What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?

Oh, and I have a question for you guys. Do you know if there's some sort of "docking station" type apparatus that uses the front or rear tire to hold the bike upright without using the kick stand or centre stand? I'd like to find something like this for parking the bike in the garage and for also kick starting the bike in the dock. Right now I haven't gotten to kicking it free of any stand and kick it either on the centre or the kick stand. I know, that over time I will ruin the kick stand doing it this way so I'm watching that. Any ideas guys? I'm a little guy and can't kick it over without the use of a stand of some sort holding the bike. I know it's my technique and will eventually need to learn proper technique from someone but hoping this dock will help.
 
Starvingphotog said:
Do you know if there's some sort of "docking station" type apparatus that uses the front or rear tire to hold the bike upright without using the kick stand or centre stand
Click to expand...

= Wheel chock.
There are various types.
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Interesting Les. Thanks for taking a photo so quickly of your bike to give me an idea. Ok, my USA brothers and sisters, any idea where I can get something similar to this here in Michigan? I wonder how secure it would be for kicking the bike over.
 
Starvingphotog said:
I found this on Amazon.com

Extreme Max 5001.5010 Standard Motorcycle Wheel Chock - Black​

Amazon product ASIN B00GRRFLOKView attachment 85149
It looks like it will do the job for me. I can probably use it as it is, or I can bolt it to a 4x8 wood panel to give it some more rigidity.
Click to expand...
I also have one similar and found it tends to slide backwards as the wheel is pushed against it so probably will need to be bolted down.
 
Yeah that sounds about right Les. Thanks for that insight. I will likely bolt it to a plywood sheet, or bolt a couple hockey pucks to the bottom to give it some grip on the concrete in my garage.

By the way, hockey pucks are really useful for jacking and such because it protects the surfaces from the jack and also adds some grip to things.
 
HouTexNorton said:
Baxley Sport Chock--free standing and very secure. I think that's one in the picture above.
Click to expand...

It is similar to the one in my picture but that's two bolt-together sections (now discontinued).
www.ghostbikes.com

Black Pro Range Heavy Duty Wheel Chock (B5076)

Exclusive to GhostBikes.com is the Black? Pro Range. Designed and developed by the award winning company, the Pro Range is packed with top quality, premium products at affordable prices. Get yours from GhostBikes.com today!
www.ghostbikes.com www.ghostbikes.com
 
L.A.B. said:
It is similar to the one in my picture but that's two bolt-together sections (now discontinued).
www.ghostbikes.com

Black Pro Range Heavy Duty Wheel Chock (B5076)

Exclusive to GhostBikes.com is the Black? Pro Range. Designed and developed by the award winning company, the Pro Range is packed with top quality, premium products at affordable prices. Get yours from GhostBikes.com today!
www.ghostbikes.com www.ghostbikes.com
Click to expand...
Now that I look at yours more closely, I can see the differences--the Baxley is one piece, but same basic design. Very heavy duty and well made--currently available, although a little pricey. I've had mine for many years.
 
Yikes! Yeah, that is a robust looking chock. Expensive for sure, but maybe I should bite the bullet and get the best since I may chock the rear wheel and kick the bike off of it.
 
Ok. Done! I've got a pretty red one coming sometime in March! Can't wait. I think it will be quite useful even when servicing the bike, in addition to kicking it to start and parking it in the garage.

Thanks for the help and insights on this fellas!
 
One other thing I was thinking about and didn't mention is that sort of manual jack that I see guys use on their bikes to lift the rear. It's kind of a dolly and attaches to the axel and they just push down and the bike lifts and rests on the jack and is stable. I think it's mainly used in racing, but not sure. Do you guys know what those things are called and if they would work with our Nortons? I might want to get me one of those as well, if I can.
 
Starvingphotog said:
It's kind of a dolly and attaches to the axel and they just push down and the bike lifts and rests on the jack and is stable. I think it's mainly used in racing, but not sure. Do you guys know what those things are called and if they would work with our Nortons?
Click to expand...

Paddock stands. Once again there are various types but I can't recommend any particular one that fits a Commando (as I've never used one).
What Did You Do With Your Commando Today?
 
Starvingphotog said:
Right now I haven't gotten to kicking it free of any stand and kick it either on the centre or the kick stand. I know, that over time I will ruin the kick stand doing it this way so I'm watching that.
Click to expand...

Just use the centre stand and not worry about internet myths.
Check the pivot bolts are tight now and again, maybe add some grease the same.

A chock is of little use unless you are going to take it with you every ride and just as silly in the garage when the bike has two perfectly good stands.
Spend the money saved on fuel and refine your kick method to be as efficient as possible.
 
Time Warp, good call. Thing is I'm so daft I can't even get my bike on the centre stand myself. I usually need someone else to help me. Also, at this point, I'm just going out for a ride for a few hours and back. I don't really stop anywhere, yet, so the engine is constantly running while I'm out. I agree with you, I do have to work on kicking it properly without stand use. Maybe this year I will get the balance right and not dump my bike on the ground trying to kick it started.
 
Starvingphotog said:
Time Warp, good call. Thing is I'm so daft I can't even get my bike on the centre stand myself. I usually need someone else to help me. Also, at this point, I'm just going out for a ride for a few hours and back. I don't really stop anywhere, yet, so the engine is constantly running while I'm out. I agree with you, I do have to work on kicking it properly without stand use. Maybe this year I will get the balance right and not dump my bike on the ground trying to kick it started.
Click to expand...

Try turning the handle bars to the left. (Taking for granted the rear shock absorbers are around 330 mm centres/centers and not shorter)
 
I'll give that a go TW. I did put shorter shocks on there, because I'm a wee guy, 11.9" Emgos. One inch shorter than stock. Will this affect my kicking efficiency?
 
Time Warp said:
Just use the centre stand and not worry about internet myths.
Check the pivot bolts are tight now and again, maybe add some grease the same.

A chock is of little use unless you are going to take it with you every ride and just as silly in the garage when the bike has two perfectly good stands.
Spend the money saved on fuel and refine your kick method to be as efficient as possible.
Click to expand...
I find a chock useful for working on the bike in a vertical position when you want it stabilized better than on the center stand.
 
I'm thinking the same thing there Texas. Especially when I need to do some stripping down of stuff on the bike. Oil changes and such.
 

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