Center stand lifting tricks

[rideon67]

I had trouble with my '05. It's been lowered about .75" with Kouba links thanks to the PO. I never really had much problem going to center-stand in my driveway since it was slightly sloped and that gave me a little advantage....until I tried it in my flat garage. Literally blew a gasket. I have an abdominal tear on my left that now matches the one on my right! Surgeon's appt on the 15th.

I now roll my FeeJ onto a 12" long piece of 2x6 of which I cut an angle on one end. It stays on my garage floor and now I lift it at least 3 or 4 times every day. I throw a smaller 2x4x5 version in my topcase incase I need to go up with it on the road. Makes all the difference in the world.

2X4 works great. thanks. Back finally stopped hurting so went for a ride & needed to put on center stand to check the oil. My 09 is not lowered, but even with the front tire on a 2x4 it takes all of my 200 lbs on the center bar to pry the sucker up. I've been putting the XS11 (same weight) on its stand with ease since it was new in 78. The pivot point on one is not right.

BTW, had to add a little oil -- 1300 miles since break-in oil change. Hope that changes after a few more miles.

 

[sevens0n]

Old trick for centerstands on any bike. Run REAR tire up on most anything. Just so its raised a bit from the surface. I use a J&P cycle catalog. :lol: :lol: Your least favorite hard cover book would be perfect.

 

[networkguy]

I had trouble with my '05. It's been lowered about .75" with Kouba links thanks to the PO. I never really had much problem going to center-stand in my driveway since it was slightly sloped and that gave me a little advantage....until I tried it in my flat garage. Literally blew a gasket. I have an abdominal tear on my left that now matches the one on my right! Surgeon's appt on the 15th.

I now roll my FeeJ onto a 12" long piece of 2x6 of which I cut an angle on one end. It stays on my garage floor and now I lift it at least 3 or 4 times every day. I throw a smaller 2x4x5 version in my topcase incase I need to go up with it on the road. Makes all the difference in the world.

2X4 works great. thanks. Back finally stopped hurting so went for a ride & needed to put on center stand to check the oil. My 09 is not lowered, but even with the front tire on a 2x4 it takes all of my 200 lbs on the center bar to pry the sucker up. I've been putting the XS11 (same weight) on its stand with ease since it was new in 78. The pivot point on one is not right.

BTW, had to add a little oil -- 1300 miles since break-in oil change. Hope that changes after a few more miles.

Should be BACK tire

 

[spoilsport]

Most of my other bikes have had center stands, but were at least 100lbs lighter. Got my '08 last week and the first day I couldn't put it on the stand and my back hurt after trying. So, I watched a few youtube videos and got it on the stand the next day - with a lot of effort.

A week later, there's no effort. So, I started trying to figure out what I was doing differently.

The biggest factor, I think, was that I intimidated by the bike. The first few times I was trying to push down and lift the bike at the same time. My back hurt from trying to lift the bike -- it's too heavy to lift and you'll hurt yourself trying.

Someone else mentioned the lever concept. I think they were onto the idea. The purpose of the hand hold and the right arm is to provide something fixed and rigid for your right leg to work against. So instead of your right leg lifting you off the ground (as it normally would when you step on something higher), it pushes the stand into the ground. Think about the position of that hand hold and your right hand and the motion of your leg and you can visualize it. The hand hold is keeping your body stable so your leg can push against the stand.

Don't lift! If you do it right, you don't have to lift at all.

 

[NightShine]

I think they were onto the idea. The purpose of the hand hold and the right arm is to provide something fixed and rigid for your right leg to work against. So instead of your right leg lifting you off the ground (as it normally would when you step on something higher), it pushes the stand into the ground. Think about the position of that hand hold and your right hand and the motion of your leg and you can visualize it. The hand hold is keeping your body stable so your leg can push against the stand.

Don't lift! If you do it right, you don't have to lift at all.

Spoil Sport, this is probably the best explanation on this that I've read to date! :yahoo:

Each set up step - straightening the front wheel, centering the bike over the stand, right arm and leg position - is merely to restrict the bike and rider's subsequent freedom of movement, so that the rider can effectively apply leg force to the center stand's lever.

That said, the design of the center stand, it's lever, and the hand hold position, can make the job a lot easier. Case in point, the FJR is far easier to get up on its center stand, than the old Honda VF750 Saber I once owned - even through the Honda weighed far less.

 

[tesla]

Still trying to figure out how DCarver does it barefooted.

 

[creg-ny-baa]

[ I weigh 140 lbs and the bike just rolls back and up onto the stand.

Okay, after I locate my left testicle, I wanna see it!

I know it has to be technique, and I'm going to read this whole thread and practice. BUT, after a lotta years putting a lotta bikes on centerstands, this one's given me a hernia. I had an R1150GS, and we always said that if it's hard, you're doing it wrong. Soooo, I know I'm doing it wrong.

Going to read up...

 

[dunhamg]

Here is the other thread. You can see the video I posted showing you a couple ways to do it. Either on the side of the bike or sitting on the seat.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/145397-setting-bike-on-center-stand/page-3?hl=grady&do=findComment&comment=1004566

Grady

 

[creg-ny-baa]

Hah! If there was a $million on the line, I'd never get it on the stand from the saddle. 5'7", #135. Nohow. I think I get the notion. I'll work on it. Welcome to the club, eh?

 

[HotRodZilla]

If it hasn't been said already, bring the stand down so it touches the floor. Then push the bike to its right until the right foot of the stand touches the floor. Then just put your foot on the little foot thing and push down. You can pull it back with your arms if you want, but it'll pop right up.

 

[SacramentoMike]

There's never just one solution to a problem. Have you tried coming in hard and doing a stoppie, and while the tail is up in the air, reaching down with your left foot and kicking down the center stand? Bet that'd work.

 

[mcatrophy]

There's never just one solution to a problem. Have you tried coming in hard and doing a stoppie, and while the tail is up in the air, reaching down with your left foot and kicking down the center stand? Bet that'd work.

But only if you've swapped out your good ABS pump for someone else's seized one

.

Just to keep on topic, I still need to ensure I'm on flat ground. Sloping down, I'll never get it up; sloping up, I'll get it up but not back down; and sloping left or right I'm not even going to try

.

 

[wfooshee]

Aw, geez!!! ABS has nothing to do with stoppies!!!!

And what are these sloping things of which you speak? (Says the Floridian.)

 

[mcatrophy]

Aw, geez!!! ABS has nothing to do with stoppies!!!!
And what are these sloping things of which you speak? (Says the Floridian.)

Yes, I know about the ABS-stoppy thingy, just trying a bit of (obviosly severely limited) humour.
As for slopes, I once had real problems getting the bike off its centre-stand on a ferry, when I'd been pushed into a place where the deck sloped up. But, maybe you don't get many ferries in Florida either. Been there a few times, mostly Orlando, but never on a bike. My most vivid memory is of being in a car in a parking lot (of the office we had there), all around was a huge waterfall coming down from the sky, and a lightning bolt striking a handrail less than six feet away. Loud, or what? And the only hills I can remember were the odd ramps onto the I4.

Where I am, most roads are on hills, and mostly quite steeply cambered. Luckily my garage and frontage are level, so on that rare occasion I want to put it up, I can. Even with my elderly 150lb body. But not in bare feet. (Hurts, even thinking about it.)