Topic: Old Farts

[Phoenix]

Have any of you considered cutting about 1" out of your center stand?  I used to be able to get it up easily - so to speak- but, it seems like with other things, it's not as easy as it used to be.  As far as I'm concerned, I think I just need enough height to allow an inch or so below the back wheel.  Am I missing anything?

Ed

[flybox1]

Sounds like you'rejust missing mechanics and technique.   
My 5'7" 125lb wife can get my 750 up no problems.
Taught her how this past summer.  (stock center stand)

[Gordon]

Any lowering of the bike will make it more difficult to pull up on the center stand.  Shorter shocks, smaller rim, shorter forks or pushing the forks up in the trees.

If you typically only put your bike on the center stand in your garage, then keep a piece of 1" or 2" wood handy.  A scrap piece of 1" plank works great.  Roll the rear tire onto the plank and then lift the bike on the center stand.  You'd be surprised how much of a difference a 1" boost helps.

[Retro Rocket]

Any lowering of the bike will make it more difficult to pull up on the center stand.  Shorter shocks, smaller rim, shorter forks or pushing the forks up in the trees.

If you typically only put your bike on the center stand in your garage, then keep a piece of 1" or 2" wood handy.  A scrap piece of 1" plank works great.  Roll the rear tire onto the plank and then lift the bike on the center stand.  You'd be surprised how much of a difference a 1" boost helps.

He said lowering the center stand Gordon, not the bike....

[brewsky]

options:
learn proper technique
longer or stiffer rear shocks
bigger tires
board under rear tire
little blue pills

[Gordon]

Any lowering of the bike will make it more difficult to pull up on the center stand.  Shorter shocks, smaller rim, shorter forks or pushing the forks up in the trees.

If you typically only put your bike on the center stand in your garage, then keep a piece of 1" or 2" wood handy.  A scrap piece of 1" plank works great.  Roll the rear tire onto the plank and then lift the bike on the center stand.  You'd be surprised how much of a difference a 1" boost helps.

He said lowering the center stand Gordon, not the bike....

Perhaps I should clarify:

I meant that if the bike has been lowered from stock height at all, it will be more difficult to lift onto the center stand than it should be.

Many bikes, over the years and multiple owners, may have had things done to them that lowered them, and current owners may never even know unless they know what to look for. 

[GammaFlat]

Any lowering of the bike will make it more difficult to pull up on the center stand.  Shorter shocks, smaller rim, shorter forks or pushing the forks up in the trees.

If you typically only put your bike on the center stand in your garage, then keep a piece of 1" or 2" wood handy.  A scrap piece of 1" plank works great.  Roll the rear tire onto the plank and then lift the bike on the center stand.  You'd be surprised how much of a difference a 1" boost helps.

He said lowering the center stand Gordon, not the bike....

we interrupt this program for an excerpt from a joke: "There ain't nuthin' wrong with his legs... his ears is too long." 

[Retro Rocket]

Any lowering of the bike will make it more difficult to pull up on the center stand.  Shorter shocks, smaller rim, shorter forks or pushing the forks up in the trees.

If you typically only put your bike on the center stand in your garage, then keep a piece of 1" or 2" wood handy.  A scrap piece of 1" plank works great.  Roll the rear tire onto the plank and then lift the bike on the center stand.  You'd be surprised how much of a difference a 1" boost helps.

He said lowering the center stand Gordon, not the bike....

Perhaps I should clarify:

I meant that if the bike has been lowered from stock height at all, it will be more difficult to lift onto the center stand than it should be.

Many bikes, over the years and multiple owners, may have had things done to them that lowered them, and current owners may never even know unless they know what to look for.

Gotcha...

[Don R]

Auctually it would raise the center stand. And I agree on technique, the step down, roll back is more important then the lift up. The lumber works wonders too. I have a center stand with 1" cut out but it was width not height. The guy narrowed the pegs and bent in the shifter and brake too.

[fendersrule]

YEP!

You're supposed to be stepping down harder than you are pulling up....MUCH harder. It's all in the foot.

[nccb]

I think he knows how, but it seems he is getting older and can't lift it as well and is looking for suggestions from other old farts on how they are coping with age and degenerative muscles?

[brewsky]

Am I missing anything?

Ed

Are you making sure to rock the bike side to side to feel that BOTH feet of the stand are touching ground at the same time before starting the "lift"?

[Dimitri13]

This has been posted many times.

How to put a Goldwing on its center stand

[Wobbly]

Ed,
Meet me at the gym at 5:00 AM.

[MoMo]

This has been posted many times.

How to put a Goldwing on its center stand

Never saw that but that is how it is done.  A stock 750 is one of the easiest, well-balanced and designed bikes to put up on the centerstand. ...Larry

[754]

Its all in the roll and the amount of footpounds....

 Boardtrick helps, if wheel does not drop far enough while removing...harder to get out..

[evanphi]

I can get mine on the stand now, and my bike is lowered about 2" front and back. When I first got it, I had to rely on the board under the rear wheel trick.

Now, after some practice, it takes a bit more bounce on the stand, and a bit more of a precarious lean over the bike to get my weight over the stand, but I can do it without a board now.

5'10" 165lbs.

[brewsky]

It also helps to have something substantial for the right hand to grab a hold of..... ie.. chrome seat rail, rail from luggage rack etc.

Note the gold wings (which are easier than a 750 IMHO) have a perfectly placed grab handle for the right hand.

[Black 750K8]

Any lowering of the bike will make it more difficult to pull up on the center stand.  Shorter shocks, smaller rim, shorter forks or pushing the forks up in the trees.

If you typically only put your bike on the center stand in your garage, then keep a piece of 1" or 2" wood handy.  A scrap piece of 1" plank works great.  Roll the rear tire onto the plank and then lift the bike on the center stand.  You'd be surprised how much of a difference a 1" boost helps.

He said lowering the center stand Gordon, not the bike....

Perhaps I should clarify:

I meant that if the bike has been lowered from stock height at all, it will be more difficult to lift onto the center stand than it should be.

Many bikes, over the years and multiple owners, may have had things done to them that lowered them, and current owners may never even know unless they know what to look for.

I got ya first time Gordon and oh so true Mine is the opposite to easy extended forks from PO rear tire does not even come off the ground.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yeah, you have to get the stepping down with right foot and blocking/while grabbing the frame rail and pulling it over to the right and slightly up motion down before it clicks into muscle memory and gets easy. Once you get the motion down it does not require a whole lot of force.

Before I learned the proper technique I used to fight getting it up with great force and then I learned the right way.

[wvshooter]

Just be glad you're not trying to put a '94 Kawasaki Concours with a full tank of gas on it's center stand. Phew!!

[Vinhead1957]

It's all in technique! I found i was doing it wrong for years. Hold the stand down with the outer left foot and with the seat rail roll the bike back while lifting

[Phoenix]

From the look of all the helpful tips, except the Gym @ 0500, it looks like technique.  Some people seem to use a roll to get it up. Trying to do that and still set the two feet can be a little daunting.  I think I'm trying to do too many things at the same time.  I'll have to go out and practice a few more times.  Thanks for the ideas thought.

[Steve_K]

Gee,  no one mentioned doing a stoppie and while the rear is up put the centerstand down.  I HAVE NOT tried that.  Never got my SOHC to stoppie, but my newer bikes can.
Steve

[Duke McDukiedook]

I would like to see a video of that with a cb750K.