Topic: How Do I get the Bike up on the Center Stand

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

 
Sorry for the stupid question, but I have a 1980 CB650 I just bought, and have no Idea how to get the thing on the center stand, any help would be much appreciated, and if anyone in the St.Louis area wants to help a newbie rebuild his carbs that'd be great too!
Thanks in advance,
Jay

[mick750F]

  This is all done with one fluid motion. Standing on the left side of the bike with your left hand on the grip, right foot on the center stand and your right hand on the grab rail you SLIGHTLY move the bike backwards to give it a little momentum...at the same time pushing down firmly with your right foot and lifting hard with your right hand. Once you lock into it, it becomes second nature. If you have the strength there is no need for moving the bike backwards. Happy lifting.   

Mike

[Raul CB750K1]

Thre is something you have forgotten. I used to try to lift it up by pressing hard on the centerstand, but you have to make sure that BOTH centerstand legs are touching the ground. I generally park the bike on the sidestand. Then, on the left side, left hand on the left grip, right hand on the grab handle, and with the right foot push the centerstand down lightly. Then I tilt the bike to the right (as I'm facing it's left side I should say "I push it", without taking the foot from the centerstand, till I feel that the other centerstand leg is touching the ground. That is the moment that, with the back straight, I lift the bike with the grab handle, push the centerstand down hard and pull the handlebars to the back. Once the bike is on the centerstand I retract the sidestand (if I remember).

To put the bike down I just mount and with a forward motion of the whole body I take it down. If the bike is parked facing a incline it is real hard to take it down for the not-too-tall (as we can't push hard with the feet tips), that whay I put it down from one side, with the sidestand down just in case, and making sure that once the bike is down it won't go further from me but towards me. If I can't hold all its weight the centerstand will keep the shiny side up.


Raul

[Paul]

The action of pushing your body wright down on the centre stand tang actually rises the bike up itself, All you have to do is gently pull the bike back.

[Bob Wessner]

If you are talking about putting it on the center stand, say in the garage, or at home, save yourself some work and pick-up two foot length of 2x6". Roll the rear wheel up on that, then do the center stand routine, much easier.

Signed: Lazy Bob

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

All,
Thanks for The advice, Lazy Bob's Worked the best for me. I'm 250 pounds and for the life of me couldn't get the damn thing up any other way than getting the back tire up on a piece of wood. It went up really easily after that, so I just wanted to thank everyone for chiming in!
Jay

[DammitDan]

On my '82 650, standing on the left side and facing forward, I put my left hand on the left handlebar grip, right foot on the center stand peg, and right hand under the rear frame just under the seat.  Then I lean the bike a little to the right to make sure both center skids are down, push down with my right foot, pull backward on the bike with my left hand, and pull up on the frame with my right hand.

I weigh 235, and can get the bike onto the center stand without having to heave and strain.  It's really a technique that's important to master, because a 2x4 may not always be available (e.g. in a super hot asphault parking lot...)

[Kevin D]

I was a skinny 130lb (or less) 17 year old when I got this bike and I could manage it then. Pull handlebars to left lock - this will help keep centerstand level. Lift hard with right hand, press hard with right foot (you need your boots on, not sneakers), pull back with left hand to keep bars on lock.

[mick750F]

All,
Thanks for The advice, Lazy Bob's Worked the best for me. I'm 250 pounds and for the life of me couldn't get the damn thing up any other way than getting the back tire up on a piece of wood. It went up really easily after that, so I just wanted to thank everyone for chiming in!
Jay

   DammitDan is right. Get rid of the wood unless you're going to be carrying it around with you. You've got plenty of...er, ooomph behind you to get it done. It's really more about figuring out the leverage aspect than it is strength...although that helps as well. Like I said in my previous post it should become second nature. You shouldn't even be thinking about how you're doing it...just doing it. Go with the force young Skywalker. Don't listen to Bob on this, his mind is a bit off after all that carb work. Hah! Sorry Bob, I couldn't resist. 

Mike

[ofreen]

It is really a matter of technique, not strength.  As others have mentioned, it is important to have both legs of the centerstand touching the ground.  If you are doing it right, very little lifting is involved, and no reefing on the handlebar is necessary.  Most of the work is done with the weight on your right foot on the centerstand tang.  Some bikes go up harder than others depending on the geometry and leverage available with the centerstand tang, but about all the Hondas I've dealt with can be put up on the centerstand with one finger if it is done correctly, including Goldwings.  It is a matter of feel and timing.  Just remember the goal is to do 95% of the work with the right foot, not with your back.

Greg
'75 CB750F

[gratznic]

I don't have the normal technique down, and I'm a weakling, and I work on my bike in a place where the ground is made up of woodchips and branches and dirt and stuff, and so it's difficult to get the center stand on a solid foundation.

With that in mind, the technique that works best for me is to actually do it while sitting on the bike. I sit on the bike, and with my left foot I push the stand into the ground, I put a hand on each handlebar, and then I roll forward about an inch and then quickly roll back while at the same time lifting the front end and pushing down with my foot. It's pretty easy like that. You just have to keep in mind that the roll back requires a committed effort to really move the up and back. It's not a simple snap.

It might not be the right technique, but I've had my share of center stand struggles, and this technique works for me.

[Alan F.]

Technique for sure, if my buddy's 110lb. wife can get their FJ1300R onto the center stand.....anybody can.
The hardest part for me is tilting the bike to the right far enough to get both c-stand pads on the ground, it just feels unnatural to lean it up that far, like I'm gonna drop or something.

[Killer Canary]

My triple used to be a #$%* to get up,it turned out that the pivot points were dry as a bone.

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I have found on my K8 if I put my left foot on the center stand and pull backward on the grab rail so hard my left nut ruptures and blows into my boot, I can do it alone.  10 minutes of rubbing my groin to ease the rupture pain and I am ready to do what I put it on the stand for!

[Sam Green Racing]

Terry,

Are you telling us that you can remember why you was putting on the stand after rubbing your groin for ten minuets

[Bob Wessner]

Get rid of the wood unless you're going to be carrying it around with you.

I agree, knowing how to do it without the board is useful/valuable. To do it that way every time, even in the garage is masochism. 

[DammitDan]

10 minutes of rubbing my groin ... and I am ready to do what I put it on the stand for!

Hrmmm... I think we need to call child protective services.  I'll gladly adopt the poor sexually abused motorcycle!

[hymodyne]

about a month or so ago, I was roliling up to the college on my bike, and started to park it, on uneven dirt. Add to that the fact that I had been riding for the past hour and ten minutes and was cold...When I went to put the bike on the centerstand, fatigue, uneven ground and fate left me chasing around the side of the bike, as a bar end mirror and exaust canister took the brunt of a painfully slow and deliberate tip over--reminded me of artie johnson on his trike on Laugh-In, only I wasn't sitting on the bike at the time.

since then, I grab the Oh S**T strap on the seat, and place the other hand on the left handlebar. I roll the bike backward and push down on the lever on the centerstand. the rearward momentum  does all the work.


hym

[Lumbee]

...I'v always found my 78F a total Bitty to get on the center stand.  I don't have a grab bar, so I grab both grips and use the front brake to slowly rock it back about an inch at a time until its up on the stand.  Usually takes be 4 or 5 yanks to get it up.   (Ok, that sounded gay).     Any body out there without a grab bar or seat strap able to it up on the center stand in one fail swoop???

[DammitDan]

What is this grab bar that everyone keeps talking about?  Is it the last little piece of frame that the fender is bolted to under the seat?

[Lumbee]

...I was thinking it was the luggage rack...but now that I think about it, I guess not.  I guess it is the bar above the shocks.  So when u guys say you are using this when you put u'r bike on the centerstand, are you grabbing it under handed as you move the bike backwards?

[dusterdude]

its the chrome bar that wraps around the back of the seat.i got one and its great.

[mick750F]

...I was thinking it was the luggage rack...but now that I think about it, I guess not.  I guess it is the bar above the shocks.  So when u guys say you are using this when you put u'r bike on the centerstand, are you grabbing it under handed as you move the bike backwards?

Yes.

Mike

[Lumbee]

...hmm...I'll give it a try...

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I was a skinny 130lb (or less) 17 year old when I got this bike and I could manage it then. Pull handlebars to left lock - this will help keep centerstand level. Lift hard with right hand, press hard with right foot (you need your boots on, not sneakers), pull back with left hand to keep bars on lock.

Hey this works!!!!  and it is easy!!!!   Kind of miss rubbing my groin though???