I haven�t had my 98 VFR for very long now and I was looking for any neat or unique trick to resting my bike on it�s center stand. I'm not vertically challenged, just south of 30 and in my youth I was always a fan of brute strength and leverage. Now, as I grow wiser and more appreciative of my lower back, I wonder if there is an easier way. (Specifically hand placement) I�m a history professor but could use a short lesson in physics. I didn�t realize how spoiled I�d become by light 600cc imports.
I weight 145 lb., when I first got my 00 VFR800 back in December, I had a had time putting the bike on the centerstand in my garage. I have a BMW R1150RS since 2002, and never had trouble getting that machine on the centerstand, yet the BMW is approx. 80 lb heavier than the VFR800. Recently, I have pretty much gotten used to putting my whole body weight on the centerstand lever as I lift the bike onto the centerstand, you have to build up a little momentum and practice to make it a long single motion, instead of dropping the centerstand to the ground and then try to put the bike on the centerstand.. I don't know if that helps..
Ahhh... i was about ~145 or so when i got my VFR750 and unfortunately lost ~20 in the hospital a few months later. for the longest time I couldn't get the centerstand to work, I thought I was too weak or lost too much muscle mass. Then I realized the WAY i was trying to lift it was wrong and never going to work...
if you look carefully at the center stand, it has two pins or pegs, one on each side of the stand. The way I WAS trying to lift it, the bike was leaning more towards me (left side of bike, clutch side) thus I was trying to put about 490lbs on one peg, almost IMPOSSIBLE. as i kept practicing more and more (it took over 8 months for me to lift it for the first time) i realized that if you lean the bike slightly towards the right until you "feel" the two pegs balance/steady the bike, that is when you should lift back. so this is how i do it.
balance pegs, push down with right foot on foot stand/centerstand foot panel while griping back handle with right hand, left handlebar with left hand, and pulling once the initial "lift" from the pegs. it's sort of like putting a spoon under a chair leg, once you feel that inital "lift" pulling it up, i then pull with the hands, making it almost fluid like.
hope this helps! btw i'm back to 165lbs so it's all good and dandy :thumbsup:
When learning, do it with the bike between you and a wall (preferably drywall, not something scratchy like brick) juuust in case it gets away on you - at least then it won't fall all the way over.... :(
- Put bike on sidestand, in neutral. Straighten bars. - One hand on grip, one hand on passenger peg. - Press down on c-stand with foot until it contacts ground. - Lean bike away until you feel the other foot touch down. - Stand up on the c-stand, and press down with your thigh/pull up on passenger peg.
As the bike leans away from you, more weight goes on the centerstand. It's all in the legs. Hardly any bicep involved.
Also, make sure to test the grip between your boot and the c-stand peg. If either are wet or oily you can have a bad day. Neutral is also important, otherwise you need to skid the back tire, and who needs that extra effort.
Oh man! I thought you guys were gonna be talking about cool tricks to do with your center stand. Like revving the engine up in second gear, rocking back, and taking off in a smoking wheelie. Now that's a real centerstand trick.
When learning, do it with the bike between you and a wall (preferably drywall, not something scratchy like brick) juuust in case it gets away on you - at least then it won't fall all the way over.... :(
That's very good advice - wish I had followed it on my last bike. Oh well, mirrors are cheap....NOT!
HispanicSlammer, Apr 1 2005, 11:51 PMsure Coldkanuk has graciously offered to pay the swimsuit models salary too!
No offense slammer but if I wanted to see a big husky guy haul a bike around like it was a toy, I'd make a tripod out of some hockey sticks and video myself.
I believe swimsuit models would prove how easy it is 'to do it yourself' and add an edge to to your budding directorial skills.
coldcanuk, Apr 1 2005, 11:54 PMNo offense slammer but if I wanted to see a big husky guy haul a bike around like it was a toy, I'd make a tripod out of some hockey sticks and video myself.
I believe swimsuit models would prove how easy it is 'to do it yourself' and add an edge to to your budding directorial skills.
I'll shut up now :)
Coldcanuk, can't you make a centerstand video using that hottie on your avatar instead!!?? :goofy: IN A BIKINI, of course! I almost fell asleep watching the Slammer do it! :P
1. Listen to it again (above). It starts out by someone saying 'How to put a bike on it's centerstand'. Tell me that doesn't sound like the Silence of the Lambs quote:
:D I put my left foot on the center stand; let the bike level on it before rocking back. Hold the bike steady as I lift my right leg to a 90degree angle suspended over the seat. Place my hands on the handle bars, and rock my body back until the bike lifts on the center stand. It can take me a few minutes, but it works for me! :thumbsup:
3. Grasp left grip with left hand, and left passenger foot peg bracket with right hand (underhanded, as if about to curl a weight bar).
4. Place right foot on side stand and bring down to floor level.
5. As you straighten bike with arms, continue to apply pressure with foot on the side stand till both "feet" of the side stand touch the ground.
6. Stand up on and apply your body weight and leg strength onto the side stand as you "lift" with your arms.
7. Curse to bloody hell as your foot slips off the side stand because of the rain and your VFR goes over onto its right side cause you just "curled" it with alot of momentum, breaking the right mirror, right peg feeler, and gouging the right nose plastic on a sharp marble corner. :pissed:
8. Realize that the way you've always done it (using the left passenger grab rail) sould result in zero tip overs as one can easily lean back with all thier weight and prevent the tip over.
9. Curse to bloody hell as you pull the bike over on your self, after your right foot slides off the centerstand, leaving you lying in the rain, with a heavy, warm, motorcycle on top of you.
I put my left foot on the center stand; let the bike level on it before rocking back. Hold the bike steady as I lift my right leg to a 90degree angle suspended over the seat. Place my hands on the handle bars, and rock my body back until the bike lifts on the center stand. It can take me a few minutes, but it works for me! :thumbsup:
~Jen
I think a video is necessary,here. And I don't think a swimsuit would be INappropriate, as long as you don't actually ride the bike! :idea3:
Snowflake, Apr 5 2005, 05:35 AM9. Curse to bloody hell as you pull the bike over on your self, after your right foot slides off the centerstand, leaving you lying in the rain, with a heavy, warm, motorcycle on top of you.
Maybe. :P
You dont put the side stand up till after its on the center stand. :P
hey, thanks for the info... i've been trying for days and couldnt get the bike on its stand.. watched the video, then got it on its stand the 1st try. Cant believe how easy it is. :thumbsup:
Snowflake, Apr 5 2005, 05:35 AM9. Curse to bloody hell as you pull the bike over on your self, after your right foot slides off the centerstand, leaving you lying in the rain, with a heavy, warm, motorcycle on top of you.
Maybe. :P
Hmmmm. Maybe some skateboard grip tape on the foot lever would help with that. I've come close myself.
I just stand the bike up straight, step on the centerstand with my right foot, and straighten my leg. The bike just hops right up onto the centerstand. Easy as pie.
seadooloo, Apr 19 2005, 02:15 PMRobert, you need help!
I've never had a lot of difficulty with this, as my very first Honda back in 1974 had a centrestand, which took a while to master, but got the technique deeply ingrained. However, of the four Hondas I've had with centrestands, the VFR800Fi1 is the least easy to get up on the stand. I think this is for two reasons: there's no real provision for somewhere to lift it from (the VFR750 had a bar incorporated into the left pillion footpeg mount for this), and the lever on the centrestand is shorter than on the other bikes, so the leverage action is lower.
End of thread · 28 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 1 May 2005