Lifting onto the center stand made easy

[willowstreetguzziguy]

My 1200Sport did not come with a center stand, but I eventually added one several years ago. It’s a bear to get it up on that center stand as you can see from the picture. I always use the side stand when I’m out riding until I come home and ride into the garage. I want it sitting on the center stand so I used a 2 x 10 and cut it an angle, taped it onto my garage floor And now when I roll the rear wheel up onto the wood, it’s so much easier to lift it onto the center stand. I even created one for in the driveway when I work on it out there. Anybody ever use this method?

[73 sport]

    Many Of us have been doing that for years. I used a block of wood since I got my '73 Sport in '73.

[Bisbee]

With a knee replacement and iffy back, I had given up on hoisting the Stelvio and especially the 98 EV. I'll give this a try. Thanks for posting. And why do the Italians make this so difficult when every BMW I've had is so easy to pull up?

[wirespokes]

And why do the Italians make this so difficult when every BMW I've had is so easy to pull up?

A lot of the airheads are tough getting on their stands. And not all the guzzis are a problem - my current ride, 79 G5 has this long ugly tang on the side stand that gives gobs of leverage and is a snap getting up.

Not all of the guzzis have difficult center stands.

[73 sport]

  When parking the bike, have a piece of 3/4" x 12"x 12" plywood under the rear wheel, making it much easier to deploy the center stand.

[n3303j]

With a knee replacement and iffy back, I had given up on hoisting the Stelvio and especially the 98 EV. I'll give this a try. Thanks for posting. And why do the Italians make this so difficult when every BMW I've had is so easy to pull up?

BMW could have a Reynolds? Ride Off Center Stand. Had one on my R100RT. I could deploy that thing while sitting on the bike. And of course ride off it with the slightest forward body thrust.

As far as the V11EV goes it's not bad as long as I can get all my 200# on the deployment tab on the centerstand. That usually involves standing on it on my right instep with full weight. A firm boot is required. Otherwise it's "call a friend".

[willowstreetguzziguy]

BMW could have a Reynolds? Ride Off Center Stand. Had one on my R100RT. I could deploy that thing while sitting on the bike. And of course ride off it with the slightest forward body thrust.

As far as the V11EV goes it's not bad as long as I can get all my 200# on the deployment tab on the centerstand. That usually involves standing on it on my right instep with full weight. A firm boot is required. Otherwise it's "call a friend".

Had a Reynolds ride off stand on an R90 S after the original stand bit the dust. It worked great just like you said.

I’ve even thought of having it cut and welded shorter but that’s too difficult.

[Oca Grassa]

I get it if you’ve gotten knee surgery or have a dodgy back….but honestly I’ve found it to be down to technique. I’ve only ever had 4 bikes with a center stand.

My Norge, my 80s Turbo, EX500 and a R1150GS. All three require a different technique to get them on their center stand with ease. Might be more accurate to describe as a different variation on the same technique.

Before the Norge or BMW it was mainly the EX500 as the Turbo only gets moved around the garage every few years. Neither is particularly difficult to put on the centerstand.

The BMW took me a little while to find the sweet spot, but once found it was effortless. Same for the Norge. Just a little different to the BMW in technique but it took less time to figure out.

It’s literally as easy as falling over, only without the damage. I’d only say the obvious, which is to make sure the stand has both legs touching the ground before starting. After that, I just step on the stand lever, lean back while pulling on the left bar with my left hand, and up on the grab rail with my right.

My weight & gravity so most of the work. The pull at the bar and grab handle is slight. Step, lean, tug and up onto the stand the Norge goes.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

I should have mentioned at the beginning that I had to shorten the tab on my center stand several inches because I have 1.5” lowered foot pegs as you can see in the photo. So basically it is of no help to step on that to gain leverage in lifting it onto the center stand. I can imagine the original center stand tab was long enough to help in lifting it.

[RinkRat II]

  Found this on ebay and works like a charm on my Sport.

  Paul B 

[willowstreetguzziguy]

  Found this on ebay and works like a charm on my Sport.

  Paul B 

I had one that came standard on my 1993 BMW K75S.

[PeteS]

I have been using the block of wood for years. My V85 has the easiest lift of just about any bike I’ve owned other than my Norton.

Pete

[RinkRat II]

      My '87 K75S has it also and kind of sparked the idea for the Sport. The fold away feature is nice instead of a regular grab bar.

      Paul B

[Tom]

Been using blocks of wood for years plus any other variations for getting a bike off the ground and on a lift.  Moto lift, c-lift, floor jack w/wood or jack stands.  Best one so far is an engine hoist/cherry picker.  Cheapest & easiest is 2x4 blocks under the c-stand feet with kickstand deployed just in case of an ooops.    Whatever works for you.   

[Huzo]

This. https://youtu.be/I8ayA_fDON0?feature=shared