Center Stand

[onecooltngeek]

To get off the center stand..

I usually get on the bike, stand on the footpegs, lean way back over the rear seat, and the do a single forward thrust... she pops right off...

if im in a hooligan mood, I'll start her up, put her in first, rev her up, hten rock back so the tire hits the ground and launch her forward h34r:

 

[user 1521]

ZagZyg<snip>Posted on Jan 17 2006, 11:47 AMGetting it down, I just sit on it, rock forward, backward, forward, backward, forward and it rolls off generally.

And....they wonder why they have center-stand failures?

Can you explain? I've never had a centre stand fail in the past, can't see how this will wear it out faster.

It'd be interesting to see how the "top gun mechanic" removed the bike from the center-stand. I'll bet he didn't sit on it and repeatedly rock the bike back and forth till it fell off the stand. He probably knows the physics involved and that method is just a recipe for increased wear in the joints and stops and, ultimately, breakage.

I didn't say I rocked it until it fell off. Are you deliberately paraphrasing to be obnoxious? Or was my explaination really that bad?

FWIW, stand next to the bike, parallel, and remove the bike in reverse order to deploying the center-stand.

This makes no sense at all. Do you mean put your foot under the tang and push it upwards?

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

ZagZyg<snip>Posted on Jan 18 2006, 11:10 AMCan you explain? I've never had a centre stand fail in the past, can't see how this will wear it out faster.

The FJR center-stand failures have been well documented on the boards. M/Cs have had centerstand problems for-ever (well, almost). Usually first noticed by the rear wheel not being able to rotate when on the center stand -- the stop areas in the frame (or, on the stand) are mashed from the repeated beating taken by the operator (not counting all the gear, and the missus, piled on the bike).

I didn't say I rocked it until it fell off. Are you deliberately paraphrasing to be obnoxious? Or was my explaination really that bad?

I didn't say you did (but, now that you mention it, it did sound that way) -- what I said was that I bet the mechanic doesn't do it that way. I may be obnoxious? -- but, I'm not trying to be...really.

This makes no sense at all. Do you mean put your foot under the tang and push it upwards?

No, your left foot may need to be in front of the stand to keep it from sliding forward (depending on slipperyness of the surface?), but generally your feet are flat on the floor, toes pointing toward the bike -- hold the bike like you did when deploying the stand and roll it forward. I know this is probably heresy in America [where even (some) MSF instructors (not always the founts of all wisdom) sit on bikes and roll them off the center-stands -- often with the engines running and in gear] -- but this isn't taught here so it's kinda "monkey-see-monkey-do". If you really look in old manuals you'll see it documented -- or, go to another place in the world for a wider perspective.

 

[Geezer]

I didn't say I rocked it until it fell off.  (snip) 

Normally, when I use the center stand I will straddle the bike and roll it forward off of the stand. Most of my weight will be on the balls of my feet. I feel much less likely to drop the bike if I am 'on' it rather than standing next to it when taking it down from the center stand. Not at all the reverse of putting it up there.

 

[user 1521]

(charismaticmegafauna,Jan 18 2006, 08:48 AM)If you really look in old manuals you'll see it documented -- or, go to another place in the world for a wider perspective.

From experience, I've only ever seen riders get their bikes off the centre stand whilst sitting on it. I've lived in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Spain, UK, and even the USA briefly, but will take more notice in future I've read about the documented failures, but had also read that was due to poor materials used that is corrected on later models.

If what I'm doing is going to cause damage to the centre stand, then of course I'd like to change, but I think it will take me some time and practice to be able to stand beside the bike and, from the sounds of it, perform the same motions and stresses that I do while sitting on it. My mistake seems to more in the "rocking", so maybe I need to put some weet-bix into it so it comes down the first time.

I read my user manual last night :sleepy: , and besides some bits about having the bike on the centre stand for certain checks, I don't recall any instructions for it's use. Will take another look tonight.

(Geezer, Posted on Jan 18 2006, 09:02 AM) Normally, when I use the center stand I will straddle the bike and roll it forward off of the stand. Most of my weight will be on the balls of my feet. I feel much less likely to drop the bike if I am 'on' it rather than standing next to it when taking it down from the center stand. Not at all the reverse of putting it up there

That's probably a better explanation than what I made, just it mostly takes a 2nd push to for me to get enough weight/momentum to roll off, using the front brakes to ensure a gentle landing.
I definitely agree about feeling much less likely to drop it.

I've seen guys in the shops push bikes around, and I can see once you're confident with the balance that the control is far superior, as well as it requiring a lot less effort. But I rarely need to push the bike around, so am much more confident with balance when sitting astride. The main difficulty in getting the bike onto the sidestand is all about that balance really, and I presume why some of us have trouble with it to start with.

(charismaticmegafauna, Posted on Jan 18 2006, 08:48 AM) I may be obnoxious? -- but, I'm not trying to be...really.

:stop: No problem, text can tricky. I'm sure you're not obnoxious really :coolio:

 

[JimLor]

I'm with you Geezer - only time I dropped (slowly lowered while shouting and cussing) Maxine was standing next to the bike and rolling it off the centerstand - she went right and I.... well I didn't. So now I sit on her and try to roll off the centerstand in one fell swoop, if it doesn't work, then two fell swoops!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Geezer: well, that quote isn't quite attributable to me. But, whatever....

Anyway, if that works for you, fine. That method prvides no more wear-and-tear than normal on-and-off. It's the other (sitting on the seat, running, in gear, loaded, etc.) , I feel, that causes the problems -- for which the centerstand wasn't designed.

 

[user 1521]

It's the other (sitting on the seat, running, in gear, loaded, etc.) , I feel, that causes the problems -- for which the centerstand wasn't designed.

I actually thought the "sitting on the seat, running, in gear, loaded, etc." were jokes :shock:

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

ZagZyg<snip>Posted on Jan 18 2006, 12:36 PMFrom experience, I've only ever seen riders get their bikes off the centre stand whilst sitting on it.

Well, there ya' go.

I've read about the documented failures, but had also read that was due to poor materials used that is corrected on later models.

Reportedly, Yamaha's made it heavier, thicker material, (presumably to solve the breakage problems that have arisen since the bike's introduction into the American market?).

I read my user manual last night...and...I don't recall any instructions for it's use.

No, no manufacturer seems to want to do that anymore -- and I can understand why!!

The main difficulty in getting the bike onto the sidestand is all about that balance really, and I presume why some of us have trouble with it to start with.

Can't fault that comment....

....I'm sure you're not obnoxious really.

Well, that's refreshing to hear. Not yet into the "pleasing" realm, I fear?

 

[Geezer]

Geezer: well, that quote isn't quite attributable to me. But, whatever....(snip)

Sorry about that. My editing didn't leave enough information in the quote for proper attribution.

 

[Fallen Jim Rides again]

Ok, I can't believe that I'm posting to a thread disussing the merits of various methods of getting a bike off the center stand but . . . . .

I am wondering about why how much gear you had on while coming off the stand would be an issue or for that matter whether you were actually sitting on it. I sit on the bike in full gear sometimes while it is on the center stand. I believe that many custom seat manufacturers ask that you do so with your passenger for the photos they need to build the proper seat.

Coming off the stand, wouldn't the suspension take a much greater hit than the stand its self? Would the load be that much more than sitting on the bike while it was on the stand?

Recalling bikes from the past that had problems with the center stand it seems to me that poor construction/materials and improper/no maintaince were far, far more the problem than any particular method of removing the bike from the stand. With some notable exceptions like the guy I knew who wheelied off the stand.

I know I use the center stand more now that I did on my first bike but it is also much better made.

Personally, I just give it a push while straddling it and usually it comes off with me continuing to push the bike out of the shop so my weight probably isn't much on the bike anyway. But I don't and won't worry about it unless a PM shows some reason to.

Just lube it.

And ride on brothers.