are F800gs difficult to get onto centre stand?

(RIP) willstatt

(RIP) willstatt

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I expect it's just me... but I really struggle to get this f800 onto its centre stand. I'm borrowing the bike from my bro' to see how I like it compared to my 1150 (that I've had for 14 years) Despite the massive weight of the 1150, it is easy to get up on the centre stand even with full panniers. The stand seems to be in just the right place to get your weight on it, and combined with a pull on the bars she's up first time every time. However the stand on this 800 just seems too far back.... I feel like a bloody contortionist trying to get enough weight on the stand to 'lever' it up. Is there a trick to it! Seems amazing to me given how much lighter the 800 is compared to my 1150.

Tricks and the knack would be much appreciated.

Will
 
From your post I can see that you are putting 2 hands on the bars. Put left hand on bars and face the bike straight on. Right foot on stand and just literally stand on it. You can use the left hand to steady the bike if you pereferr. I had a 800 GSA and that was my technique. JJH
 
I had two F800GSs and I always used the facing the side technique, put all your weight on the centre stand leg, I may have used my right hand to lift the arse end at the same time.
 
I just stand on the stand with my weight and pull up a bit with the grab rail at the back. I've never pulled on the handlebars to get a bike on a centrestand. You're pulling it from a strange angle backwards and putting quite a bit of pressure on the heaeted griops if you've got them. Just my experience
 
Sorry... didn't make it very clear! I pull the 1150 up and back with left hand on the Engine bars ..(they're the hepco becker ones that loop over the cylinder.

But are you lot saying that basically it's easy once you've got the knack?
 
willstatt said:
Sorry... didn't make it very clear! I pull the 1150 up and back with left hand on the Engine bars ..(they're the hepco becker ones that loop over the cylinder.

But are you lot saying that basically it's easy once you've got the knack?
Click to expand...

Oh Yes very easy :)
 
JJH said:
From your post I can see that you are putting 2 hands on the bars. Put left hand on bars and face the bike straight on. Right foot on stand and just literally stand on it. You can use the left hand to steady the bike if you pereferr. I had a 800 GSA and that was my technique. JJH
Click to expand...

I did that but had my right hand on the luggage rack to add a bit of leverage/balance.
When I had the panniers on I couldnt put the bike on the centre stand (GSA).
 
I too had an 1150 which was really easy to get on the centre stand no matter how loaded it was.
Then I got an 800 that was a lot harder to get on the stand...
What I found was that I was standing too close to the bike when trying to use the centre stand.
When you find the stand under the pillion peg it is almost automatic to then take a step closer to the bike - Don't.
If you are that step away from the bike it pops up onto the stand with a minimum of effort.
That's with my bike at least, and mine is down an inch on the suspension and has the standard height stand.
 
JJH said:
From your post I can see that you are putting 2 hands on the bars. Put left hand on bars and face the bike straight on. Right foot on stand and just literally stand on it. You can use the left hand to steady the bike if you pereferr. I had a 800 GSA and that was my technique. JJH
Click to expand...
DOH does anyone have two left hands? It's your right hand that does the mostly unnecessary steadying. JJH
 
The method used changes depending on the model year,
My 2009 model had rounded ends to the stand and always looked scruffy, the bike sat heavily on the front wheel and was difficult to get on the stand.
My wife's 2013 F700 has small pads on the stand and a small foot lever to aid pulling it onto the stand,
Its still not the easiest stand to use.
My 2016 F800 is similar but has extra gussetting and a longer foot lever, it's easier to use even with luggage and although still front heavy it only takes a liitle effort to lift and rotate the front wheel.
 
I'm 9 1/2 stone and struggle with any bike to get it on the stand. I have to wheel the bike backwards up onto a 1 inch plank. This raises the bike up enough to allow the centrestand to swing down a bit more, making it easier to lift the bike up. I also get my partner to stand behind the bike to steady it and give a bit of a pull back at the same time. Also if the rear suspension pre-load is wound up should help to put the stand in a more favourable position.
 
Sooty09 said:
The method used changes depending on the model year,
My 2009 model had rounded ends to the stand and always looked scruffy, the bike sat heavily on the front wheel and was difficult to get on the stand.
My wife's 2013 F700 has small pads on the stand and a small foot lever to aid pulling it onto the stand,
Its still not the easiest stand to use.
My 2016 F800 is similar but has extra gussetting and a longer foot lever, it's easier to use even with luggage and although still front heavy it only takes a liitle effort to lift and rotate the front wheel.
Click to expand...

That's interesting.... As this bike is an 09. Good to see others find it much harder than the far heavier 1150 too. I'm sure i'll get the hang of it, but half the point of considering a lighter bike is gone when it takes so much effort to get it on the bloody stand!
 
My F800gs is a 2009 model and has the rounded centre stand. You do need to step on the end of the stand and i assist by holding on to the frame and pulling upwards with my right hand and steadying the bars with my left hand. I found it one of the easiest bike to ever put on its centre stand apart from strangely my 1981 Laverda Jota which was perfectly balanced and just required holding the stand foot to the ground with one foot and gently pulling back on the rear grab rail. The hardest had to be my Harley Davidson MT350. It used to leave you exhausted by the time it was on the stand you needed a lay down! Then the rear wheel was not even off the ground and you had to rock it onto a block of wood to get clearance to lube the chain or remove the wheel.:thumb
 
The early ones, with the curved centre stands are an absolute bugger ... so difficult and heavy, they have to be 'lifted' (weight alone won't do it, not even my weight). Two new knees and I really couldn't manage it, or take the risk of busting the bone to metal on my knee joints. Seriously having to consider letting the 'bike go, but with only 124,000 miles on it I don't really want to, I want to get it to 200,000 miles :eek:

Just measured everything up, and ordered the later straight centre stand ... just standing on the extension 'peg' lifts the bike up on to it :D

A reprieve .... a result :thumb

:beerjug:
 
Micky said:
The early ones, with the curved centre stands are an absolute bugger ... so difficult and heavy, they have to be 'lifted' (weight alone won't do it, not even my weight). Two new knees and I really couldn't manage it, or take the risk of busting the bone to metal on my knee joints. Seriously having to consider letting the 'bike go, but with only 124,000 miles on it I don't really want to, I want to get it to 200,000 miles :eek:



:beerjug:
Click to expand...



Thanks for that Mickey.... I'm glad it wasn't just me then... I'll tell my bro' your tip about the later stand.

Enjoyed riding it for the weekend anyway... found it a bit vibey on the dual carriageways compared with the much lower revving 1150, but it's a great little bike. My bro' also has the low seat on, and that wasn't as comfy as the 1150 sofa, but that's easily solved.

Loved the lightness when in the cramped car park, and when getting it off the side stand.

Will
 
The ones with the newer style stand lift very easy I moved mine in the garage last night with the handlebars removed and it popped on the stand with just my foot and hand steadying the bike with the grab rail
 
willstatt said:
Thanks for that Mickey.... I'm glad it wasn't just me then... I'll tell my bro' your tip about the later stand.

Enjoyed riding it for the weekend anyway... found it a bit vibey on the dual carriageways .....
Will
Click to expand...

The 17 tooth gearbox sprocket from the 700 cures that, with no loss of off road capability :thumb

.... 'cos I'm absolutely shite at that anyway :eek:

:beerjug:

EDit .... I've yet to fit the later stand, it all measures up OK. Watch this space ;)
 
As i will not venture off road with my F800GS i think i will fit the 17 tooth sprocket. Even with a six speed gearbox i still try to find 7th gear on fast sections.
Micky said:
The 17 tooth gearbox sprocket from the 700 cures that, with no loss of off road capability :thumb

.... 'cos I'm absolutely shite at that anyway :eek:

:beerjug:

EDit .... I've yet to fit the later stand, it all measures up OK. Watch this space ;)
Click to expand...
 
Fitted the later 'straight' stand to my 2008 F800GS (curved stand) today. Much easier to get it on to it, and off again ... the 'bike doesn't have to be lifted and pulled on to it, merely standing on the leg and a gentle pull does it :thumb

i-7pb6Zwg-L.jpg


i-3q69T4f-L.jpg


i-QGQPpZn-L.jpg


i-KwW8gHG-L.jpg


Initially the centre stand was almost vertical when on it ...

i-5Q82LxV-L.jpg


But a little judicial filing on the lugs of the stand soon sorted that ...

i-tJZDp72-L.jpg


Result :thumby:

:beerjug:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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