Topic: How to keep bike vertical without center stand?

[Harper]

Hi everybody,

I'm winterizing my motorcycle (750 K5), and I want it to be resting nicely vertical (not leaning to the side on the side stand). But because I have a 4 into 1 exhaust, the center stand doesn't fit. Is there an easy, safe way to replace the function served by the center stand? When I adjusted the chain and worked on the rear wheel, I jacked it up and had a friend hold the bike steady. Clearly, that's no long-term solution, and pretty inconvenient even for short jobs. Any tricks?

Thanks,

Harper

[Patrick]

Jack stands.

[754]

Wooden blocks under each side of frame, pluss a few shims..
 Or block right side, then lift left side, and pop a 2x4 under the sidestand...

[Alan F.]

I've been thinking of making a stand similar to a swingarm stand except it will work with the centerstand mounts, thoughts?

Apart from that give a front wheel chock like this a shot:  http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=97841

-Alan

[Steve_K]

I use a rear stand, but I have to remove the exhaust canister to reach the swing arm.  I use it on my other bikes and it works for wheel removal too
Steve

[CycleRanger]

Milk crate.

[andy750]

Pit bull stand. No centerstand on my bike.





cheers
Andy

[754]

Alan, I was thinking of making one that fits the C-stand mounts, but is height adjustable....more of a builders aid, but also a stand for cleaning or storage.

 Cycle Ranger if you got a pic of a single milk crate holding up a CB 750 with a 4_1 header, I would like to see it...

[CycleRanger]

Cycle Ranger if you got a pic of a single milk crate holding up a CB 750 with a 4_1 header, I would like to see it...

Oops, sorry missed that.  Yeah, milk crate is out.

[grandelatte]

Pit bull stand. No centerstand on my bike.

+1

[Harper]

Man, thank you everybody for the variety of options

I think I ought to just invest in a rear stand, though in the mean time I may just try the wood blocking and 2x4.

Thanks

Harper

[754]

He did mention, it will not fit...

[CycleRanger]

Yeah, I suck at the internets today. 

[mycb750k6]

Andy,
What model is that? I looked on the pit bull site and they have a bunch. Did you have to modify it all for use with the CB750?

[andy750]

Andy,
What model is that? I looked on the pit bull site and they have a bunch. Did you have to modify it all for use with the CB750?

Ill check on the model later (on my way out to dinner) but no modications on my part -you see the stand rests on the underside of the exhaust/swingarm. It works. I can put it up, take it down on my own.

More later,
Andy

[MötleyRöx]

loosely attach tie-downs (tie-ups now  ) to the rafters.  
Use the kind that you just pull the loose end to tighten it and make sure the loose end is coming down from the rafters.
Sit on the bike and pull the tie-ups taught.  You don't have to make it go off the ground, unless you want to and the structure you're attaching to can handle it.
Obviously make sure that nothing is going to slide loose.  That is bad.
Here's how you can use one end of the tie down to self tighten over the grip or other places.   (By the way, that's a broken tie down so its missing the other end so I was able to get it around my bicycle frame no problem... but this method with good tie downs requires you to be able to slide the loop around and end of something, like the grips on your bars.

[Industrial Cafe]

I stand mine up on the sidestand with a 2x4 under it and a small jack stand under the right foot peg bracket.  it's pretty much straight up.

[Retro Rocket]

   How to keep bike vertical without center stand?

Ride it.......

Mick

[seaweb11]

Andy, how would that lift of yours work if you did not have the 2 low pipes on either side?

[BobbyR]

The problem with shimming under the kickstand to level the bike makes it very prone to tipping over.

[Industrial Cafe]

The problem with shimming under the kickstand to level the bike makes it very prone to tipping over.

but the other side has a jack stand under it. It's pretty stable.
With a center stand, only the front wheel is touching the ground.
 when I do this with my bike both tires touch the ground, but not with all the weight of the bike.
 Once I have the jack stand positioned, I have to lift up on the frame to get the block under the stand.

[BobbyR]

The key is the jack stand.,

[Don R]

Does a center stand fit when it is down? I have one that was frozen with rust and I cut the flare off the tube to remove it. But I can re-install it temporarily with a piece of 1/2" all thread rod and some washers. Remove before riding.

[MötleyRöx]

Don... if you don't mind flipping the c-stand down with a little rigged-ness, you could do that.
But, normally the back tire is off the ground at least an inch when the stand is down.

Racers do that trick alot with the old centerstand/makeshift rod maneuver.  
Edit: or at least many of the old racers I've been around.   

[andy750]

Andy, how would that lift of yours work if you did not have the 2 low pipes on either side?

Yes the pit bull stand works by sliding under the swingarm - its not designed to work on the under 2 exhausts. The way I use it is too slide it under the swingarm and lift up. So the little arms on either side support the swingarm. The 2 lower exhausts do rest on it but they are not supported by the stand. Hope that makes sense. The rear wheel can spin on the stand. I use it for tightening the chain, lubing the chain and changing the oil.

cheers
Andy