Am I missing something?

[Opus]

I can't seem to get it up.

Sounds Typical for guys my age....

Actually, it's the '05 I need help with.

There isn't a decent grab-bar under the seat, nothing but mouldings, actually.

I find that I must grab the hand-hold behind the seat, and the amount of heave I can generate from there is sadly lacking.

I'm 5'9 inches and 125 lbs.

Is this a problem that can be addressed at the dealer, or the gym???

Do I need a full-time passenger to provide assistace? I would prefer one with the soft, pendulous sort of pecks often favoured for photos in bike mags. Recommendations/referrals gratefully accepted.

 

[Bearly Flying]

It's more technique than anything. Put all your weight on the arm of the kickstand as you guide and lift the bike. There is a hand hold just ahead of the side case. Just below the blue rear side cover

 

[Toecutter]

Yeah, it's more in the force downward with your foot and the grab bar just balances the bike as it goes up. I could almost put it up without the handhold if I could keep my balance and the bike wouldn't fall over.

Plenty of related info already discussed here, here, or here. Search (hint- "center") is your friend.

 

[Bounce]

and there's a lift area under the side molding under the passenger seat/in front of the leading edge of the tail rack. lift on it while pushing down hard on the center stand. the force is in the legs pushing downward. the bike will pop up so easily you'll have to be careful. the first time i did it i threw the bike back about a foot or more.

 

[Opus]

Yeah, it's more in the force downward with your foot and the grab bar just balances the bike as it goes up. I could almost put it up without the handhold if I could keep my balance and the bike wouldn't fall over.
Plenty of related info already discussed here, here, or here. Search (hint- "center") is your friend.

Thanks, I did the search thing initially but wrong terms.

My buddy's '06 has a grab-bar below the seat, that's why I asked.

I'll try reefin' it backwards instead of upwards, should positvely affect how it goes.

Had my Beemer fall over to the right while parking at a fuel stop, the pad wasn't level although it looked as though it should be. I actually eased it over to the right to let both feet of the centre stand touch, and it just kept going once it was right of centre. Couldn't stop it.

 

[SkooterG]

Opus - there is a handhold, and as been said above, it's all in the technique. Yes, you can do it fairly easily once you learn the technique.

 

[v65]

Opus, I have somewhat the opposite problem as you. I am 6'+, 250lbs, and spent my youth powerlifting. I also muscled the Feej onto the centerstand for a long time. After reading one of the posts linked to above I started making sure the bike was on both centerstand pads before lifting. Sure enough its a lot easier that way, and I look a lot more suave in the parking lot this way, what with no more red face and all. B)

 

[Ignacio]

Here's a pic of an '05 with a bit of plastic removed to show there is the handhold....and it's stout.

 

[Opus]

Here's a pic of an '05 with a bit of plastic removed to show there is the handhold....and it's stout.

Wonderful.

"A picture is worth a thousand dollars."

Your cheque's in the mail....

 

[black mamba]

These guys are right. Once you understand that it's the push down, rather than the pull up, that is actually making it happen, it all becomes a piece of cake.

 

[BobMercer]

Many folks leave their bike in gear to reduce any movement when parked, but it makes it more difficult to place on the centerstand. Simply leave in neutral when dismounting with sidestand down, then step on the centerstand, place the full bodyweight downward while lifting up at the handhold and up she goes. At least with 225 pounds pushing down.

 

[FlyingLow]

****! How long have I owned this bike [2.5 years] and never knew that handhold was there, until just now? I've always used the grabrail.

 

[Toecutter]

****! How long have I owned this bike [2.5 years] and never knew that handhold was there, until just now? I've always used the grabrail.

:haha: I was fortunate enough, while a waiter for eight weeks, to field a visit from RogerFJRFaster and asked him to demo the center stand procedure.

 

[drew231506]

I'm 5'9 inches and 125 lbs.

Uhhhh? Hmmm...

 

[jestal]

When you start to put the bike on the center stand push down on the center stand pedal with your foot while holding the bike as upright as possible. Take your time at this point....technique is the answer. When the centerstand feet touch down rock the bike gently side to side to feel for BOTH centerstand feet to be touching. When they are just push on the centerstand pedal and it will come right up, hand hold or not. The hand hold is used more for balancing than to expert much force, really. It should pup up on the center stand very easily. Trying to force it up when only one of the centerstand feet are touching makes it much more difficult.

 

[FJR Steve]

When you start to put the bike on the center stand push down on the center stand pedal with your foot while holding the bike as upright as possible. Take your time at this point....technique is the answer. When the centerstand feet touch down rock the bike gently side to side to feel for BOTH centerstand feet to be touching. When they are just push on the centerstand pedal and it will come right up, hand hold or not. The hand hold is used more for balancing than to expert much force, really. It should pup up on the center stand very easily. Trying to force it up when only one of the centerstand feet are touching makes it much more difficult.

This is spot on.

Maybe you could have someone standing on the other side to assist you while you try and find the initial 'balance point' when you take the bike from the side-stand to the vertical position.

When you have this point, it is at that stage you can depress the centre stand with your foot, and finding the 'sweet spot' with both centre stand feet on the ground. THEN, exert all pressure through your left foot (which should be guiding/guided the centre stand down). I find the left foot easier, it squares me up to the bike, whereas the right foot puts me at an odd angle. Must be the way I was built/manufactured.

The lift is the most difficult, because your mind is saying "This is heavy...I have seen the book which shows the weight." This automatically prepares the muscles for a difficult task, when in fact, it isn't.

Relax...take it easy...and it will be easy.

 

[Toecutter]

The hand hold is used more for balancing than to expert much force, really. It should pup up on the center stand very easily.

What? It takes an expert? And what's this **** about puppies? I think I'm offended!

 

[Opus]

I'm 5'9 inches and 125 lbs.

Uhhhh? Hmmm...

Sounds physically impossible, I know.

I am, indeed, a stick-man.

At 49, I have accidentally worn my 16 year old daughter's Wranglers to work after raiding the fresh laundry...

Never tipped the scale at over 134 lbs, when I was a swim fanatic and always hungry.

My aplogies to those who think this is freakish.

 

[Opus]

****! How long have I owned this bike [2.5 years] and never knew that handhold was there, until just now? I've always used the grabrail.

I found mine yesterday afternoon. (DUH!!) Thanks again for the info. I've barely had the bike a year.

I may need to wear a lead-belt, but I think I might be able to do this if I sneak up and jump on the lever.

I haven't made an attempt yet, the bike is parked on the mud floor of my slum-like garage.

I'll take it out later for a practice-run.