1978 R100RS Centerstand

[QUICKDRAW]

My new to me R100RS is a real pain in the arse to put up on the center stand. I've tried most every method I can think of.
I have a Browns side stand (not installed yet) to replace the OEM collapsable unit and was wondering if the Browns ride off stand is any easier to deploy? Picky problem I know but checking air pressure and fill ups involve much more drama and help than necessary. Mechanical everything appears OK. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[20774]

Jim -

Can you upload a picture from the side of your bike with it on the center stand? Also, what tires do you have mounted on the bike?

Not to get into that big discussion about pros/cons of center stands, but I installed a Reynolds center stand very early on in my ownership of my /7. It's very easy to use and I'm glad I did it. The side stand gets used each time I transition the bit in/out of the garage for rides. Personally, I find it easy to use and can deploy it quickly while seated on the bike. Maybe being 6 foot tall helps with that. But I do believe that the Brown-type of aftermarket side stand is easier for some people to use.

 

[darryl cainey]

If you are using metric tires, that is your problem.

They have a different profile than standard inch tires.

 

[lkchris]

OE centerstands do wear out. Flat-on-the-bottom legs and out-of round mounting holes don't help ease of deploying.

The metric tire comment is right on.

The ride-off stands are Reynolds, not Brown.

To be painfully correct, the BMW-approved way to demount your Airhead from the centerstand is standing beside the bike, not sitting on it. The latter overstresses the centerstand.

Imagine then, the stresses involved in a ride-off stand. Your '78 is stronger than the '81-on bikes in this regard, but use of a ride-off stand is a great way to bend the frame mounting tabs.

With the ride-off stand, your rear wheel remains on the ground and you'll need wood or something under it to do any wheel removal.

 

[QUICKDRAW]

Thanks all for the replies.
Tires are Metzler 3.25/19 front and 120/18 rear. When getting off the bike I use the side stand and then try to hoist Bertha up on the centerstand. When getting on the bike I can stand flat-footed and rock the bike off the centerstand. When the bike is on the centerstand the front tire is about 2 inches off the ground with considerable weight on the rear tire.

 

[PAS]

A Reynolds ride off # 320 is made for your bike. One size does NOT fit all bikes.

 

[20774]

Jim -

The metric rear tire could be contributing to the problem...it has a smaller diameter and will therefore brings the frame and center stand mounts closer to the ground, thus harder to get up on the center stand. Front tire two inches off the ground seems about right...I was concerned that your stand might be sacked or mounting points bent such that you were having to really work at getting the bike up and over onto the stand.

My mention of the Reynolds did not say anything about using it as a ride-off stand. I can count on one hand the number of times I've done that in the 30 years it has been on the bike. Again, not wanting to get into the pro/con debates of stability (hunt around on the forum for that!), the stand distributes weight to both front and rear tire and it is far easily to get up and on the center stand. With distributed weight, it puts less stress on the center stand mounts. Yes, it can be a pain to get up high enough for to be able to remove a wheel for servicing but I've developed a method for that in the garage. The times that I've needed to do that in comparison to the number of times I just use the stand for parking is very small...even less so regarding a roadside repair/tire situation. It just doesn't come up often enough to detract from the way the stand operates. Works for me! IMO! YMMV! And all the usual disclaimers...!!

 

[QUICKDRAW]

Thanks again for the replies.
Looks to me like two basic options. Search ebay for a used Reynolds or replace the metric rear with the OEM 4.00 X 18. Hate to toss a good tire but if I switch to the OEM size and am able to get the bike up on the center stand problem solved.

 

[20774]

Try an experiment. Back the rear tire onto a small piece of quarter inch plywood...this will simulate the larger diameter of the 4.00x18. See if you can lift the bike easier. If not then pursue the new center stand.

 

[m_stock10506]

Try another experiment. Put your rear shocks on the a higher or the highest preload setting. This will also raise your frame and make it easier to lift the bike onto the stand. That's IF your rear shocks aren't completely sacked and have no preload left to give you.

My '84 R100 was impossible to get up on the stand - I had to roll it up onto a 2x4 to give it enough height. I replaced the worn out shocks and now I can get it onto the centerstand but it's still a PITA.

 

[barryg]

Side stands/ center stands Not.

Kinda reminds me of a time in South Florida about 25 years ago, where I riding on a trip to Key West. Pulled into a gas station for fuel. A /5 was leaned over on the ledge of the fuel island using the cylinder head as a side stand. The bike had no side stand or center stand. The rest of the bike was pretty much of a sad sack. The guy came out and saw checking out his remnant of a bike. He said it was a pita to fuel up, but you get used to it. Yes it is I answered, as I got on my /6 and rode off. This was the second worst BMW I encountered on the road during bike week.