exactly. At the time, motorcycles had center stands that required lifting the rear of the motorcycle to deploy it. Some were mounted to the frame, some mounted to rear fender. The side stand was advertised as being able to deploy it "in a jiffy" and the name stuck.

 

after riding a honda 1300 vtx with a HUGE stand that was hard to find.... I agree with the short, are you sure it's down "iffy" stand on my rk. Often leave my foot on it as it goes over 'cause of that little roll

 

I think the jiffy stand is some kind of cruel hazing ritual Harley came up with. When I rode my brand new 2014 Ultra Limited home and parked in the driveway, I almost peed myself as I was getting off and the thing started rolling forward. I was sure I was about to watch helplessly as my $25K pride and joy toppled onto the concrete.

 

Have someone hold your bike upright (or put it in a wheel chock).
Then get down and take a good look at that jiffy stand, and how it operates.

You'll see how it is spring loaded and locks into place with the weight of the bike on it, making it virtually impossible for it to collapse while there is any weight on it.

 

I now know how it works, and is quite the clever devise. Just different from my prior rides. If my VTX had started rolling forward, it would have collapsed the kickstand and gone over.

 

Don't stick your "jiffy stand in your mailbox"

 

I agree with the Op.
It hasn't been too many years ago when I started to hear the word "Jiffy stand" often.

Back in the day it was a kick stand and still is to me. If they came with a center stand I could understand. It doesn't.

 

Call it what you want Jiffy, Iffy, kickstand I call it a lot of names when the bike creeps and I just about **** my self, Ought to call it the pacemaker the way my heart skips a beat !

 

Harley jiffy design is great. I know of more than one Victory owner that's had his ride roll forward and go BOOM ! It took me a few weeks of HD ownership before I would park my bike without making sure I had it in gear.

 

Was this before or after the bike belched its coolant onto your driveway??