Trick to get Bike on Center Stand

[gggGary]

On the KZ1300 at least the stand had to be tall so that the rear wheel could drop far enough to slide the axle out under the exhaust pipes. That may be a common reason for "too tall" hard to use center stands.

 

[979roadrunner]

I'm 5ft 7, 140 lbs soaking wet and have found the easiest way is to push the the front tire a few inches up one of my car ramps, push down the center stand with my right foot and pull straight back on the handle bars. Pops right up. Then slowly pull the ramp forward so the tire spins with it and remove the ramp. This method works great when you need to remove the back tire. Have a short piece of 2x6 or 8 near the stand, push the bike up the ramp high enough so you bring the stand down on the wood and pull the bars back. The extra 2 inches you gain in the rear after you remove the ramp really makes it alot easier for the rear tire to clear the fender when removed. You may want to block in front of the front tire to make sure it doesnt roll forward and come off the stand. I've used this method on alot of bikes including my 1200 venture.

Used this technique last night successfully, but without the ramp. (of course, I'm six feet, 250) Normal technique didn't work because the PO took the grab rail (and apparently lifting rail) off the bike.
Idiot.

 

[Colin Green]

I can pop my 1100G up on it's centre stand without needing a grab rail at the rear. Just a gentle pull back of the bar as I get all of my 285lbs on the foot on the center stand. They did a pretty good job of getting the angle of the foot lever right for maximum leverage on the stand.

 

[gs road racer]

It's all a matter of leverage they make that foot piece for a reason push down with all your weight on it a little pull on the grab rail left hand on the bars away you go seen 100lb woman put one up...if you try and lift it you'll hurt yourself....an additional thought someone posted about using a ramp it might help with a small slope so a little movement back down the slope as the centerstand is pushed down it's easier then it sounds.....

 

[DMorris]

I have had as many as five GSs at one time, all with centerstands. Each one was different in how much was required to get the bike up. That is with exactly the same person (me) using the exact same technique each time. My heaviest bike, the GK, is probably the easiest. One of my 850s was almost impossible (but not the other two).

Line up a half dozen bikes. Give me a tape measure and somebody to hold the bike vertical while I measure. I will tell you which bikes will be the easiest and which the most difficult to get on the centerstand regardless of who is doing the hoisting.

Compare the distance from the centerstand pivot to the ground to the length of the centerstand. If you want to make the lift easier either increase the distance from the centerstand pivot to the ground (very easy to do) or decrease the length of the centerstand (very hard to do).

Anyone who thinks that it is all in knowing how is mistaken. Only some of it is in knowing how. The basic physics has to be within tolerance.

I just took the Holeshot lowering links out of the wife's 600 Bandit and reinstalled them to lift the rear end about an inch. It makes all the difference in the world as to how the bike goes on the centerstand. once lowered, it was a hard lift that was simply impossible for the wife (one of the reasons to find her a different bike). At 6'5" and 300#, I don't usually have to think twice about putting a bike on the centerstand but that Bandit, when lowered, is a lift-on and not a rock-on to its stand.

Did someone really say that they can get their bike on the centerstand while sitting on it?
I'd like to see that...

 

[Buddy]

I could put my BMW on the center stand while sitting on it and holding both hands over my head.

Buddy

 

[ddaniels]

I just took the Holeshot lowering links out of the wife's 600 Bandit and reinstalled them to lift the rear end about an inch. It makes all the difference in the world as to how the bike goes on the centerstand. once lowered, it was a hard lift that was simply impossible for the wife (one of the reasons to find her a different bike). At 6'5" and 300#, I don't usually have to think twice about putting a bike on the centerstand but that Bandit, when lowered, is a lift-on and not a rock-on to its stand.

Did someone really say that they can get their bike on the centerstand while sitting on it?
I'd like to see that...

I used to do it on my first two GS's by sitting on it, until I got smart and learned the correct way. Yeah, it was nearly impossible, but I could do it.

 

[tkent02]

I could put my BMW on the center stand while sitting on it and holding both hands over my head.

Buddy

BMWs are really easy, it's got curved feet so the bike just rolls back onto the stand, gradually getting higher until it's up.
Really easy even when it's fully loaded for the road, like everything else on that bike.
It's also under the bikes balance point so if you put the back tire on the ground it stays that way.
Or the front tire.

 

[979roadrunner]

I can pop my 1100G up on it's centre stand without needing a grab rail at the rear. Just a gentle pull back of the bar as I get all of my 285lbs on the foot on the center stand. They did a pretty good job of getting the angle of the foot lever right for maximum leverage on the stand.

Istood directly on the centerstand pad all my weight on one foot and bounced. No joy. grabbed the bars and PULLED while standig on the pad and it barely went up.
My last bike was about 130 lbs lighter, but I could pop it onto the center satand one handed (and, of course, one footed) Been a while, though, might have the agle wrong (though I don't see how)
Maybe it's the curse of the L

 

[wacky941]

You've got to be kidding me, my 5'4" 115lb wife can put my 1100E on its center stand and it weighs what ~550lbs? Admittedly, I don't know if she could do it with the clubman bars that I have on it now, but with the stock bars and the superbike bars she could.
All you have to do is step on the arm of the center stand let it stabilize itself, put all your weight onto the center stand arm and gently lift the grip area with your right hand while at the same time stabilizing the handlebars with your left hand (bars stay centered), it's that easy.

 

[wacky941]

I just reread my last post and it sounds a little sarcastic, I really didn't mean it in a mean spirited way but actually meant it in a humorous way, sorry if it sounded bad to you,

Wacky

 

[ddaniels]

I just reread my last post and it sounds a little sarcastic, I really didn't mean it in a mean spirited way but actually meant it in a humorous way, sorry if it sounded bad to you,

Wacky

Your wife must have the touch then, because all my gs's have been difficult for me. And, I'm no slouch.

 

[OzJavelin]

I'm 65kg and only about 5'6" tall. Getting my '79 GS550 on the centrestand has always been a pain.
Getting my '82 GPz750 on the centrestand I have a new process which involves me standing at right-angles to the bike, LEFT foot on the centrestand and pulling it up with the strength in my legs and using my my right hand.
My '78 GS750 ... no way I can get it on the centrestand myself .. nothing I have tried will work

 

[wacky941]

Actually another thing that makes a big difference in being able to put the bike on the center stand is whether or not the rear shocks and front forks are original or in original dimensions. If you use slightly shorter shocks and/or lower the front then it changes the angle of the center stand striking the ground which in turn makes it harder to put it onto the center stand.
For example, my first 1100E, I removed the rear shocks and installed struts then lowered the front, this made it almost impossible even for me to put it on the center stand, I had to push down with all my weight and pull with all my mite and when I finally got it on the center stand I had to sit down and rest for awhile before I started tinkering.

This is also why some of the previous postings suggested using a 2x4 or something of that type to raise the back end of the bike to make it easier to lift.

 

[boingk]

Not a hassle for me at all with my 850. Stand down, press on the tab with my foot, lift upwards and rearwards from the frame member that descends from near the rear of the tank. Not 'easy' but definitely not like you guys are describing!

Remember, practice makes perfect ;D

- boingk

 

[979roadrunner]

I did say my technique might be off. I also said my 850 does NOT have the grab rail or 'lifting bar' as far as I can determine. Grabbing the frame member as was described might help (have to try that) but I definately have the size for the job. BTW, isn't an E model more of a sporting mount? that would mean a higher ride height than the wanabe Harley L model. That might be why. Or I could just not be catching the right angle.
And I am getting it stable. I'm out of practice, not a tyro.

 

[gssuzukixxx]

Spyderman showed me how to do it on my big lump of a GS850. It has to be over 600lbs. Good thing because I was wrenching my back every time I did it my old way.

Stand on left side of bike facing bike. Left hand on handlebar, right hand on lifting handle near back below seat. Right foot on centre stand foot thing. Put weight on centre stand and liftup handle. It is that easy.

Thanks Jon.:clap:

 

[979roadrunner]

No lifting handle extant on mine thanks to PO. It just ain't there.

 

[gorrbert]

2 Inch platform worked

2 Inch platform worked

I put three sheets of plywood (2 inches in all) together so the wheel goes up one plywood sheet at a time. After the rear wheel goes up all three sheets of plywood, the wheel is two inches high. It is then an easy gig to pull the bike backward and it just rocks onto the center stand. Also, once the bike is on the center stand I can remove the plywood platform and keep it inside so the weather doesn't degrade it. Hope this helps. Gord.

 

[1_v8_merc]

I use the bikes own weight and momentum to do it.

I just walk the bike up a few feet, grab the side/rear handlebar, then walk it backwards really fast, then quickly slam the center stand downwards with my right foot, causing the bike to obviously roll itself back on the stand.(i use my bodyweight and arms to pull the bike back too)

It's a little violent and sometimes scraps my crappy garage floor, but it works!