Topic: The old man and the centerstand

[beemerbum]

Having kicked around for over 75% of a century, I still love and ride my bikes. There is however a turd in the punchbowl. I have a '71, '72 and a '77 CB 750. For some unknown reason, the '77 takes substantial effort but will get up on its two legs. The '71 and '72 exceed my physical strength to get up on the centerstand. I am familiar with the standard procedure and have practiced it for years. My two BMW's are very easy to get up on the stands.Is there some difference in the balance of the early 750's or the location of the center stands that causes them to be difficult as opposed to the '77? Somewhere I recall a trick using a board under the stand to somehow reduce the lifting/pulling effort. Is there some wisdom regarding this process that I have forgotten? Any help/advice, other than going to the gym would be much appreciated.

[seanbarney41]

put the board under the back tire, not the the centerstand. 

[Alan F.]

I remember reading about a 2x6 with a very sharp angle cut at one end. Once off the bike you just roll the back tire up on the 2-by and drop the stand you'll still have to raise the bike a little.

If a 2x6's 1.5" is too much for your bike, strips of 1/4" plywood can be laminated into a suitable slope and tuned to the perfect thickness.

To avoid needless accidents I wouldn't stay sitting on the bike at first to back it onto the board, not until you're familliar with the difference it makes in seat height.

[Don R]

 And remember, it's more about the step down than the pull up.

[pekingduck]

If you have shorter shocks (I think 13.5" is standard), that will make it harder to lift up. I don't think the '77-'78's smaller 17" rear wheel is to blame, since the tire is also fatter to compensate.

You can cheat by using a board under either front or rear wheel, but it is much easier to raise the front.  Just roll the front wheel onto a foot long 1" thick board first, then lift it onto the centerstand.  You don't need to put it under the rear wheel, where you have to back up precisely.

If the rear wheel is 2" off the ground, try a board that's 1-1/2" thick, etc. 

[markmyodb]

I have been using the put the rear wheel on a board trick since it was suggested here.  Works great on my 750K6.  I have been exercising a little more trying to recover from surgeries, I was able to get my 550K1 up with out this assist, yea!

The Goldwing is another issue. Took it to the dealer to get the oil changed.  

[Little_Phil]

I think the earlier 750s and the 500s were not ideal as they needed to be well clear of the pipes. Certainly my 550K3 is easier than the earlier 500s. I think we are all old enough to have learned the technique for getting bikes on a stand and it's partly weight and tensing your body between right shoulder and right foot as well as lifting.  I made a ramp for the back wheel (nearly 1") after an accident last year. (I fell off a ladder)

[BenelliSEI]

Modern tires with lower profiles don’t help. Sagging (on the bikes and owner!) springs at both ends add to the problem. I’ve had a 2”X4” with the chamfered edge in my shop for years.....

A good pair of hard soles shoes ensures you can really step down on the side stand lever. It should be called a CRANK. Almost none of my foot ware meets that requirement.

Never occurred to me to just run up the front tire! Thanks.

[flybackwards]

yup - my 77 goes onto the stand fairly easy - the 71 not so much - as benelli says good soles allow you to use big leg muscles to push down rather than lifting.

[Prospect]

Height makes a difference too. I'm only 5'6" and my success rate for getting the K1 on the centre stand is 10%.  I have, however stood on a couple large piece of wood and found the added height allows me to only  use my leg strength. Without the added height I have to use my arm strength which doesn't cut it.

Now I use a scissors jack to lift the bike a bit and goes on ok. I'll try the piece of wood under the tire technique.

[pekingduck]

Smaller diameter wheel, lower profile tires, shorter or sagging shocks and fork forks will all contribute to making it harder to put a bike on the center stand. 
Likewise, taller tires, longer shocks, stiffer forks, and a bent/overloaded stand, and uneven terrain can all put the rear tire closer to the ground, even to the point that the two legs of the stand are not touching down securely.
I suspect that Honda, with it's always over-abundance of caution in the latter case, designed things for absolutely worse case possibility.

[Henning]

I'm with you on this BeemerBum, I hurt my back badly last winter trying (and failing) to get the K1 on the center stand. Not that I needed medical attention or anything, but getting in and out of bed was a challenge for 14 days as well as simply rolling over in bed. I'm not going there again so I've rigged up a pulley with an old auto battery as a counterweight when I need to get said bike  onto said stand. Yes, I use sturdy shoes and press down on the stand etc. etc. and have done this a zillion times before. Makes me think it's time for a lighter bike.

[BenelliSEI]

Henning and Prospect: try the short length of 2 X 4 wood. It works!

[34barab]

I’m a lightweight with a bad back, so I slip a thin-walled “pipe” over the lever bar of the CS making it longer and adding more leverage.  For this I use the vertical portion of an old Sears jack stand. This takes a lot of the stress off my back and arms.  Once the bike is up, the pipe can be slipped off; if it is stuck between the lever bar and the floor, I just lean the bike a tad to the right.  So far so good.

[Deltarider]

However. for none of you oldtimers it's as hard as for me, without the part that makes it easy. Has any of you had this what looks like metal fatigue.

[Don R]

  I bought a lowered 750 that came with a cut down centerstand that slips in place rather than riding under the bike. I have not tried that. The roll up on a board works great. for holding a bike upright I've used a front tire rack I made for trailer hauling of bikes.

[PeWe]

I gave my mostly stock K2 a centerstand when i built it. For looks only since it has stock 4-4.
I'm sure I'll drop the bike away from me when trying. It has the small grab bar on left side as they got here.

I have a vague memory that my other CB750 K6 was easier to get up on the centerstand with its larger grab bar many years ago.

I might decide to get it a try, learn how to get it up without smashing tank, blinkers and 3-4 pipes, today not possible to buy.
It is easier to lube the chain that way.

No need of bike on sidestand, place a jackstand under right foot peg, lift with a jack placed under the left peg.

Same when removing rear wheel or front wheel. The latter need another jack pressing engine a little up for a wheelie.

[HondaMan]

However. for none of you oldtimers it's as hard as for me, without the part that makes it easy. Has any of you had this what looks like metal fatigue.

I saw that happen to a CB550 that got hit on the left side by a car in a parking lot: after repairing the damaged side covers and mufflers I tried to put it up on the centerstand, and that came off, much like in your picture. That was in 1973. I think the car's bumper must have hit it just right, or something? (Remember that in 1973, cars had REAL bumpers...).

[Don R]

 I'm 69 now and my big fear is tipping one over the far side. The kid at the kawasaki shop (in the 70's) was instructed to roll them from the opposite side of the side stand so if it went over center the stand could catch it. At times I'll straddle the front tire and hold the M/C and clutch side bar when moving one backwards in between other things.
 After I lost 50 lbs. for a while it was strange moving a bike around, it does make a difference having that extra anchor ballast. I even noticed when I turned around, I rotated differently.

[Kelly E]

I'm only 5' 5" and 130lbs. I can only put 4 out of the 10 bikes we have on the centerstand. The Sabre 700, 74' CB550, 84' Interceptor 1000 and the 79' 750F but not the 82' 900F. I actually got the Concours up on the stand once but hurt my back the next time I tried it. If I load up the Concours for a long trip while on the centerstand I can barely get it down because the shop floor is smooth enough that when I rock it forward and grab the front brake to hold it while I try to rock it again the tire just slides back. 

[Rumpelkrankshaft]

That's why I sold the 550/4!

[MauiK3]

I put a 3/4” (actually a bit thinner) piece of plywood under my rear tire, makes it much easier. I’m proud to say that at 70 I can still get it on the stand “bareback” but it’s not easy and I throw a rag over the passenger peg so it won’t scratch my leg. I don’t try it unless I have to. I’m 5’6” and I don’t do any bodybuilding. Just lucky I guess.
K3 750, stock suspension and tires.

[pekingduck]

If you put the board under the front wheel instead, it will have the same effect, except it will be easier to swing your leg over the rear.

[Little_Phil]

If you put the board under the front wheel instead, it will have the same effect, except it will be easier to swing your leg over the rear.

You'll need twice as thick under the front.

[madmtnmotors]

If you are happy with the suspension height/setup then I would suggest either shortening the center stand or using a shorter center stand from another bike. After lowering my CB750 K8 dragbike by about 2" front and rear I would have to roll the rear tire up on TWO 2x4's and the center stand would put the rear wheel about 4" off the ground! I had the center stand from an 83' Goldwing lying around so I took some quick measurements. It uses the same mounting point as the SOHC CB750 and was quite a bit shorter. I had to weld a new post on the stand to hook the spring to since the Goldwing spring hook was clocked/rotated differently, but now the rear wheel sits 1/2" off the ground when on the center stand and I can raise it onto the center stand while straddling the bike with very little effort... and I've got bad knees!