excollier
Well travelled
- Location
- County Donegal, Ireland
after over 40 years of biking, this subject never crossed my mind but it's interesting when you stop to think about it
How to use the center-stand.
- Thread starter Ligonier
- Start date
RotorWrench
Well travelled
- Location
- USA
Me either until I came across the first bike I had trouble with it on, especially for owners of smaller or lighter builds. One of the F800GS forums I used to be on had this pop up periodically, usually from owners moving from a lighter bike to the 800 or never dealing with a centerstand before. To some it comes naturally, others have to learn or figure it out.
Some bikes have their stands located with better geometry than others. Also, some owners that have developed a poor technique but one that worked on a previous bike often find it now isn't working on another bike because of stand location, stand height or bike weight.
It does pop up on other forums, especially some of the female owner forums my wife has been on.
I think you're making something simple, complicated. I've never been aware of using any 'system.' Just stand on the centre stand and use a hand on the frame or luggage rack to steady the bike and as it rises and goes back, guide it along. Maybe my formative years with Tridents and Rocket 3's made me appreciate the simple things in life!
RotorWrench
Well travelled
- Location
- USA
LOL obviously it's a little more complicated for some, based on this thread and other forums.
I've been riding for a few decades myself and never had problems with centerstands until I got into heavier bikes. What used to work for me, as you say "simply standing on the centerstand" definitely doesn't work for my weight and height on a laden F800, KLR or R100GS, fact. I had to change from simply "standing" to standing, pulling up hard and pulling back in right sequence.
My KLR centerstand was aftermarket and I was having problems getting it up, especially with loaded panniers. I had several larger and heavier buddies try it and show me what I was doing wrong, and they ended up having some difficulty as well. It turns out the stand was raising the rear tire almost 2.5". Compare that to my Himalayan which only raises the rear tire 1". I shortened the stand legs around 0.50" and that was all it took for me to get it up. It was an improperly designed stand, especially based on the complaints of a number of other KLR owners. Some bikes are easier than others.I know that from prior experience on many bikes.
I'm glad it's a simple thing for you and I'm sure you mean no harm, but you really shouldn't dismiss the obvious struggles others have, especially when they're circumstances may be different than yours.
I grab the left handgrip and one of the frame members for the panniers. As I said, it can get the bike up, but I can't get it to move "back". The frame hand-hold is not far back enough and there's nothing else to grab onto.
btw: I have no problem getting my 800+ lb Goldwing onto the center stand.
btw: I have no problem getting my 800+ lb Goldwing onto the center stand.
Centerstanding a bike was something that made me nervous and seemed harder than it should have been until I took a MSF class and was fortunate to have a great teacher who really worked hard to make sure we were prepared and ready for the challenge of really learning to stay safe.
The trick I learned, and why it works, and the help to practice and learn made a huge difference. Here's a quick written version, and I actually found a video with the same fundamentals.
* Press down on the center stand with my right foot so I can stand facing forward and lean backwards in the next steps. My right hand is lowish on the rear frame and the left on the left handlebar grip with the wheel pretty well straight.
* As I transfer more and more weight to my foot standing on the center stand, slowly push the bike over towards the vertical until reaching the point where both of the center stands's feet are touching concrete. By putting even more weight on your right foot, the bike will firmly planted and can stand on its own.
* Put all your weight on your foot, push down with your foot, pull up with your right hand which is low on the frame, and if you feel comfortable you can add leaning back in sync with the bike's momentum up and to the rear. It should go up and over and fall into the locked position and be nice and stable. After you do it successfully a few times, you'll find the rhythm and have learned the dance.
I know I butchered some aspect, so here is one video which seemed to be identical to what I was taught and how it works.
- Location
- Northern California
Also, make sure bike isn't in gear when you're trying to put it on the stand! If it's in gear it will fight you, and holding the clutch is one more thing to worry about then.
Yeah, I have a slight weight advantage on ya, only 75lbs or so lol. Bike on a downslope of any kind can also require a lot more effort. I just tested in my driveway, I had to pull back on bike for downslope. Weight alone on the lever didn't cut it there.I wish!I tried that when I first got it but I don't have the weight.
Last edited:
RotorWrench
Well travelled
- Location
- USA
Just for curiosity instead of grabbing the left handlebar grip (it turns on you) grab the back of the left tank guard and when you get the bike up, pull there and lean back. Works for my coworker when nothing else he tried did.
RotorWrench
Well travelled
- Location
- USA
+1 and make sure your sidestand is up. A lot of riders have had a mis-attempt of putting the bike on the centerstand or taking off centerstand and when it drops back down and forward it'll sometimes hit the side stand and pogo to the right and go over. Don't ask how I know this
Wasn't dismissing anyone's struggles. I just get the sense some people are trying too hard and over-thinking. I thought it might be helpful to suggest a different approach - ie letting the bike do the work. The Himalayan is one of the easiest to handle in my experience.
Roy Gavin
Well travelled
- Location
- Adelaide Australia
On the early bikes some folks were putting so much pressure on the foot pedal that they broke off, they were strengthened/ better gusseted on later bikes.
I had the pedal break on another hard to lift bike, but luckily there was a stub left at the stand leg long enough that I could slip in a long bolt and press on that.
Worked a treat, the extra couple of inches in length made all the difference and the bike popped up on to the stand much easier.
Never rewelded it, just carried the bolt in the tool kit.
Confirmed bodgers could probably cut the end off the foot pedal and do the same in the Hima!
My bike is a early 2017 without the modified pedal so I haven't tried extending it , but looking at the pedal it would probably not be too hard to make up a extension that you could temporally slip over the foot pad to give you the extra leverage.
I had the pedal break on another hard to lift bike, but luckily there was a stub left at the stand leg long enough that I could slip in a long bolt and press on that.
Worked a treat, the extra couple of inches in length made all the difference and the bike popped up on to the stand much easier.
Never rewelded it, just carried the bolt in the tool kit.
Confirmed bodgers could probably cut the end off the foot pedal and do the same in the Hima!
My bike is a early 2017 without the modified pedal so I haven't tried extending it , but looking at the pedal it would probably not be too hard to make up a extension that you could temporally slip over the foot pad to give you the extra leverage.
JimBob
Getting there...
- Location
- Dundee Scotland
All of the above but just make sure your bikes not facing down even a slight slope if you can help it, less gravity to fight.
Last edited:
excollier
Well travelled
- Location
- County Donegal, Ireland
Or worse....
I've never had problems with my previous bike and none with my 2019, however since I put in lowering links on my 2020, its nearly impossible to get her on the center stand. There is just too much space between the tire and the ground. I am working with my welder son to shorten a spare center stand about an inch. There is certainly plenty of room.
Kirkew
Finally made it
- Location
- Gold Coast, Australia
Use the rearward momentum of the bike to lift it over the fulcrum (pivot point) the centre stand provides. or weld a longer lever on the stand ?
Ligonier
Well travelled
This thread certainly took on a life/momentum of it's own. And I greatly appreciate all the help/suggestions/video. In my particular case, the video was helpful in making me realize the physics I *should* have grasped intuitively but did not. At any rate, I have learned to use the center stand with relative ease and wish to thank those that helped me with that learning curve.
I went into my garage today and tried getting it on the center stand using the suggestions listed here. NOPE!
I just can't grab anything with my right hand that's "behind" the pivot point. My panniers are in the way. But I'll keep trying.
It's like those 3D pictures that used to appear in our Sunday comics section. You can stare and stare and just see a blur. But then magically, you see the 3D image. I hope that's what happens here.
I just can't grab anything with my right hand that's "behind" the pivot point. My panniers are in the way. But I'll keep trying.
It's like those 3D pictures that used to appear in our Sunday comics section. You can stare and stare and just see a blur. But then magically, you see the 3D image. I hope that's what happens here.
RotorWrench
Well travelled
- Location
- USA
If you're not too tall, try grabbing the lower forward attach tube for the pannier racks. That grab point works better for me with panniers on and the bike pops right into place. 
Tried that. No dice. I can stand on the center stand arm with both of the legs on the ground, steering pointed straight ahead. Grabbing the rail (as in the picture) and lifting, my right arm is straight. I'm not tall enough for my right arm to bring the bike any higher. And if I bend my arm to get more of the bike in the air, I just can't get it high enough to overcome the pivot point. I even checked my rear shock thinking that might have something to do with it. I simply just can't do it. I have to put the wheel on a 1x or 2x and then I can.
My dealer is just around the corner. Maybe I'll take it there and they can demonstrate and instruct.
My dealer is just around the corner. Maybe I'll take it there and they can demonstrate and instruct.