How do you get the bike on the center stand?

I have a very hard time doing this, normally takes 2 people. I almost dropped my bike yesterday trying to do it alone. Is it a strength thing or what? I just can't seem to get enough leverage on it to pull back and get it to pop up on the stand without a hand.

 

This subject comes up periodically. Just put your right foot on the center stand leg, grab the left handle bar with your left hand and the seat grab bar with your right and PUSH down with your right foot. Let your leg do all the work.

 

Stand on the left hand side facing the bike.

Put your left hand on the left hand grip to provide stability.

Put your right hand under the seat / sissy bar, just behind where the shock attaches.

Using your right foot, push the centerstand to the ground, and get ready to use your balance!

The next 3 things must happen simultaneously:

1) Push down on the centerstand lever with your foot. ( put your weight on it! )
2) Pull up with your right hand
3) Push towards the rear of the bike using your left foot.

It's surprisingly easy, and shouldn't take much effort if done correctly. ( My wife can do it )

2 people are definitely NOT needed.




To get it back down, I sit on the bike and hump forward. This seems to be rather effective.

 

Big trick to it is to be sure both legs of the centerstand are on the ground... if you are supporting the weight on only 1..it will take a LOT more effort...

There are a few handy demo videos on this somewhere out there....

 

Good point ZaGhost. I kinda assumed that part.

 

I have to grab the Bike under the seat and pull it up while I'm forcing down with my foot.

Maybe it IS a strength thing. Some people have no problem and others find it to be a real fight. Balance and inertia come into play. I have to get the whole thing moving in the proper direction or it just won't hop-up on that center stand.

Practice.
Have somebody give you a hand if you cant muster the strength on your own.

 

The only thing I do differently is pull the bike backwards a few inches before I start to put the center stand down (gain momentum).

 

The only thing I do differently is pull the bike backwards a few inches before I start to put the center stand down (gain momentum).

 

I just put the feet on the ground, stomp on the center-stand lever... and assist the bike move back and up with my right hand (lift/pull) and my left hand balancing/holding the bars straight.

I do NOT do as Worm suggests having the bike moving. I would be concerned that it might be an easy way to drop the bike - mess up the timing and have a weak hold on the bars - over she goes. She's heavy enough with momentum on her side, weaken yourself by being to the side...

When I first started it was tricky. Now it is as easy as pie... it is more method than brawn.

 

I found it to be MUCH easier to get the bike on the center stand without getting off it. It works for both my 550 and the 750. Probably helps to have longer legs though...

I put my left foot on the center stand peg.
With my left hand, I grab the handle under the seat (750) or the grab rail bracket (550). Right hand on the handle bar, keeping it straight.
I push with the left foot on the stand, right foot on ground, and pull up with the left hand. Bike rolls right up on the center stand, and you're not worried about losing balance because it's between your legs the whole time.

It became so automatic now, that I don't even use the side stand, even if I jump off the bike for 30 seconds.

 

Gotcha, seems like I am screwing up by actually trying to sit in the seat and do it, thanks for the info

 

We've all been there. You look at something on one of these old bikes and say I should be able to do this or that. Then you get into it and struggle with what you think is simple. This site is so great because everybody here supports each other. Keep asking questions and these guys will help you figure it out.

 

At first I couldn't do it either. I read all the posts, looked at the video,
had a friend demonstrate, tried and tried and cussed and cussed, almost droped the bike a few times. Nothing worked. Then I read the posts
again. All the hand, foot and body positions were correct, emphasize
back and right arm very straight, still wouldn't work. There is one key thing I just didn't get right, push down with the right foot. It is almost a Zen thing. Concentrate hard on the pushing down. A tiny bit of rearward momentum and with minimum use of strength, it worked. Now I wonder why I made it so difficult.

My 2 cents, back to lurk,

Jim
Mena, AR

 

Oh look,

"a tiny bit of rearward momentum"...........go figure!

 

My god, man! If you can get the bike on the center stand while sitting on it... your wife must be one happy women. :wink: Your legs must be HUGE with muscles! 8O

 

That's rather harsh, Worm

 

That wasn't directed at you OpaJim.

 

just to clarify my earlier post -- I stay ON the bike to get it up on center stand... but of course I get my weight off of the seat

 

I tried the sitting on the bike method (even with the front of the bike at a slight decline) and found it much easier. I dont have that much weight to throw around and this is now my prefered way.

 

There is a difference between:
a) rolling the bike backwards and dropping the center stand
b) putting the center stand down and rocking the bike backwards.

In A if you make a mistake the bike can fall
In B, if you make a mistake your foot will hold the bike level on the center stand...

I understood your post Worm to be 'A'. I personally wouldn't recommend that method, but go right ahead and keep doing it. If I mistook your post and you mean 'B' then we're on the same page, and it is the method that I would recommend.

I've been using the 'B' method for some time now... never dropped the bike, never came close. However, I have tried a few other methods and honestly they don't seem anywhere near as stable.

 

Interesting post... made me want to rush out to the garage for a few practice rounds with my new X. It didn't feel natural at first, but after several tries I have come into Zen with the on the bike "seated" method outlined by stereomind and Jackncoke. Mahalo for the insight!