Can You Stand It

Some riders and techs I know have a great tool that they do not use properly.  It is called a “center stand.”  Not all motorcycles have them, but those that do, allow us to lift the rear wheel off the ground.

There is a technique to getting a motorcycle on a center stand.  The accompanying tip with photographs will help you center stand any size motorcycle with the least amount of effort, no matter what your size.

To understand this technique fully, we must start from the beginning.  The beginning in this case is really the end, as in the end of a ride and just before you get off the bike.  As your right leg comes across the saddle to the left of the bike, your left hand remains on the left handlebar grip and your right hand should grab the handle for putting the bike on the center stand.  Knowledge of the location of this handle is important before hand.  You will need to slightly balance the motorcycle while you are doing this.  Once you have this handle in your grip, you can then reach out with your right foot and place it on the tab for the center stand.  You can then move your right foot towards the ground placing the two legs of the center stand in contact with the ground.  Yes, there are two legs to most center stands.  When your right foot is pushing this center stand to the ground, you should make sure that both of these legs are on the ground.  You can do this by slightly rocking the motorcycle back and forth until you feel both legs on the ground.  See accompanying picture.

Too far right lean

Too far left lean

Correct

Keeping the front wheel straight, and the instant those two legs of the center stand hit the ground, most of the lifting will be done by you straightening your right leg.  If you have kept your right arm straight and the front wheel straight the motorcycle is engineered to rock back on this center stand and rest in place.  See accompanying picture.

Now that your bike is parked on the center stand, you may be wondering how to get it off the stand.  This is done by standing by the motorcycle from the left side and placing both hands on both handlebar grips.  Then placing two fingers over the front brake lever in readiness give the motorcycle a slight shove forward off the stand and hit the front brake lever slightly.  The motorcycle is now in your grip. It must be slightly balanced and is ready for you to mount.

You should practice this with a spotter until you are confident with doing it on your own.  Good luck.

Here’s hoping to give you a wave from the oncoming lane

Ross