center stand...trick to get it up on it...

[Guest]

Have an 850GL. Granted, I'm not a large guy ....5'7" about 160 lbs. But I really struggle to get it up on the center stand. Forget it in running shoes...have to put on my riding boots, and typically use a rocking motion, and pull up heavily under the rear fender. Sometimes I need help from another individual. What's the trick? I can't believe they'd design a feature that can't be utilized by an average guy, let alone an average gal....

[Cipher]

trick for me is firm constant pressure on the foot thingy. you are more pushing that into the ground while pulling the bike reaerward than doing any lifting at all.

[gsrick]

trick for me is firm constant pressure on the foot thingy. you are more pushing that into the ground while pulling the bike reaerward than doing any lifting at all.

+1

You have one of the hardest of the GS models to get up on the stand. There should be a chrome handle for you to grab hold of. If it's not there someone removed it.

[RichDesmond]

A short piece of 1x4 is a life saver. Just roll the rear wheel up on it, things will be much easier.
I had a Kawasaki Concours that was a real bear to get up on the centerstand, carried the piece of wood in a saddlebag so I always had it with me, made a world of difference.

[Steve]

Technique is most critical. Start with the bike on the side stand, of course. Place your right foot on the centerstand pedal, push it down to the ground while you lift the bike off the side stand. You will be able to feel when the right-side pad of the centerstand touches the ground when you get the bike vertical. At that point, lean over the bike, put ALL of your weight on your right foot. Pull up with your right hand on the chrome lift bar and pull back with your left hand on the handlebar.

Yes, it's the hardest GS to get on the centerstand, but Rich's suggestion of a board under the rear tire works quite well. I go one better and use a 2x4, rather than a 1x4, but my 850 is a bit heavier than average, with the saddlebags, trunk and fairing. A check of my signature picture will explain that quickly.

A couple other things to check that will make a BIG difference:
- make sure your tires are the proper sizes. If you have 80-series tires instead of the normal 90-series, the bike will sit lower, making it harder to get on the centerstand
- make sure your shocks are the correct length of 330mm (13")
- make sure your forks are not slid up in the triples

.

[sharpy]

Like been said. You press down with your foot more than lift. Not hard at all. Is any thing is bent or you have low profile tyres on? 130/90 x17 and 100/90x19 are the sizes you require. If theres a 120/80 x 17 on rear that be half your battle.

[bwringer]

Yep, make sure the bike hasn't been lowered. Shocks at full extension should be right about 13" center to center, and the fork tubes should be even with the tops of the triples.

[eddypeck]

Not sure about it being the hardest, my GS1000G is a bit of a tank, and the hardest bike I've had to date. But maybe the center of gravity changes things for the GL, in which case I feel you pain.

It's hard to explain, but once you get the knack you'll know. The mistake I used to make was not allowing the bike to settle on both feet of the center stand before lifting. Rest you foot on the stand, right the bike and allow it to settle, then as said above it's as much about pushing down with you foot as it is lifting up and back from the handrail under the seat. I'm not much taller than you and weigh slightly less. I can do it in soft shoes.

I used to watch the guys in the bike shops rolling the bikes around as if they were pedal cycles, but now I can pretty much do the same regardless of the weight of the bike. You just need to find the balance, and work with the weight of the bike not against it. ... if that makes any sense.

[GSXR7ED]

I've tried using 2X4 on the front and back of the bike. It seems to work better for me putting the 2X4 on the front tire.

My "T" weighs about 500 lbs.


Ed

[mhobryan]

Thanks for all the suggestion folks, my handle is missing...however, will try the 2x4 trick.

[RichDesmond]

I've tried using 2X4 on the front and back of the bike. It seems to work better for me putting the 2X4 on the front tire.

My "T" weighs about 500 lbs.


Ed

The center stand pivot is closer to the rear of the bike, so putting the board under the front doesn't do a whole lot. Putting it under the rear is a lot more effective.
For me at least, the 1x4 under just the rear wheel worked wonders. I'm certainly no Hulk, 5'11", 165lbs with a bad back, and it made getting the Concours up on the stand much easier.

[Burque73]

There's no way I can get my 850 on the center stand without the 2x block. Original rear shocks are due to be replaced though. Maybe front springs too, but in the mean time here's the board I use. It was a 2x8 but it split. I ran it through the table saw for a bit of a slope.

[GSXR7ED]

The center stand pivot is closer to the rear of the bike, so putting the board under the front doesn't do a whole lot. Putting it under the rear is a lot more effective.
For me at least, the 1x4 under just the rear wheel worked wonders. I'm certainly no Hulk, 5'11", 165lbs with a bad back, and it made getting the Concours up on the stand much easier.

I replaced my old rear shocks (well, MrBill did it while I was looking for oil filter spring) and maybe that has something to do with it. Or maybe my front forks a slightly higher...I don't know...I'm guessing.

But I did try them both and found it easier when the front tire was two inches higher. I lifted and parked the bike before my knee surgeries in Mar/Apr 2018. I have not moved it since.


Ed

[Brendan W]

Strong boots. It's about being able to get weight onto the stand.

[mhobryan]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. As someone mentioned, focusing efforts on backwards motion vs. lifting up did the trick...even did it my running shoes.