What is a Side Stand & Centre Stand?
The folding legs that hold the bike upright when parked, with a safety cutout to stop it being ridden away in gear.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
The side stand is a simple pivoting leg that props the bike at an angle when parked; many bikes also fit a centre stand that lifts the rear wheel clear of the ground for chain maintenance.
“The bike's kickstand, doing exactly the job you'd expect — with an added safety switch most riders never think about until it fails.”
How it works
A spring holds the stand either folded up against the frame or extended to support the bike's weight. Most modern bikes wire a side-stand switch into the ignition system, cutting the engine or preventing it pulling away in gear if the stand is still down.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Stand feeling loose or wobbly when extended
- ⚠Spring too weak to hold the stand retracted
- ⚠Bike cutting out unexpectedly, a stand switch fault
- ⚠Visible bending from being knocked or dropped on
£30–£150
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by bike, region, and parts brand.