TOPIC:

Is there a secret to using a centerstand (stupid question)?

Having just brought home the KZ1000 police I tried to get it on the stand. After much grunting and sweating I gave up, having been bested by the unit.

My previous two bikes didn't have a centerstand. Is there a certain technique i am missing?

Thanks and Happy Independence Day!

I am guessing this is going to be similar to my KZ650 center stand. The tip is...

Step down and pull up. Don't pull backwards, just up. Once the two feet of the center stand are level on the ground you no longer have to balance the bike. Just apply all your weight to your foot then pull straight up on the rear end.

To make it easier I first roll the back wheel onto a 2x6 board to lift it a little. Then set the centerstand like biodello says with my right hand on the grab bar and my left hand pulling up on the top of the shock.

the police bike came with a center stand, so it must have had a grab bar of some sort for your right hand...a small handle near the top of the shock absorber, a bar that wraps around the back of the seat, a rear carrier rack, etc.

is it still there, or was it removed by the prior owner?

when i bought my kz1000, it was missing the grab handle, and the bike was impossible to lift on the center stand. then i bought the grab handle, and now it's doable.

(i also bought a home gym to get back in shape. )

Post edited by: duncan, at: 2006/07/04 13:25

Yep! Like biodello said "step down it and pull the bike up". My 900ltd dosen't have one and I really missed it so I got one off e-bay and bought a couple of big shoulder bolts cut off the threads and hang it when I need it. Mothers of Invention (FZ)

Mandrake wrote:

Is there a secret to using a centerstand (stupid question)?

Having just brought home the KZ1000 police I tried to get it on the stand. After much grunting and sweating I gave up, having been bested by the unit.

My previous two bikes didn't have a centerstand. Is there a certain technique i am missing?

Thanks and Happy Independence Day!

The problem with KawCop center stands is that they're located relatively far away from the center of mass. Not much is going to change that, so getting one of those beasts to behave and "sit" is always gonna be a bit of a tussle...

There is, however, a method that's made it quite a bit easier for me:

1. Grip the radio carrier upright with your right hand.

2. Take hold of the left bar grip with your left hand.

3. This is important: Stand PARALLEL to the bike, facing forward so that your hips are in line with the your shock mounts, facing forward toward the windshield.

4. Get the stand tab in the heel crook of your boot, press it to the ground. Bend your knees slightly.

5. At the SAME time, straighten your leg and pull upwards and back on the radio carrier attachment with your right - your left merely guides the motion. Kind of like a one-armed "deadlift" motion.

I found that really made Kaw-dogging much easier - this way, your joints - ankle, knee, hip and lower back are in line with the relative motion and working together, not in opposition.

Took a fair amount of knee, hip and lower back pain to figure that one out...

Thanks for some helpful advice. I'll go at it again later today.

oh my god! Your poor head. You better get that looked at soon or it will get infected!

Success!

Followed Pterosaur's advice and Voila! Up went the old machine on its stand - a nice feeling.

boy i dont know if gris's nurse can do anything for that one!

Its only a fleshwound. Maybe the nice nurse can help.

ok time for my stupid follow up question.

i tried to do this last night, as i need to tighten up my chain a little bit.

so once the centerstand has my weight on it, can i let go of the left handlebar? would the bike be stable on the stand even though its not all the way on? it didn't feel right, but maybe i'm just a weakling.

my 650 doesnt have the grab bar, so what would be an alternative place to grab? the rear body piece is plastic on mine, so that doesn't seem like a good idea. the frame under the seat maybe? the part where the turn signal stem attaches?

just seems real awkward on my bike for some reason..

thanks guys!

- P