Side stands support the motorcycle when it is parked.  If a motorcycle operator were to ride away without retracting the side stand, it could contact the ground, upset the motorcycle, and possibly result in a crash.  For this reason, many modern motorcycles come equipped with an ignition cut-out that prevents the motorcycle from being ridden while the side stand is down.  For additional fast facts, contact Curt M. Beloy, PE, Collision Reconstruction / Motorcycle Safety Expert, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it