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hello tmw, just wondering what the best/safest way to get your bike onto the centerstand is?

Left hand on left grip, right hand on left side of the frame by the seat (there may/should be a place to put your hand), right foot on the center-stand handle. Pull the bike back while lifting with your hand and step down with your right foot all at the same time.

Vinnie Barberelli wrote:hello tmw, just wondering what the best/safest way to get your bike onto the centerstand is?

I (with much chagrin) had my wife help me. She grabbed the little black handle on the back of my diminutive Ninja 250 that for some reason I couldn't manhandle on to the center stand.

I'd offer her services out for rent in putting bikes on their centerstand, but I don't think she'd appreciate it and I know she wouldn't commute to help!

RhadamYgg

If you let the center stand balance on both 'feet' before lifting with hands/pushing with foot, it becomes MUCH easier. Without the balance, it's like lifting the bike while trying to knock the center stand down which usually seems to end with a bike that is about to fall over to one side or the other. You can feel the two 'feet' balance when you push the center stand down with your foot(lightly) and then lean(not really lean, but I couldn't think of a better word) the bike until you feel both sides touch the ground.

The first thing to do is put the bike in neutral. Otherwise you're starting out working against a locked rear wheel.

Flting Duck wrote:The first thing to do is put the bike in neutral. Otherwise you're starting out working against a locked rear wheel.

I can't say I've ever had that issue. Since you are pulling straight up there is almost no friction between the tire and the ground.

It probably depends on the bike.

Johnj wrote:Left hand on left grip, right hand on left side of the frame by the seat (there may/should be a place to put your hand), right foot on the center-stand handle. Pull the bike back while lifting with your hand and step down with your right foot all at the same time.

Be sure to really put some weight on the center stand. It took me quite awhile to figure out that I didn't have to manhandle the bike (or have someone pulling backwards) if I stood on the center stand while pulling up with my right hand.

JohnJ you said it, last night I was going to answear this but when I wrote it out the words just didn't sound right. (sometimes easy things to do are VERY hard to explain to someone else, especially if you must right them)

RegalSwan wrote:Be sure to really put some weight on the center stand. It took me quite awhile to figure out that I didn't have to manhandle the bike (or have someone pulling backwards) if I stood on the center stand while pulling up with my right hand.

+1 i kick down pretty hard when putting a bike up on a center stand, makes it go up easier (at least in my experience)

Skier wrote:

Flting Duck wrote:The first thing to do is put the bike in neutral. Otherwise you're starting out working against a locked rear wheel.

I can't say I've ever had that issue. Since you are pulling straight up there is almost no friction between the tire and the ground.

It probably depends on the bike.

On a 640# BMW K1100LT it can make a big difference.