using the centerstand

[riverbend]

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a wimp.

After years of riding and touring on my '70 Commando (last trip - out to Oregon and back, 3 days either way), I have never having any trouble getting a bike up on the awkward and flimsy centerstand, even fully loaded (me or the bike).

I had to buy a bike jack to get my 'new' '77 Goldwing up on the center stand. Rolling it backwards, stepping on the centerstand pedal and pulling on the bars sure seems like the perfect way to get crushed.

How do you do it ?

[Cookie]

They are fairly tough. You could always shorten the stand to make it easier.

[mooseheadm5]

I seriously sprained my wrist putting the damned thing on th stand. I now carry a piece of wood to drive the rear tire onto. Then the stand is a cinch to deploy. Once I have my suspension height worked out, I will be shortening my stand.

[stuka151]

I stand to the side of the bike on the center stand and yank on the handle bars. Of course I'm not a little guy either (6'4" 215 lbs). The bike is a pig though, it ain't easy.

[Brouwer]

It took some practice for me( 6' 2" only 160lbs) to get it right. When I first got the bike I had to have my wife come tug on the back of the bike while I was working my magic at the same time. But one day I went out to the garage and just tried over and over again until I got it, now I can get if every time.

I found out you dont want to be wearing a thin soled pair of tennis shoes though, that hurts the foot pretty good, make sure you have a shoe or boot on with some decent sole.

You will get it eventually, I can only do it standing a certain way, its never easy but atleast its do-able.

Later

Brouwer

[mooseheadm5]

I never had a problem until I had to do it several times in a day and was tired. It didn't want to go up and pulled my wrist when it cam back down. Just be careful.

[Cookie]

Can you imagine the tiny Japanese test rider who first put it up? I bet he was a martial arts expert.

[hmratbam]

Sumo Wrestler

[robin1731]

I am 6', about 190. I guess I am lucky to be able to put all kinds of bikes on the center stand without too much trouble. One of my regular customers is a local Sheriff's Deputy. He is about 6'2, probably 200 pounds. I have showed/told him numerous times how to get his 83 Interstate on the stand. He cannot do it. His is actually harder to get off the stand. He runs the air ride on it pretty high. His wife is not real small. So when it is on the center stand the rear wheel is just touching the ground yet. I always let all the air out when I work on it.

[Whiskerfish]

Being short (5' 5" on a good day!) I do not get good leverage. There are several tricks/ keys to doing it without hurting yourself or dropping the bike.

First if your rear shocks are worn or sagging or shortened or your rear tire excessively worn then you will struggle. That is when a peice of 1x or 2x wood under the back tire makes life much easier.

Select your spot, facing up hill makes it easier to get up on the stand but harder to get down and vice versa for facing downhill.

Bike on Side stand, Left hand on Handle bars, Right hand on grab rail or something similar back by the seat. Still sitting on Side stand use right foot to press down on the center stand, once contact with the ground is made start to raise the bike to straight up and down. As you raise the bike to vertical apply light pressure to the center stand with your right foot. When the bike is upright you can slightly rock the bike left and right and feel the center stand making contact with the ground. As you rock it back and forth you can feel when both legs of the center stand make contact. Now is the time to pull. Pulling up with the right hand and lean your body toward the rear of the bike, while pressing down with the right foot. The left hand stabilizes the front end but does nothing else.


Once it hits the center point of rotation over the stand try to ease it to the resting position. I try to not let it fall onto the forward stops of the stand. You have 6-700 pounds coming to an abrupt stop on a horrizontal cross tube and letting it fall to those stops will have an effect over time.

Using this procedure on a bike with a decent suspension I can put most Wings up on center with Flip Flops and not experience any discomfort.

[peteybug]

I carry a 1'' thick board with me put it under side stand. I'm 5' 10'' 160 lbs. No center stand for me! showoff

[Old Fogey]

Once it hits the center point of rotation over the stand try to ease it to the resting position. I try to not let it fall onto the forward stops of the stand. You have 6-700 pounds coming to an abrupt stop on a horrizontal cross tube and letting it fall to those stops will have an effect over time.

Exactly! This is why so many have the cross tube split at each end (including mine) once there is a bit of corrosion there.

[WingerDave]

Funnily enough Mother Honda seems to have listened to the owners in the early '80s

I own an 1980 GL110 and a 1983 GL1100 but the 1981 is more difficult to get on the stand than the '83.

They changed something, but i can't figure out what, coz the centerstands seem to be the same size !!!!!

Cunning little bastards, those orientals

Dave.

[terry]

I have tipped over the bike '77 GL 1000 half dozen times trying to get on center stand.

The only way I can do it is to put a 2X4 under the engine and use my Toyota scissors jack. I have my side stand down and as the bike goes up from jack I keep shimming the side stand with pieces of wood until it is high enough to put down the center stand. I only have done this for changing a tire and a muffler.

How do you shorten the center stand? I have a grinder but if I Just cut it it would not have the big surface on bottom it currently has.

[WingerDave]

I just realised, when i had another look under the bike, that my '80-''81 has two return springs and my '83 only has one and there are NO mouting points for a second one. That must be the factory upgrade (or downgrade).

Not having to overcome the strength of a second spring would make a difference, as it obviously does in my case.

Dave.