Author Topic: stupid question (center stand) (Read 3512 times)

Ayrity · « **on:** April 25, 2010, 12:16:51 PM »

Ok, so, dumb question for a newbie I know, but where is the best place to grab the bike (cb550) at the rear when putting it on the center stand if I do not have a grab rail? Thanks for not killing me for this one guys...

swellguy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2010, 12:24:48 PM »

Some bikes you can just step on the center stand and they just hop right on up. Others like my cb750 I literally have to sometimes lift the rear end from both sides of the rail. I usually grab and pull the handlebars back while stepping/standing on the stand which gets enough momentum going so it springs up. Slippery garage floors don't help either.

Ayrity · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2010, 12:27:53 PM »

I am out in a parking space so floors are no problem, I am just deathly afraid of dropping it on its side while trying to get it up on the center stand

laser145 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2010, 12:50:04 PM »

I know that feeling! I've struggled getting bikes onto center stands too, and if you're not straddling the bike, you're always afraid it will fall away from you.

Gordon · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2010, 12:56:25 PM »

If you don't have a grab bar, then grab the frame rail under the side of the seat where the grab would be. That's where I grab on my 750 since it's never had a grab bar since I've owned it.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2010, 01:02:58 PM »

Yep, my 750 I put it on the sidestand first, put my left foot on the center peg, grab the vertical rear frame tube below the seat on both sides, center the bike and pull directly back while keeping my foot on the stand peg. It takes some effort and strength.

cookindaddy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2010, 01:05:47 PM »

The grab rail really does make it easier for you. The edge of the seat is not a good thing to use. You should try to add a grab rail if you can. The grab rail also makes it easier to get the bike off the center stand.

One thing that does make it easier: as you are applying pressure to the foot bar on the center stand, is to rock the bike from side to side gently to make sure that both feet of the center stand are touching the ground at the same time (that the bike is not leaning to one side or the other). If both feet are on the ground, it is far easier to put the bike on the center stand.

You should also not try to do it if the bike is not on hard level ground, like concrete or pavement that is not sloped.

cameron · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2010, 01:10:26 PM »

I always do it while straddling, I just roll backwards a little and jump on the little posts that come off the edge!

c

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2010, 03:05:42 PM »

I grab both grips of the handlebar and stand on the leaver. An easy pull backwards will usually pop it right up. Another tip, try to park facing uphill and let gravity help out.

cb650 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2010, 04:30:24 PM »

Funny me and Paul just talked about this. It takes a little practice.
Dont use the seat to pull. Have a buddy stand on the other side and practice a few times.

Gordon · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2010, 05:07:22 PM »

Just to clarify, in case anyone misread what I was saying, I was not suggesting that anybody use the seat to lift the bike onto the center stand, I was saying to use the frame rail under the side of the seat if you don't have the stock grab bar. It doesn't work as well as the grab bar, but it does work, and you won't damage your seat by doing so.

Don R · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2010, 05:12:48 PM »

The step down is as important as the pull back and up.

wdhewson · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2010, 05:15:10 PM »

Hi:

I think that no two bikes ever lift up on to the center stand the same.

Trial and error and strength and technique are the only answers. But generally, plant the stand down with the left foot, and pull the bike up and rearward--all the while pressing the stand down harder with the foot. Practice pays.

crazypj · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2010, 05:18:00 PM »

Can't remember models off hand but there were several which had lifting handle bolted from top left shock mount and a point on frame, maybe look into finding or fabricating one?

PJ

cb650 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2010, 06:11:23 PM »

My 360 had a little grab "handle". removed it to put on my cutom made short sissy bar to keep the monkey from sliding off. Dont matter as I can put it on the center with one hand.

xfactor · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2010, 06:19:08 PM »

Quote from: Dukiedook on April 25, 2010, 01:02:58 PM

Yep, my 750 I put it on the sidestand first, put my left foot on the center peg, grab the vertical rear frame tube below the seat on both sides, center the bike and pull directly back while keeping my foot on the stand peg. It takes some effort and strength.

Great idea, ive been struggling with getting my 750 up, had my girlfriend help me twice (i know i know)

HondanutRider · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2010, 05:25:09 AM »

Correct way has been mentioned to first deploy the stand to the ground and make certain that both feet of the stand are in contact with the ground - which should be firm and level. I will dismount my 900 lb Goldwing with the side stand deployed first and the bike resting on it. Then I can deploy the centre stand to the ground on the near-side and rock the bike upright to have the other leg of the stand contact the ground, knowing then that the bike is upright and not leaning away from me. (I'm nowhere near its 900 lbs, so getting it leaned away from me would be courting disaster!) The Wing has a rearward handhold for the right hand, while the left is on the left grip. Then stepping down on the centre stand, using it as a lever, slight upwards with the right and backwards pressure with the left hand will raise the 900 lbs onto the stand (unless its pointing down-hill). The main force needed is to PRESS on the stand, not to try lifting the bike from the rear. The same technique is used for all centre stand bikes, except with lighter bikes, you can actually lift many of them. Some smaller bikes also can be rocked onto their stand while both hands grasp the handlebar grips - I do this on the SuperCub. Dismounting older, smaller bikes is a matter of careful balance as they often do not have a side stand to deploy. My Superhawk (350 lbs) is like that, and I have long-ago installed a hand-hold onto the frame to assist in holding it for the stand deployment.

Mounting a bike that is parked on its centre stand has another technique that should be followed: Don't try to take the bike off its stand while standing beside it - straddle or sit on the bike first. Then, with both feet on the ground and the hands holding the grips while the fingers on the right cover the front brake, rock forward while pushing with the hands to move the stand up and the bike free. As the bike comes down off its stand, you can squeeze the front brake to catch any forward movement. I can usually do that with my Wing, catching the bike before even the shocks have a chance to collapse. Some people will even have a passenger on the bike while they tug the bike off the centre stand - but that is more dangerous and a passenger should only mount and dismount while the operator is seated and holding the bike upright.

MikeJW · « **Reply #17 on:** April 26, 2010, 06:39:39 AM »

Perhaps, like me, some people don't realize the importance of how tall the bike is to this issue. When I first got my 750, I was amazed at how easy it was to get it up the center stand. However, the bike was just a bit too tall for me. It had rear shocks which were almost an inch longer than stock and the front clamp was as high up on the tubes as it could go. So I put 550 shocks on the rear and dropped the front about 0.75 inch. Much easier to ride now but a real struggle to pull it up on the stand. Whew!!!

cb650 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 26, 2010, 09:13:25 AM »

Yes longer shock do help a bunch. Probly why mine are both easier.

ron.cieri.313 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 12, 2010, 12:49:55 PM »

Yes, my bike has been lowered (think 16" rear tire) and its a real bear to get up on the center stand...which is why I'm reading this post!

MCRider · « **Reply #20 on:** November 12, 2010, 01:51:21 PM »

Many have mentioned so I'm not the first, but only to repeat, the key is to push down, not lift up. Now this is just semantics because you can't push the stand down below the pavement. But if you "think" push down, while holding a handhold firmly, the result is you lift up using your leg, which is stronger, not your back or upper body.

On the take down, my wife pointed out to me something that i hadn't thought of. I'd told her to catch the bike with the front brake. I had meant after it was off the stand. She was squeezing the front brake while rocking forward and it WILL NOT come off the stand that way.

I put low profile tires on my HawkGT and at 385lbs its a b--ch to get on the stand.

Beatmalls · « **Reply #21 on:** January 22, 2011, 01:11:17 PM »

I just wanted to thank the people who posted in this thread. I tried a number of times to get my 750 on the center stand and couldn't do it until I read all these posts. Really for me it was the advice to think about pushing down on the stand rather than pulling the bike up that did it. SOHC rules!

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #22 on:** January 22, 2011, 02:23:17 PM »

Quote from: Beatmalls on January 22, 2011, 01:11:17 PM

I just wanted to thank the people who posted in this thread. I tried a number of times to get my 750 on the center stand and couldn't do it until I read all these posts. Really for me it was the advice to think about pushing down on the stand rather than pulling the bike up that did it. SOHC rules!

Welcome to the club Beat! The breadth and depth of knowledge here is AMAZING!! By the way, here is a build article for a simple device you can use to make center standing your scoot effortless!

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=74140.0

Kong · « **Reply #23 on:** January 22, 2011, 02:45:21 PM »

The thing is that once you do it about a half a dozen times it sort of becomes second nature and you begin doing it unconsciously. The bike will sort of seem to hop up on the stand all by itself; its all a matter of getting it to be one smooth motion, the rock back, the push down with the foot, the lift with the hand. It will just sort of swing up there on its own, or so it will seem. Really, do it a dozen times and it becomes second nature. It is good that you are cautious though, and a spotter on the other side of the bike while you do it a few times sure can't hurt.

Gaither · « **Reply #24 on:** January 22, 2011, 03:23:27 PM »

OldSchool - Good show! 'Gonna try that.

At Hondaman's suggestion, I have used just a block of 3/4" wood. Garage floor is slick and that darned stand just slides! (My bad back doesn't help.)

FWIW,
I saw a hugh Honda "cruiser" that had a fulcrum, positioned at an angle on the center stand (CS) obviously welded to the CS. This was evidently a factory-made deal (option?).

The guy could sit on the bike, pull the CS down with his left foot and push back with his right foot. This fulcrum hit the ground first and that hugh bike VERY easily rolled up on the fulcrum and onto the CS. Amazingly easy! Incidently, the fulcrum was pointed and looked like square tubing. You wouldn't believe how easily that bike rolled onto the CS!

Had I known then what I know now about CS's, I would have gotten the year and series of the bike - and made some pics of the CS (wish I had!).

***I think a "weld-on" piece could be made and welded to these CB-4 CS's to do the same thing. I couldn't do it but the right guy could.

***I'll bet enough could be sold to "make it hunt". What do the rest of you think?

News:

Author Topic: stupid question (center stand) (Read 3512 times)

wdhewson