Center Stand

[skids]

I can put my standards up on the centerstands when wearing tennis shoes.

[Rasputin]

Once the proper technique is mastered you can apply it to any centerstand on any motorcycle. Once you know how it is almost as easy as using the sidestand. Ok, so not as easy, but it seems so

[trbig]

Just to show what I was talking about, for those having problems, go out to your bike, and hold it level.. then without pulling up at all.. simply push down on the center stand with your foot hard. Without picking up at all with your hand, the bike will start raising up some. You'll have to help it to get it all the way, but that will show that the main force is to be a downward push with the foot.


Tod

[DiverRay]

Now... getting the bike OFF the centerstand... especially if it's on a concrete floor can sometimes be another story!
And... getting the bike off the centerstand, when parked uphill.... wow... what a chore! Lesson learned the hard way... DAMHIKIJD!!
Goes on easy, comes off... barely!!!

I don't know, I just sit on the bike, rev it up a bit, lean back, and pop the clutch! Comes right off the center stand!

[petejw]

Ive always sat on the bike to put the center stand up,
I rock it back slightly and use the leverage of the leg of the stand
to put it up.

[XS1100 Newbie]

I have not had a problem doing it since i was showed how. I am 5' 6" & 238 LBS. Short, but it really does not take weight or muscle. Just get the technique down.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Ive always sat on the bike to put the center stand up,
I rock it back slightly and use the leverage of the leg of the stand
to put it up.

I know, and if it's one of the lighter, more stripped down 11's, you can do that.

But being fully dressed, if mine's up on the centerstand, and on smooth concrete, when rocked forward, it slides instead of folding up sometimes... takes a lot of extra effort! I'm 6' and 190#, but it doesn't seem to matter. Thought it might have just been my technique, (or lack of it...) 'til Cody had a similar problem once trying to 'show me' how to do it... ahem...

Mine's just a heavy momma...
which I recently found out makes a HUGE difference on top end speed...
(Re: MonteuxBlue @ Talimena last summer...) Man, that little stripped bobber's fast!
We were heading across a straightaway by this lake... about a mile & a half long or so... Tod was leading, I was trying to keep up w/ him... looked down, my speedo said 123... I thought... Holy Cow! This is GREAT!!! About that time Jeremy totally blows by me like I was only in his way or somethin'...

When we got back, I started trying to figure out all the mods I knew he must've done. BigBore kit? Early cams? Hopped up carbs? Head work? Exhaust mods...??? Nope, he said... just pods, and lost a lot of the weight.

I wouldn't have believed just HOW MUCH difference on top end there really was... he flew by me like I was parked. Hats off to the superior bike, Jeremy!

But, even though she's heavy, and not the greatest in the handling dept... I still like the storage space for touring, which is why I picked this one in the first place. But it does take some muscle to get mine up or down off the centerstand.

[draketrumpet]

I'll have to try this trick

So, maybe I'm just a woos, or my bike is really heavy, but I had to resort to one hand on each side of the seat while almost jumping on the stand. I do have a fairing and trunk on right now, so that probably makes it that much harder.

[latexeses]

I couldn't figure why I was having so much trouble getting the special up on the centerstand until I realized the PO took the stand off his standard and put it under the special. I know why it was on the side stand when I first saw the bike.

[cywelchjr]

So, maybe I'm just a woos, or my bike is really heavy, but I had to resort to one hand on each side of the seat while almost jumping on the stand. I do have a fairing and trunk on right now, so that probably makes it that much harder.

I got a full fairing, trunk and hard bags on mine and have no problem putting it up on the center stand at all. Now that said, I'm a big guy , so standing on that lever pops it up pretty easy.

[petejw]

yep, my bike is naked,
probably wouldnt recommend doing it with a full dresser,
also the frame has been known to crack around the center stand.

[draketrumpet]

Now... getting the bike OFF the centerstand... especially if it's on a concrete floor can sometimes be another story!
And... getting the bike off the centerstand, when parked uphill.... wow... what a chore! Lesson learned the hard way... DAMHIKIJD!!
Goes on easy, comes off... barely!!!

I learned hard too. This morning I went out and to go to school. I had left it on the center stand overnight since I had it up yesterday. Started the beast, throw my bags in and go to take it down from the left side, and of course it falls over to the right.

Good news is nothing important broke, just some plastic screws holding the windshield on. Highway peg bent a little too, but I think the normal position is more comfortable...maybe I'll change my mind when i finally go on a long trip. A few other scratches, which for my bike is not that big of a deal.

The technique I'm going to use next time, though is this:
Don't start the bike.
Don't put anything extra in the bike
put kickstand down
stand on the right side to take it down

That way, if it falls right, I catch it, if it falls left, the kickstand catches it.

One day, I will not be a noob

[motoman]

not strength, just correct leverage, etc. as others have stated. My factory full dresser fully loaded I KNOW has gained some weight in 28yrs! Still always use center stand, but a bit more grunting takes place. Maybe pushing the closer side of 60 has an effect, plus haven't raced moto-cross for 4-5yrs and crashed HARD on my ST two yrs. ago has taken its toll, and finially realized my invinsibility no longer exist. Still have to be cautious and not let it rock back hard once it's up. Good way to fracture frame where center stand mount is welded on frame. At 180lbs. and only 5'10" can still pop it up fully loaded, but is a bit more difficult than the ST1100 as it has a spring loaded swing-out handle located perfectly and feels like putting a honda cl90 on the center stand. If that gets too difficult, can go to a wing-trike before ever giving up riding.

[DenyP]

I don't know if it is because of the aftermarket muffler on mine, but the foot lever of my stand is just accessible with the toe of my boot. Very little area available to apply pressure. It is a bear to put on center stand. This is on my to do list once it warms up here to resolve this somehow.

Deny

[CatatonicBug]

I don't know if it is because of the aftermarket muffler on mine, but the foot lever of my stand is just accessible with the toe of my boot. Very little area available to apply pressure. It is a bear to put on center stand. This is on my to do list once it warms up here to resolve this somehow.

The foot lever for the centerstand is supposed to wrap up and around the side of the pipes. That's really the only visible part of the centerstand whent its in the stowed position. Is the foot pad underneath the pipes on yours?