36654
New member
Such a lift handle was OEM stock on K75s.
Even the less beloved K75c had it. With a rubber covered handle, no less.
Riders of other brands often commented to me how smart that feature was.
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Centerstand ooomph
- Thread starter cycl2day
- Start date
Even the less beloved K75c had it. With a rubber covered handle, no less.
Riders of other brands often commented to me how smart that feature was.
36654
New member
Got one from another vendor on my GSA I use more when I am putting it on the lift, or dealing with a flat . Definitely helps get a handle so to speak
Who was the other vendor?
Thinking it was Touratech, little larger knurled handle than the W-lich one
Didn't see that version on the USA site
Will try to find it.
Such a lift handle was OEM stock on K75s.
Also the Oilhead RT, thinking the 1100 and maybe not the 1150?
36654
New member
Hmm......the Oilhead RS had an integral hand-hold below the seat. I just assumed that was the case for the Oilhead RT.
dabubba
New member
Alan Coles pretty much summed it up. Find a friend with an old LT and practice. After becoming adept at lifting that pig every other bikes becomes child's play. The big thing is you can't be timid about it and let the bike become unbalanced. Find the balance point with both legs of the center stand on the ground, and then . . . go for it.
AKsuited
New member
wbrownell9
New member
The K 1200 LT had an electric centerstand. Practicing with that doesn't count.
dabubba
New member
The K 1200 LT had an electric centerstand. Practicing with that doesn't count.
True, but i never had that advantage. Not sure when they came out with the electric lift but it was some years later than 2000.
jamesevans
New member
CAUTION: Having ripped the tendons in my left calf doing exactly this, I would recommend to everyone that they do NOT use the ball of the foot. Use the instep - as long as you're wearing boots it won't hurt your leg. Stand on the extension of the centre stand with your full weight and pull lightly as above. DON'T stand on the ball of your foot and heave, if you don't want to wreck your leg. I did mine 5 years ago and I don't think it will ever be right.
beemerchuck
Member
You might try setting the ESA to 2 helmets to max out the pre-load.
This would make it somewhat easier to put on the center-stand.
This would make it somewhat easier to put on the center-stand.
ROBERTSI
New member
All about technique
This technique works great for me. I've had no issues with 2 previous big GSs and no big deal with my 2014 1200gsa. I'll even get it on the center stand, wearing slippers ( in garage ) . Although not recommended. I'm only 5'8. 175 lbs
This technique works great for me. I've had no issues with 2 previous big GSs and no big deal with my 2014 1200gsa. I'll even get it on the center stand, wearing slippers ( in garage ) . Although not recommended. I'm only 5'8. 175 lbs
alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
James, it's very unfortunate that you hurt your calf so badly, but that could not have occurred from attempting to place the bike on the center-stand as I had outlined.
If you had/have to "heave" (which one should not do) than you are doing it all wrong. The "pull up and back with your hands" should be an effort much less than lifting a 40 lb box. As I pointed out if the procedure is done correctly, it "shouldn't require a lot of effort". The liflting (heaving) work is done by the center-stand itself not by the rider.
The idea is to put your body weight on your foot, virtually nothing more.
Please don't suggest to people that they use their instep, the instep is the weakest part of the bottom of your foot and the easiest to damage. The ball of your foot is designed to hold your body weight and much more. Your injury was to your calf, not your foot, which would further suggest that there was way too much pressure put on the leg by actually trying to lift the bike up rather than rock it backwards onto the center-stand. There is a link to a video of the proper procedure further up in this thread, I think you'll see that they are likely using the same technicque that I described.
Here's another link to Chris Harris doing it. Notice each time he uses the ball of his foot not the instep.
I hope that helps demonstrate the procedure better than words can.
On another note (I watched Chris' video to make sure his foot position was visible), he also used a technique that I've used for many years when working on my bikes wheither it's on the center-stand on the floor or the lift. You'll see that he uses a tie-down strap from the front wheel to the center-stand. If anyone isn't familiar with the strap Chris is using in the video, it is a BMW factory "crate" strap. They've been used for many, many years to secure the bikes being shipped from the factory. Several BMW dealers sell these straps. I have several in my garage and always have two on my bike. They've come in handy for many purposes over the years.
Sierra BMW sell 4 for $5. http://www.sierrabmwonline.com/product_info.php/bmw-motorcycles-factory-lashing-tiedown-straps-straps-used-bmw-r1150gs-strapon-p-645?osCsid=qiij4fc6ka9pkvljkhml2jltp6
PGlaves
#13338
So how much do folks weigh that this is so easy for? I weigh 165 and can put all of my weight on the stand on my R1150R - that is the other foot off the ground dangling in the air - and the bike will not go all the way up on the center stand without significant lifting with my arm/upper body.
Maybe heavyweights can do it with the foot alone. At my weight standing on the stand does NOT do it.
And if standing alone is supposed to do it, why did BMW put a lift handle on the bike?
Maybe heavyweights can do it with the foot alone. At my weight standing on the stand does NOT do it.
And if standing alone is supposed to do it, why did BMW put a lift handle on the bike?
ROBERTSI
New member
I agree ! Foot + arm/upper body.
cycl2day
Cycl2day
No need for further evidence, it's not very easy with the newer R12GSw. My R12R was not hard and after I added Ohlins it was easy! I am able to get to the center stand but it not always slick, and I don't want to risk a spectacle if in a pubic place. So I ordered the Wunderlich handle!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
Paul, it is a combination of all the actions/motions outlined.
It is all about learning and executing (correctly) the proper technique. That doesn't mean there isn't effort involved, nor that there won't be situations where nothing seems to work, just that there is an overall method that has been time-proven to work for folks from 150-350 lbs.
The idea is that the weight of your body (165lbs) does "most" of the work, not all.
As one starts to press down on the center-stand tang with the ball of their right foot they also (at the same time) pull the bike up and back using their left hand on the left handlebar grip and their right hand on a secure point on the bike close to just below the rear seat. As I suggested before, the effort that one is putting into actual lifting shouldn't need to be anything more than around that used to lift about 40-50 lbs (my rough estimate - never used a spring scale to measure it).
I'm currently 200 lbs, so in the center-stand deployment area, that's one area where my lack of self-discipline may help me. ;-) However, it definitely is more about fine-tuning the technique and developing a good smooth rhythm than one's weight.
When I was a 145 pound 20-year-old a lot of people used to have issues kick-starting the Norton Commandos. I never had an issue, even after rebuilding it with over-sized pistons and increasing the compression. Had I just gone up to the bike and tried to stab down on the kick-starter my scrawny little a** wouldn't have budged it much at all, but using the proper technique (kick it over 2-3 times before turning on ignition or fuel, bring it up on the compression cycle, turn everything on and lift your body weight up and then kick on the down stroke), I never had any trouble and still don't with Nortons. I used to be able to kick-start them while straddling them with no stand down.
A few years later I bought a brand new 1977 Suzuki GS750 (558 lbs vs 574 for a GSW / 604 for RTW) and my 145 lbs never had any trouble with putting it on the center-stand.
Today, I'm mid-60's, 197 lbs with a bad back, fused lower vertibea, and bad knees (misspent youth and club racing motorcycles). Even after a 600+ mile day with my panniers and 49L top-case loaded I put the RTW on the center-stand when I arrive at a hotel for the night. It's not as easy then as at noon, but it isn't going to hurt my body - if I use the techniques outlined in the videos employing well coordinated fluid movements. Sometimes, if I'm really tired it may take a second effort to get the motion to be fluid and well coordinated, but that has nothing to do with weight or strength and everything to do with a heightened degree of physical and mental fatigue interferring with my smoothness/timing/coordination - far better to stop for the night prior to that onset, but sometimes we push barriers.
It is all about learning and executing (correctly) the proper technique. That doesn't mean there isn't effort involved, nor that there won't be situations where nothing seems to work, just that there is an overall method that has been time-proven to work for folks from 150-350 lbs.
The idea is that the weight of your body (165lbs) does "most" of the work, not all.
As one starts to press down on the center-stand tang with the ball of their right foot they also (at the same time) pull the bike up and back using their left hand on the left handlebar grip and their right hand on a secure point on the bike close to just below the rear seat. As I suggested before, the effort that one is putting into actual lifting shouldn't need to be anything more than around that used to lift about 40-50 lbs (my rough estimate - never used a spring scale to measure it).
I'm currently 200 lbs, so in the center-stand deployment area, that's one area where my lack of self-discipline may help me. ;-) However, it definitely is more about fine-tuning the technique and developing a good smooth rhythm than one's weight.
When I was a 145 pound 20-year-old a lot of people used to have issues kick-starting the Norton Commandos. I never had an issue, even after rebuilding it with over-sized pistons and increasing the compression. Had I just gone up to the bike and tried to stab down on the kick-starter my scrawny little a** wouldn't have budged it much at all, but using the proper technique (kick it over 2-3 times before turning on ignition or fuel, bring it up on the compression cycle, turn everything on and lift your body weight up and then kick on the down stroke), I never had any trouble and still don't with Nortons. I used to be able to kick-start them while straddling them with no stand down.
A few years later I bought a brand new 1977 Suzuki GS750 (558 lbs vs 574 for a GSW / 604 for RTW) and my 145 lbs never had any trouble with putting it on the center-stand.
Today, I'm mid-60's, 197 lbs with a bad back, fused lower vertibea, and bad knees (misspent youth and club racing motorcycles). Even after a 600+ mile day with my panniers and 49L top-case loaded I put the RTW on the center-stand when I arrive at a hotel for the night. It's not as easy then as at noon, but it isn't going to hurt my body - if I use the techniques outlined in the videos employing well coordinated fluid movements. Sometimes, if I'm really tired it may take a second effort to get the motion to be fluid and well coordinated, but that has nothing to do with weight or strength and everything to do with a heightened degree of physical and mental fatigue interferring with my smoothness/timing/coordination - far better to stop for the night prior to that onset, but sometimes we push barriers.
36654
New member
Paul,
It's just a matter of proper technique. Go out in the garage and practice. In time you'll get it and, possibly, qualify for a slot in the NYC Ballet.
For those, like me, there's a simpler approach....I'm content in knowing that BMW saved a few pennies in deleting the nifty fold-out or integrated handle they've had on bikes for several decades. Much the same as the separate turning signal buttons....handy, but no longer truly BMW.
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mikegalbicka
Back in the saddle again
Now that strikes me as very funny for some reason.
PGlaves
#13338
It is not that I can't put a bike on the centerstand. I am simply rejecting the notion that was stated in more than one post above that you do it all with weight on the stand. Maybe true for the 250 or 300 pounders - not true for us 165 pounders.
