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

[eddypeck]

I was watching my lad on the weekend, he's 17 and only has a little Yamaha 125 but I was impressed on how easy he was moving the bike around and putting it up on to the centre stand based on how he was a couple months back when he first got it. Granted it's a tiny bike that weighs nothing compared to our old tanks, but still it goes to show how it's just about getting the nack.

 

[jsandidge]

I do pretty much what Steve does.. One trick I use along with that is leaning a bit forward and bounce on the centerstand lever while holding the front brake. At the highest point I get to, I apply the front brake to keep it from rolling forward, as the front tire grips I rock back on the center stand. Usually takes me two bounces and I'm up. Took me a few times to perfect that move.

Are you sitting on the bike when you do that? The center stand foot lever is on the left, and the brake lever is on the right. I don't see how you do that.

 

[Cipher]

how the hell does holding the front brake help? Overcoming friction and skidding add to the mystique?

 

[jsandidge]

Yeah, I hit the brake just after coming off of the center stand to keep the bike from rolling forward. But getting on the stand? I don't get it.

 

[Redman]

Are you sitting on the bike when you do that? The center stand foot lever is on the left, and the brake lever is on the right. I don't see how you do that.

No! No! Not sitting on bike. Steve did say something about "lean over bike", but no, not sitting on bike. Stand next to bike. Steve does it facing the bike (but he is a tall guy).
I suggest facing forward, but I am concerned about keeping back straight-vertical.

And nothing to do with either brake.

.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Here's a pretty good video of the technique. Not a GS but it is a vintage Japanese 4 cylinder similar enough to what most of us have.

 

[jsandidge]

One trick I use along with that is leaning a bit forward and bounce on the centerstand lever while holding the front brake. At the highest point I get to, I apply the front brake to keep it from rolling forward, as the front tire grips I rock back on the center stand.

My comment about the brake is referring to this quote. I do it exactly like the guy in the video. Pretty easy even in tennis shoes.

 

[Cipher]

the guy in the vid is doing it wrong

 

[Wingsconsin]

Following the video --
Not a bad show of technique --
But FOR ME -- I use my LEFT FOOT not the right ..
And then as you PUSH DOWN (stand on the center stand lever) Pull Up and BACK with your right hand (shoulder)
The idea is to create distance between your LEFT FOOT and your RIGHT HAND (which is on the seat grab rail)
A simple shoulder shrug will take the bike up - By using the left foot - you get a lot of YOUR WEIGHT behind the pivot point.
Once my bike is back together -- I will video me doing it with the saddlebags ON - it is a bit more difficult but I can still do it.

 

[Redman]

Minor point, but I make it a habit to retract the sidestand before using the center stand, for two reasons;
1) so the side stand not hit your leg when bike goes back, (guess how/why I say that)
2) its not down when take bike off the centerstand and then take off. (guess how/why I say that)

 

[GSXR7ED]

I agree with you Redman, I tuck the side stand before putting the bike on centerstand.


Ed

 

[Burque73]

Minor point, but I make it a habit to retract the sidestand before using the center stand, for two reasons;
1) so the side stand not hit your leg when bike goes back, (guess how/why I say that)
2) its not down when take bike off the centerstand and then take off. (guess how/why I say that)

Great point. Took a few bumps to get that habit but it's almost involuntary now.

 

[Redman]

Another point that has been mentioned, but I want to elaborate upon:
Before trying lift the bike, make sure that both feet of the centerstand are on the pavement. Can do this easy stepping some on the tang (the lever thing), can easy feel one side touch down, then rock the bike from side to side then can easy feel the other side touchdown ... then just a little more pressure on the tang and that alone will pretty much hold the bike from falling over. That is when can take the right hand off the bars and grab the grab bar by back of seat, and you turn to face forward....

And, another point:
I can argue the point of wither to be facing the bike , or to be facing forward ... but I don't want to argue with the esteemed members here, either variation will work, the main point is that lift the bike by pushing down on the tang, using its leverage, and lifting on the rear of the bike. But I will just state: I have made it a habit to face forward, so I can keep my back straight, have knee bent, and lift with my leg by straightening my leg, not by flexing my back, .... but maybe that is because I have been corrupted by too many industrial safety seminars over the years.

 

[Cipher]

I cannot fathom why you people do it wrong.
Its a simple hard push with the foot of your choice and a pull backwards on the bike.

There is no lifting needed the bike is carried up by its own mass and momentum.

 

[Redman]

With my first bike (a 400), I was doing the pull-back method. And even then, only when really needed to be on the centerstand.
THen I got a 650G and with the extra weight it was more difficult.
Then I started watching around how others did and found some magazine articles (um... 1980s you understand).
Oh, man, with the step down & lift rear up, it flew up so fast, would slam and skid backwards on the centerstand, so learned to ease it up.
Then got 850G then got 1100G, still have to let off and not lift so much after it gets going, so it doesn't slam up so hard. And I do that fairly regularly.

I am not going to say one way is "Wrong", but I don't think I am strong enough to pull-jerk enought to produce enough up-back force-momentum to add to what my weight on the tang plus its mechanical advantage leverage all adds up to for what total force-momentum is required for my 1100GK. Maybe if I was stronger.

 

[Cipher]

With my first bike (a 400), I was doing the pull-back method. And even then, only when really needed to be on the centerstand.
THen I got a 650G and with the extra weight it was more difficult.
Then I started watching around how others did and found some magazine articles (um... 1980s you understand).
Oh, man, with the step down & lift rear up, it flew up so fast, would slam and skid backwards on the centerstand, so learned to ease it up.
Then got 850G then got 1100G, still have to let off and not lift so much after it gets going, so it doesn't slam up so hard. And I do that fairly regularly.

I am not going to say one way is "Wrong", but I don't think I am strong enough to pull-jerk enought to produce enough up-back force-momentum to add to what my weight on the tang plus its mechanical advantage leverage all adds up to for what total force-momentum is required for my 1100GK. Maybe if I was stronger.

Yes one imagines that differing statures arm lengths inseam foot size even the mass of the operator would impact technique. I guess if its gets up with breaking the bike or injuring the operator than any technique is valid.

 

[GSXR7ED]

I'm enjoying the different inputs on how to do this task. All good info but everyone does things differently. As long as the basic set up is followed (having the center stand equally balanced) then the method used to put the bike UP is done safely without injuring yourself.


Ed

 

[Guest]

I know the OP is all set now, but for posterity... For me, it was all about gaining confidence that my body weight pushing down on the center stand provided enough force to keep the bike upright. The foot peg on the center stand is a lever, which multiplies the force of your own body to push the bike up on to the stand. The more weight you push down with, the more the bike "wants" to lift up, not topple over. And I've done it in thin boat shoes... but boots are a lot more comfortable

 

[Guest]

I have about a 3 to 5 degree decline outside of my garage. It's pretty easy, in my case. The scary thing is that once on the stand, the bike will skid back about 3 inches.