Abstract: A center parking stand for a motorcycle which balances the motorcycle without substantially bearing the weight of the motorcycle. The stand includes a mounting portion which mounts the stand to the motorcycle and allows the stand to rotate between stowed and use positions. A pair of support legs extend away from the mounting portion and terminate in support surfaces adapted to engage a parking surface. The legs have a length which enables the stand to be moved from its stowed position to its use position such that the rear wheel of the motorcycle remains engaged with the parking surface during the entire parking procedure and while the motorcycle is parked. The legs cooperate with one another and take over, from the rider, the function of balancing the motorcycle in its substantially vertical, non-leaning, position while the wheels of the motorcycle remain responsible for carrying the weight of the motorcycle.