Getting Up on Center Stand ??

[Red Duke Rider]

I'll add this caveat to everything that's been said. When you go to put it on the center stand, all of the work is done with your right arm and right leg. Think of trying to "stretch" or "pull the bike apart" using your right foot on the center stand and your right hand on the flip out bar.

This techique works on every bike I've ever owned with a center stand. The left hand is just used for balancing the bike from left to right. Sometimes I will actually lift my left leg off the ground slightly to make sure I trying to "drive the center stand through the pavement".

 

[DeanR]

Just curious, do most of you rock it once to get some momentum (sort of like getting it up halfway on the first try, the rest of the way on the second ), or is it up with one try?

 

[saaz]

On an ST11, it is always one try. Easiest bike I have had to put up, as it has the grab handle. You have to have decent footwear on, as it needs a sharp combination of pulling up and pushing down on the centrestand.

 

[Mark]

no rocking for me.
I do stand on the pegs and rock it forward to get the bike off the centerstand...

Mark

 

[Winged_STer]

I go to admit that I had issues at first getting it up on the center stand. I am 6'4" and 265lbs. I did not dream that it would be an issue and I wrestled with it for a good 15 minutes till I figured it out. It just required a little finesse and I was trying to use brute force.

It was two days later when I discovered the handy pop out handle on the side...

We live and learn.

Gary

 

[traildad]

or try this.....lie under the bike just forward to the center stand. Now do a one-armed pushup lifting the bike while lowering the stand with your free hand. If this doesn't work you or your next of kin can post a retort..........

 

[Don B]

Why doesn't some genius figure out a way of incorporating some sort of mechanism that would give you a mechanical advantage, greater than the leverage of your foot and weight applied to the center stand? ...........

Someone already did. I sold my '86 Suzuki Cavalcade the day after I bought my '03 ST 2-1/2 months ago. I know you don't see them very often, but next time you see a 'Cade parked somewhere take a look at its centerstand mechanism; it has a spring-loaded "extension" that you pivot into position with your right foot, then step on while lifting with the right hand (left hand on left bar grip to steady the beast). The mechanical advantage made it a piece of cake to get the 'Cade up on the CS, and it weighed in at least 100 lbs more than the ST.

 

[Xantee]

My GL1800 is much easier to put on centerstand than the ST1300, even though the ST is 200 pounds lighter. It may have to do with different pre-load adjustment. Form personal experience, be careful taking the bike off the centerstand. My GL tilted away from me a couple months ago and I think I messed up my shoulders trying to pull it back w/o success. It went over on the crash bars. Embarrassing and painful. Needed help to lift it back up since it was on a slight incline.

The Wing is definitely easier to get on center stand.:bow1:

When taking any bike off center stand, I always recommend doing it while astraddle the bike. Of course, this only works if you have legs long enough to reach the ground, even tip-toe will work. But much safer than simply holding onto the bike from the side.

 

[FJRHank]

The Wing is definitely easier to get on center stand.:bow1:

When taking any bike off center stand, I always recommend doing it while astraddle the bike. Of course, this only works if you have legs long enough to reach the ground, even tip-toe will work. But much safer than simply holding onto the bike from the side.

Have to agree adamantly with this! When I bought my new 02 VFR, I asked one of the salesman how to get it off the centerstand and he said stand next to it and push it off.

ofcourse it wasnt long before I was on a slight hill and this technique ended up with me and the bike on the ground. Ofcourse I thought about it and was like "sit on the thing damnit!!" ... no I wasn't happy. Subsequently heard the other saleman really gave this other guy a hard time "if you dont know the proper way, then just say 'I dont know'".

If you cant reach with both feet just slide yer butt over a little and use one foot, then slide back as you go forward. thats what I did if needed. that's much better then having a bike go away from you when yer on the side of it... believe me, yer not gonna stop it from falling... and it really sucks when you do that!

(if yer on perfectly level ground it does work ok from the side, but after I had one fall I've never done it from the side again, thats in like 5 years!)

Regards,

 

[PLCBithead]

The Wing is definitely easier to get on center stand.:bow1:

When taking any bike off center stand, I always recommend doing it while astraddle the bike. Of course, this only works if you have legs long enough to reach the ground, even tip-toe will work. But much safer than simply holding onto the bike from the side.

+1 on taking it off the stand while sitting on the bike, that is the only safe way to do it. I've done it while off but it would be easy to drop one that way.

 

[Mellow]

+1 on taking it off the stand while sitting on the bike, that is the only safe way to do it. I've done it while off but it would be easy to drop one that way.

LOL.. funny, the only time I've ever dropped my wing getting if off the center stand was when I was on it.. bike on.. rocked it a little and just before it rolled off the center stand I touched the throttle but I was still in neutral... lol... doh!..

 

[PLCBithead]

Forget the pop-out handle. I could never get the bike up will all of my weight on the center-stand.

Once I started putting my right hand on the passenger grab rail the bike pops up in place without issue.

+1 on your method. I also prefer using the passenger grab rail. Your really are doing all the 90% of lifting with your right leg and the mechanical advantage of the center stand. The right hand on the grab rail provides a steadying effect during the the lift with just some assistance.

 

[Papa]

Sounds like you guys purty well covered it,,,,,,except for the very easiest way,, get someone else to do it. :crackup

 

[PLCBithead]

LOL.. funny, the only time I've ever dropped my wing getting if off the center stand was when I was on it.. bike on.. rocked it a little and just before it rolled off the center stand I touched the throttle but I was still in neutral... lol... doh!..

Ouch, Mellow that must have been a tough one. I tend to rock it once or twice and then when it comes off the stand I have my front brake covered just so it won't roll forward after the stand has returned to its upright position (sounds like I've been on a plane recently).

I have to admit, this thing is a pig to use the center stand, but I feel its less likely to get knocked over accidently.

 

[Mellow]

Ouch, Mellow that must have been a tough one. I tend to rock it once or twice and then when it comes off the stand I have my front brake covered just so it won't roll forward after the stand has returned to its upright position (sounds like I've been on a plane recently).

I have to admit, this thing is a pig to use the center stand, but I feel its less likely to get knocked over accidently.

Well, I thought it was in gear... was gonna just zooooom away.. and my riding partner was behind me watching... He just looked at me like I was an alien from another planet.. I zipped that sucker back up before it had time to register in his brain and grab the camera.:shock:

 

[PLCBithead]

Well, I thought it was in gear... was gonna just zooooom away.. and my riding partner was behind me watching... He just looked at me like I was an alien from another planet.. I zipped that sucker back up before it had time to register in his brain and grab the camera.:shock:

Good recovery. That fear of embarresment : will really get you going

 

[rbs]

Just used Rolando's method with my house slippers on and it came right up!

The last time I tried to put it up I simply could not get it there and left it on the side stand.

Thanks Rolando.

 

[Raven]

I respectfully disagree on the off the centerstand technique. I've found that if I have the side stand down and the bike in gear, it's much easier to control it whilst standing on the left side and pushing it off whilst slighting tilting towards me rather than being astride. However, if I've put it in neutral for some reason and have forgotten, it can easily get away, especially if I'm expecting being in gear to stop it.

YMMV

 

[juddspaintballs]

I recently had to show someone how to put their baby Magna on the center stand. I couldn't believe he didn't know how to do it...until I had him show me how he was trying. He was trying while sitting ON the bike. LOL


Anyways, same method as everyone else has said for the most part. Grab left handlebar with left hand, center stand grab bar with right hand, right foot on center stand and push stand down while pulling up with the right hand. Also, pull backwards slightly on the handlebar so get the motion of the bike rearward and upward.


As far as taking it off, I prefer to be on the bike too. But, if you're taking it off while not on the bike, turn the handlebars to the right slightly and stand on the left hand side. That way, when the bike comes off the stand, if it falls any direction, it falls onto your leg instead of bringing you over with it. Not that it will fall ON you, but it will fall against you instead of falling away and dragging you down with it.

 

[hawkeyeST]

Sounds like the technique for the 1300 is retty much the same as for the 1100 then, now all the OP has to do is get it back off the center stand once he's mastered the technique of getting it on

(ie dont be tempted to have the bike facing too uphill to make it easier to get on the stand in the first place )

In fact I think the lift handle is the only part common to both bikes (same part number)