like it would be enough to cause the side stand to sink into the asphalt.

Also, is a puck generic thing that can be bought anywhere, or is it a special item that can only be purchased at a bike shop or similar store?

First question regarding types of asphalt:

To some extent it depends on the substrate that the asphalt is sitting on. Also depends on whether or not the "asphalt" is more of coating than structural support. Hard to know the answer to this unless you saw them build the lot.

In Florida, whenever I parked on asphalt I assumed a worst-case scenario. That is that the asphalt is structural (nothing under it but dirt or sand). In that case, intense sun, even if it's not overly hot, can liquify the suface and cause your side-stand to sink into it. Even if your bike doesn't fall over from it, it's hard to get the stand back up and it's a mess. This is compounded by the fact that many side-stands are black and also get hot in the sun. A quick rule of thumb is that if the asphalt has any of the following characteristics, use a puck:

1) It's sticky when you walk on it
2) There are puddles or shiny areas and it hasn't rained recently.
3) Dark "unweathered" asphalt is visible because car tire traffic has pulled off the top layer of asphalt or fresh tire tracks are visible.
4) You are going to be parked on asphalt for more than a few minutes when it's hot and/or lots of sunshine.

Regarding pucks, some bike shops and many mailorder places (see back of magazine or Google) carry them. However, paying $10 or $15 for a plastic puck is not necessary. Don't use a hockey puck as they are too thick and will unbalance your bike.

For me the ideal "el cheapo" puck was a steel circle (like the steel knockouts from certain electrical boxes/construction sites/machine shops that they throw away) 3"-4" in diameter, worked great. I used to carry it in a "freezer" baggy and keep it under my seat. Also, you can use certain hard plastics or synthetic rubber (as long as it can handle the weight, isn't too thick and doesn't get soft in the sun). I also know of a fellow who used wood/fiberboard ones and would just throw them away when they got nasty.

And, there is usually a beer can lying around in most parking lots. It's not very tidy, but it will work if u flatten it right.

Hope this helps.

B-Rex

[geoffsimpson]

You could just saw a puck in half as well, we've done that in the past.

[MikeHump]

Awesome, thanks! I can probably find a nice little metal circle lying around my work somewhere. I highly doubt I'll be riding on those 115 degree days, but you never know.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

That kind of heat yes use a kickstand plate. Im using 1/8 inch steel plate about the size of a 3x3 post-it-note. Make your own mine was left over scrap laying around our store room.

Last bike I used a scrap of wood with a groove in the middle.

This bike is lighter and the stand pad is larger so I think I'll just take the lid off of a large jar of something......maybe even a plastic lid.

And, yes, the problem applies to ALL asphalt but it is worse if the asphalt is NEW and the temp is HIGH.

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by MikeHump

Awesome, thanks! I can probably find a nice little metal circle lying around my work somewhere. I highly doubt I'll be riding on those 115 degree days, but you never know.

Just carry a six pack of beer with you and every time you park, sink a cool one, crush the can and use it to put your kickstand on.


** The views stated in this post are not consistent with the views of motorcycle-journal.com.

[Brad_M50]

Originally Posted by B-Rex

2) Many stores use large round, concrete bases for their lightpoles and some signs. Finding where these make a barrier/triangle is a nice place to scoot your bike into since a car can't really park there anyway, you don't tend to tick people off. Plus it makes it difficult for the blind lady to run over your machine.
B-Rex

I avoid these areas with the bike or car for the same reason you avoid wires. Birds hang out on light poles too.

If you go to enough of the bigger bike night places, you could find a free kick stand plate from a vendor. Mine is a honda plate for my suzuki.
Is that like blasfamy?

[tricker]

Originally Posted by Brad_M50

If you go to enough of the bigger bike night places, you could find a free kick stand plate from a vendor. Mine is a honda plate for my suzuki.
Is that like blasfamy?

its like the advice that my friend's dad gave him... there are three types of beer... 1. cold beer 2. warm beer and 3. free beer....

tis be free... i'll count it

[Uncle B]

I use a stainless steel orifice plate out of a two inch meter it is 4.5-5" diameter with a handle on it.

[SNAFU]

I've seen motorcycles and scooters parked in front of bicycle racks at a downtown Mall. Property management don't seem to mind.

[themeatmanlandry]

I usually don't park in a regular space, as I'm afraid that some pelicanhead will either clip it on the way out, or hit it altogether not paying attention as they pull into the spot.

I try to park out in the open where I can be seen (for theft- and idiot-prevention purposes), but not near the door (where kids might think it's okay ot touch it).

[CaptCrashIdaho]

Originally Posted by MikeHump

I have a question regarding this. Does it depend on the area, or will ALL asphalt do this?

Also, is a puck generic thing that can be bought anywhere, or is it a special item that can only be purchased at a bike shop or similar store?

Junction box cover from Home Depot. Fits under the seat. Costs about a buck.

[Apertureguy]

I park in a designated parking spot...but do try to keep the bike visible.

In the pocket of my leather jacket I keep a miniature plastic Frisbe which I picked up in a 3-pack at the local Dollar Store.

Works great to keep the bike up in dirt, grass or soft asphalt...and is easy to carry & replace if I forget to pick it up.

[B-Rex]

Brad_M50: "I avoid these areas with the bike or car for the same reason you avoid wires. Birds hang out on light poles too."


That's true...which poses the question of why my bike got bird-dumped on waaaay more under wires than it did under lightpoles. So, being the scientist that I am, I pulled up the "Journal of Avian Crapology". Here are my initial findings:

On lightpoles that have rounded light shrouds, bird have to stand near the vertex (peak...or top) of the shroud. Hence when they poop, it just hits the shroud. However, on wires, their butts hang off into space so that when they unload, it falls straight down.

Now tell me that science ain't wonderful!

B-Rex

[geoffsimpson]

There's a book on that?! I got to get myself back to the li-bary

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by CaptCrashIdaho

Junction box cover from Home Depot. Fits under the seat. Costs about a buck.

Hey, that's 2-for-2 today. You're on a roll.
(Can I have some of whatever it is you're smokin' ?)

[CaptCrashIdaho]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

Hey, that's 2-for-2 today. You're on a roll.
(Can I have some of whatever it is you're smokin' ?)

Actually, rode for 85 miles today...cleared my brain...

[gto230621]

I usually go for a regular space, but those stripped spaces at the end of the isle are good.........

That's "Parking Contrary To Pavement Markings", a tolerated violation in most places around here....unless you get some whacko self-appointed policeman who takes a key to your tank....Which is another reason I don't argue with people in parking lots....if they want the space I was waiting for, they can have it. People who fight over spaces in parking lots often come out of the store to find flat tires....

[omegajim]

corner spot at the end of the aisle, only way to go.

This serves 2 very important purposes.

1) instead of occupyng half a car space and aggravating other cagers, I am using a smaller than car space
2) it's all parking lot, if I don't park on the triangle, it's unused wasted space.

and on a more selfish note, I get very handy parking.

[busa-boy33]

The huge yellow striped areas in the front near the handicap areas is where I park the bike.

As Clint stated, making sure they don't get in the way of the handicapped trying to get in and out.
I have noticed that almost all the bikes park here but here are some other good reasons to park here.

Your in a good visible place where your bike can be seen. So the chances of someone coming up and stealing, keying, or bothering your bike is a little bit less then if you parked way out in the middle of nowhere.

Plus, from what I've heard from friends working in Wal-Mart like places is that most of the camera's work up front more so then the ones further back in the parking lot.

I have always parked in these places and I have never been ticketed or harassed by "the man "


Just use common sense and discretion when finding a place to park..