Stupid Question of the Week

As if my giant "pair" had anything to do with it - I blew my knee out in Iraq and I've had two surgeries since then. The strain has also since affected my other knee, both ankles and my back. When I try to right my bike on the center stand it feels like a full-body exercise.
I'm going for a medical board review at Ft. Knox in 4 weeks and I'd like to avoid having an injury that the Army won't own up to before I'm done with active duty.

Understandable. Your concerns are well warranted. I'm sorry that I was not mindfull of your injuries when I posted before. You're very wise to take it easy. I pray that you'll recover completely. Thanks again for your service and your positive attitude.

Yea, best to wait. The whole procedure depends onknee strength.
I hope you heal quick.

Take it easy, man. The ramp or block under the rear tire are probably your best bet.

Good luck with the review baord and thanks for your service.

BeeSting wrote:

I blew my knee out in Iraq and I've had two surgeries since then.

Well, that answers that question!

At least now you know the proper procedure. If your girlfriend is willing to help you put the bike up on it's stand, have her stand on the right (starboard) side of the bike and lift under the frame rail on that side as an assist.

That business of pushing the bike backwards while she pushes down on the center stand, that's a sure fire way to injure yourself (and possibly the girlfriend and the bike)!

Get well!

guitargeek wrote:

kzstreetfighter71 wrote:

another small trick is to keep you hand firmly on he front brake, trust me it helps.

How's that supposed to work? You're standing on the left (port) side of the bike, it'll be extremely awkward to reach across and grab the front brake, and anyway you want the front wheel to roll backward as the bike rolls up onto the center stand.

Here's how to do it:
Start with the bike in neutral, on the side stand.
Stand on the left (port) side of the bike.
Put your right hand under the rear frame rail, under the seat.
Put your left hand on the left handlebar grip.
Put your right foot on the center stand, push down until the left "foot" contacts the pavement.
Stand the bike up and you'll feel the center stand's right "foot" contact the pavement.
Straighten the handlebars so the wheels are in line.
Simultaneously push down with your right foot while pulling up with your right hand.
Hey presto, shazam, voila: You're bike's up on the center stand.

Thats how I do it - but I actually STAND on the centerstand rather than just pushing down on it, then lift the rear and it pops on.

Biggest thing is to make sure both stand feet are on the ground (and you are on solid, level, ground) - it typically feels like the bike is actually leaning away from you, but it isn't!

Patton wrote:

When parking the bike, can pull the rear tire onto a square piece of 2x12 (or 2x-anything) whereby the rear end is higher. Makes it easy to raise onto centerstand. My square section of 2x12 has one beveled edge so the rear tire easily rolls up onto it. While on the centerstand, the support may then be removed to free the rear wheel.

Good Luck!

Here's a pic of a KZ900 LTD on its sidestand with the wood block 2x12 in place ahead of the rear tire and ready to push bike forward so the rear tire is sitting on the block just before rocking it back onto the centerstand -- you won't believe how easy it is --and the block may then be pushed out from under the rear tire without drama.




This may of course evoke memories of the well-known old fashion military class repetitive memory reinforcement instruction procedure: :laugh:

1) Here's what we're gonna teach ya.
2) [the teaching part].
3) Here's what we taught ya.

Good Luck!

Use the block, Adam, use the block.

Its weird - as if the suggestion were implanted into my head, I rolled the bike back into a piece of wood and got it up on the stand that way.

It sounded like "Wood, you use, hmmmm?"

When I had a 140 tire on back, I had to put a piece of wood under the center stand, otherwise the tire was still in contact with the pavement.

Beesting, sorry about your injury, and thanks from all of us! I think i speak for everybody..
If you need to keep your bike upright and centered just put a block of wood under the sidestand until its close to level. Youll need to brace something under the frame so it doesnt topple over to the right but it will work..

BeeSting wrote:

I'd like to avoid having an injury that the Army won't own up to before I'm done with active duty.

Ouch, I know what you mean about the knees. I just blew mine out on tuesday (not sure whether it was the patella or fibula that popped) for the second time in 3 years. Huge PITA, I just want to get back to being 100% :laugh:

Good luck on the recovery