Is the OP, or any of you having difficulty using the correct technique? I don't mean how you step on the lever, or lift or don't lift, but how the bike is prepped. FWIW, my FJR was my first bike with a center stand and I didn't know how to do it. Thankfully my buddy knew how.
1: You have to stand the bike up. Push it off the side stand and get it straight.
2: While holding the bike at the left handlebar and the hand hole, push down on the center stand lever until it touches the ground.
3: Now, lean the bike away from you until the right side of the stand is also on the ground. Initially, you'll think it's gonna fall over. What we think is straight up is not really straight up. Both feet have to be on the ground/floor.
4: Now that both feet of the stand are firmly on the ground and the bike is straight, push the lever down with your foot. The bike will pop right up. The hand hole is not for lifting the bike. It's for keeping the bike from falling away from us.
Now, I know those of you that know me will say I'm bigger than some. That's true, and I have very strong legs, but I can do it barefoot, and did it after both of my knee surgeries. I almost always do it just by pushing the stand down and purposely not using my weight.
If I'm loaded up for a trip, getting the bike up can be much harder. A few times, I've had to use my weight or pull up from the back, but an unloaded FJR is pretty easy.
Seriously, try it and let us know. I'd bet you're doing it wrong, because I couldn't do it until I knew to put both stand feet on the ground. Thankfully my buddy was there when the bike was delivered, or I woulda been FUBAR for a while.