Author Topic: What do you use more? (Read 7419 times)

Gordon · « **Reply #25 on:** June 23, 2006, 01:43:30 PM »

Quote from: GroovieGhoulie on June 23, 2006, 09:45:07 AM

It just seems that by using the grab bar, you're dead-lifting the bike, while the pulling rearward technique uses the centerstand as a lever and the bike does the work itself.

I tried that on my little 400 and said "F THAT NOISE!" It felt like I was trying to lift the entire damn 390 pounds of that thing with my right hand alone!

You're focusing too much on lifting with the right hand. The centerstand is a lever, if you focus on putting all your weight on your right foot, you don't need to lift much at all with your right hand, the bike will rock back on the stand and you just need a slight effort of the right hand to help it out.

jdamman · « **Reply #26 on:** June 30, 2006, 08:24:45 PM »

Ah, time for a post of ignorance. I hadn't been around bikes much when I started working on my dad's CB750K1, and so when it came time to put it up on the center stand, I just grabed the handle bars and rocked a couple of times while holding the center stand with my foot. (I'm 6'3", 260 lbs.) Needless to say, my dad, who's much smaller in stature gave me a funny look when I told him how it was kindof a challenge to get the bike on the center stand. He said he didn't ever remember doing it that way.

He then showed me how he grabed the rear crash bar with his right hand, the handle bar with his left hand and steped on the center stand with his right leg while using his knee to push back on his hand/crash guard. Man, that sure made it easier. Now I can be cool and make it effortless, however, maybe I'll work on doing it in one shot with the handle bars only...

angeldeville · « **Reply #27 on:** June 30, 2006, 10:11:31 PM »

After having my 76" knocked over in a parking lot, I use my center stand in public and side stand at home...

Orcinus · « **Reply #28 on:** July 01, 2006, 08:11:18 AM »

Under the heading of "No good deed goes unpunished..."

A few years ago, my wife and I were touring thru Yosemite on my bike, as we pulled into a scenic view area, there was a guy on a Brand New squid bike (still had dealer temp. tags) a little ways ahead of us. I see this bozo swing off the bike, kick down the side stand and turn and walk away, WITH THE BIKE FACING DOWN HILL. I can see the bike is already rolling forward, so I pull up close on the right side and stop, grabbing his rear grab handle, just as the side stand snaps up. Bad situation, ya see, I've got short legs. I'm already at a disadvantage on my own bike, sitting at stop lights either shifted sideways on the saddle or up on my toes trying to reach the ground. So I'm trying to keep both bikes upright, on a hill, yelling at the top of my lungs because I know I can't hold this long. Seemed like forever, must of only been seconds before I had to let go or lose both bikes to gravity. Stupid jerk never heard me yell, but he sure heard the crash of his pretty toy hitting the ground (although I did ease it down as far as I could before having to let go.) Should have seen it coming, El Jerko didn't speak a word of english, and I couldn't get him to understand that it wasn't me who knocked his bike over. After 8-10 minutes of trying to cross the language barrier, I finally gave him the one finger salute and we took off.

Makes it hard to try to help people...

madbunny · « **Reply #29 on:** July 01, 2006, 11:44:12 AM »

sidestand only.
the center stand took a hike during the bob job/frame off 6 years ago.
i don't worry too much about her falling over.
i got my bike registered as historical four years ago and that historical plate has nearly the same effect as a park-anywhere-you-damn-well-please pass.
i just look around until i find a spot that looks like it can handle the weight and park her there.
if it happens to be on top of an '87 mazda rx-7, so be it.

admittedly my bike been lowered about 3 1/2 to 4 inches so i don't really remember how bad the lean over is on a stock-height/side-stand bike....

nickjtc · « **Reply #30 on:** July 31, 2006, 06:58:12 PM »

Quote from: SteveD CB500F on May 03, 2006, 03:54:07 AM

Always the side stand on my VFR (I don't actually know which bit of plastic I can pull on to get it up onto the centre stand (!))

Flush with the plastic on the side of the bike is the lower sub frame. Heave on that.

nickjtc · « **Reply #31 on:** July 31, 2006, 07:02:22 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on June 23, 2006, 01:43:30 PM

Quote from: GroovieGhoulie on June 23, 2006, 09:45:07 AM
It just seems that by using the grab bar, you're dead-lifting the bike, while the pulling rearward technique uses the centerstand as a lever and the bike does the work itself.

I tried that on my little 400 and said "F THAT NOISE!" It felt like I was trying to lift the entire damn 390 pounds of that thing with my right hand alone!

You're focusing too much on lifting with the right hand. The centerstand is a lever, if you focus on putting all your weight on your right foot, you don't need to lift much at all with your right hand, the bike will rock back on the stand and you just need a slight effort of the right hand to help it out.

Exactly. That's the way we taught the students. With the right technique even the most weight challenged person can put a big bike on its stand.

StevieMac · « **Reply #32 on:** August 01, 2006, 07:42:11 AM »

I removed the center stand and all the mounts to clean up the look. With a 4 into 1 exhaust the center stand arm is a little out of place looking IMO.

I welded some small tabs under the swing arm to accept sport bike 'spools' for a rear stand. So while I don't have the convenience of a center stand away from home I do have the same functionality at home in the garage.

Zip · « **Reply #33 on:** August 01, 2006, 05:38:32 PM »

Don't have a centerstand.

Zip

golden_child · « **Reply #34 on:** August 08, 2006, 10:11:42 AM »

Sidestand. I'm to much of a wuss to get it on it's centerstand. Oh, and lowering it didn't help. It's just that much harder.

Ok, I'll go home and practice.

boatsdickson · « **Reply #35 on:** March 15, 2007, 12:36:39 PM »

Sidestand only. Didnt know my bike originally had one for a long time. Owner before me took it off for a 4-1 header.

cafe75-550 · « **Reply #36 on:** March 15, 2007, 02:48:59 PM »

Sidestand only!

My centerstand went away with a lot of the other stock parts, and the 14" rear shocks would have rendered it mostly useless anyhow. The sidestand touches down at about the same place the bike feels like it will fall over if you're standing over it, (need a taller 77 or 78F sidestand) but just being mindful of where I park it I've had no issues.

(notice the board for the photo-op in my avatar

)

333 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 04, 2007, 02:04:36 PM »

I had a 1980 CB125S that didn't have a centerstand. The earlier models did. The frame was the same, so ordered the parts and installed it. That's how much I like them.

Of course, the bike was so light I could get it on the centerstand without getting off the bike!

cben750f0 · « **Reply #38 on:** April 04, 2007, 09:44:59 PM »

i have an xjr1200 ATM, and i like the centre stand... but..... its bloody hard to get up on, i weight 67kg (on a good day

), and it can be a struggle if you dont know what you are doin, watched my mate almost do himself a mischief tryin!!... its all technique.... they are handy for changing chains and sprockets,tires adjustment.. etc...

peace

ieism · « **Reply #39 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:23:51 AM »

My 550 is always on the sidestand (when i'm not riding it or lubing my chain). If it wasn't for the chainlubing beeing mutch easier I would probably hack it off the bike to save some weight.
I took this advice from a AAA guy: Always park your bike in 1st gear. That way it can never roll down a slope, and some drunk sitting on it while you're away won't be able to move it either (unless he's a biker too

) .

heffay · « **Reply #40 on:** April 11, 2007, 05:06:32 PM »

gordon got me to thinking about my reply to steve way back on the first page i think... i've tried to notice what makes it the easiest on the vfr and it seems to be the stomping on the centerstand/lever. i can nearly get the heaviest bike in our garage up on the stand w/ just one foot and balance w/ the handholds. that pretty much goes for all the other bikes too. (that have a centerstand

)

gregwaits · « **Reply #41 on:** April 13, 2007, 01:27:31 PM »

I use the sidestand most because it is just a pain in the ass to get the bike up on the center stand. My biddy just bought a brand new Honda GL1800. There is a center stand on the bike, and that puzzles me. The bike weighs in at over 800 pounds! He said that the only way to get the bike up on that stand is either to ask for help or use reverse.

Gordon · « **Reply #42 on:** April 13, 2007, 01:57:25 PM »

Quote from: gregwaits on April 13, 2007, 01:27:31 PM

I use the sidestand most because it is just a pain in the ass to get the bike up on the center stand. My biddy just bought a brand new Honda GL1800. There is a center stand on the bike, and that puzzles me. The bike weighs in at over 800 pounds! He said that the only way to get the bike up on that stand is either to ask for help or use reverse.

I think that ease of center stand use has more to do with the placement of the pivot point and overall design of the stand than the weight of the bike does. Of all the bikes I've had, the KZ1000, which also happens to be the heaviest, is one of the easiest to get on the centerstand.

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Author Topic: What do you use more? (Read 7419 times)

jdamman

madbunny

Zip