Getting it up (onto the centre stand)

[SpudBoy]

Glad I am not the only one who has issues with this. I am tall, but pretty skinny, so not much weight behind me.

The first time I tried it, it was a disaster. Didn't have both feet of the centrestand even (bike was leaning towards me). When I pushed down with my foot, one side hit the ground, and pushed the bike away from me, which then proceeded to topple over the opposite side. Bugger 1 week old bike ('09 GSA).... but no damage luckily.

I've got the hang of it now, but never forget my first try!

 

[bmwbikeruk]

Is there an aftermarket handle or something to assist with getting a 2004 GS onto the centre stand? I am sure it's giving me lower back pain as I have to reach down too low to raise the bike onto its stand. Plus it's an awkward twist for me (6ft tall). I'm not normally given to a bad back.
Had plenty of other bikes without the same issue, so it's not basic technique - I'm putting my full weight down onto the lever bit of the stand itself. It's the pulling up at the same time that's the problem.
All the best
Neil

Exactly! I disliked my previous 2003 R1150GS Adv for 2 reasons.....too heavy for my slender 6'1" frame and especially my lower back for upright parking and crap for pillion riding! Because of both, I seriously considered changing back to my former R1100RS or its successor R1150RS in late 2006 but then tried 2007 R1200GS Adv. Wow! Much easier to park on its centre stand and kinder to my back! Plus points for pillion riding, better engine performance and handling. So I bought it. I'm now about to upgrade to 2010 GSA as can't be happier healthwise! One word of advice, keeping fit myself helps!

 

[Neil A]

Thanks to everyone

Lots of good advice - thanks everyone! I'll try a few of the techniques described. I had an 1150 Adventure for a couple of years without the same problem. Weird! I'd love to buy a newer bike but that's an expensive way to solve the problem, even if it had other benefits as well.
At the moment I'm just using the sidestand, which I've never done with a boxer before and the supposed problem with oil drain into the left hand cylinder isn't apparent. No obvious increase in oil consumption and no smoke on start up.

 

[Keith Chapman]

If the stand was modified to make it easier to use, is it possible to fit a later 1200GS stand to an early 1200GS?

 

[Pip_UK]

Just to share a few "stand on...stand off!" tips which I've picked up along the way.

Before commencing the on-stand manouveure, prime the stand by pressing the stand feet against the ground for a couple of seconds. This just ensures (1) that the surface you're about to put all your bike's weight on is steady and the bike won't wobble or dig in one side as it goes up, and (2) lets you check that your boot has a good grip on the lever and that there's no mud, oil, or other slippery $hite which will cause your foot to slide off the lever with the bike in mid-manouveure. I learnt that the hard way.

Whan taking the bike off the stand, use the GS's perfect midpoint balance to rock the bike gently back so that the rear tyre touches the ground. Then rock it gently forward again as you roll it off the stand to give just a whiff of forward momentum. This does ~50% of the work of rolling the bike off the stand, so you can use more of your strength to steady the bike as it lands, and stop the stand going back home with a THWUNG! which immediately brands you as a squid.

As your GS's weight comes off the stand, let the handlebar move slightly toward you. If the bike does move a bit, the weight will tend to fall in towards you, which is easier to save than if it falls away from you.

Final tip is to practice with plenty of space around you, and not in a crowded bike park, with all the expensive machinery lined up next to your GS like dominoes.

HTH

 

[rjsmith26]

I used to ride a vfr - quite happy with centre stand but had a few scares comming off it.

Went to pickup gsa last year, panniers and top box, what a scarey sight.

Asked advice from Lee at BMW Bristol and got "the lesson" - absolutely brilliant.

Key to taking off centre stand - side stand down ready for use, push bike in a rocking action forward, front brake covered and steer away from you (approx 15 degree away from centre) this forces bike to lean into you as you come off stand. Really easy and controllable even with loaded panniers.

Getting onto stand, as described, but here's my check list.

Lift off side stand and stand bike upright, both hands on handlebars

Foot on centre stand, pin to floor and adjust with handle bars to get stand touching floor with both of its feet (this is critical).

Keep pressure on with foot, you can let go with both hands now as the stand is providing the stability.

Left hand handle bar, right hand rear pannier rail.

Now try start by standing one footed on centre stand and gentle pull backwards, hey presto up she goes.

(I'm tall 6'3" but a racing snake 11.5stone and its not a problem.)

My biggest top tip. It is so much easier with tank only half full of gas - its noticeably harder with full tank of gas and no panniers, both getting bike on and off stand. Whilst you get used to it don't fully fuel the bike!

Hope this helps

 

[tunnie]

your doing it wrong if its causing pain, it should require zero effort effectively!

I get mine upright, push stand down, so its just touching ground rock it very slightly to make sure its level on stand, then, *stand* on the foot rest, while very lightly pulling up the rear grab handle.

I weight just 11.5st and its a doddle....

 

[Myke Rocks]

Please look at earlier posts

your doing it wrong if its causing pain, it should require zero effort effectively!

I get mine upright, push stand down, so its just touching ground rock it very slightly to make sure its level on stand, then, *stand* on the foot rest, while very lightly pulling up the rear grab handle.

I weight just 11.5st and its a doddle....

I refer you, and a few others, to my first post on this thread.
Myke

 

[Fudpucker]

Being used to putting my KTM 990 Adventure s on the centre stand nearly put the back end of a GSA into another bike at a dealers. Have had two GS's and forgotten how easy they are to put on the centre stand. Like some have already said. Its nothing to do with strength its technique. Many of my mates can't get the KTM on the centre stand and they are not small guys. Just booked a test ride on a 2010 GSA. Thinking of coming back to BM.....F

 

[wheelnut]

It's all about technique and transferring your weight.

I quite often wander through to the garage in bare feet and put the bike on the centre stand with no issues. If it's hard then it's being done wrong.

 

[heathy]

agree its 100% technique not strength - weight throught the foot on the stand definitely the way - even a weakling like me can do it and definitely no significant pressure on my back. when getting the bike off the stand i use a gentle pull forward on the pannier frame keeping my foot on the centre stand pedal with gentle pressure so it retains the tripod effect (actually 4 points pf contact with ground as back wheel touches down). This means you dont have to worry about the bike unbalancing and having to catch it - a sure way to back problems. it really is dead easy and always feels 100% safe although easier to describe/see how effortless when doing it rather tha describing in words.
phil

 

[g.s.john]

Dear Mr Universe
I have done the course can you send the muscles.
yours Neil

 

[JPB]

Wunderlich do one...

Never needed one myself.

I fitted one of these and find it a lot easier than before.

 

[GSmonkey]

I refer you, and a few others, to my first post on this thread.
Myke

I must admit, my 04 GS was harder to get on the stand than my 07GSA

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

Move yer 'arris!

When you get the bike into position, mainstand down evenly, your foot on the stand extension, and are about to "heave" up, don't! Just move your arse sideways towards the rear of the bike...

In Aikido, it's called your "centre", and refers to your centre of gravity, which is located just below your belly button. Move this, and nothing can stand in your way...

(Surely I must be teaching Granny how to suck eggs? )

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

There is a huge difference in the geometry of early bikes and later (after '06?).
My '04 is a ballbreaker compared to new '10.

 

[elmandarino]

Quite right too. I have owned bikes for years and years. Have ridden countless and my 04 1200 is without doubt the most difficult bike to get on a centre stand of all of them. It must be flawed for BM to revise the geometry so soon after they came out. Haven't tried a new one but I suspect it is somewhat easier.

 

[Neil A]

It's better now (a bit)

I seem to have started something off here! I have taken on board all the comments and have found it easier if I concentrate on more of a backwards pull, rather than a backwards/upwards effort. And pulling back on the grabrail, rather than under the frame side rail is better. I suppose I should have said originally that I'm a skinny devil, so although 6ft, I'm between 10 1/2 & 11 stone. I obviously need more practice, as I put the centre stand feet onto a bit of MDF about 1/2 inch thick in the garage to protect the (painted) floor and using the new technique, and I have still got it on the stand twice without the usual method of running the front wheel onto a bit of 3 x 2 first. However, all the other times, it just won't go, so I reverted to the 3 x 2. Who'd have thought there was an art to something like this? Finally, one of the posts talked about putting the LEFT foot onto the lever bit of the centre stand. I can't see how that works at all.

Once again, thanks to everyone who offered advice.

 

[Packer]

Your MDF although only ½" thick will make the job far harder if it is only under the stand. Get a bigger bit so that both wheels and the stand are on it, it will make all the difference.

Same storey if you are out somewhere and try and put the bike on the stand but it won't go. You probably have the stand on a slightly higher bit of ground My 1150 is normally easy as can be to get on the stand, even when loaded with luggage/camping gear, but if the stand is on a high point it's a different story altogether.

 

[elmandarino]

I have just ridden the new 2010 model. It is interesting in comparison with my 2004 bike. It seems to have more power right through the rev range, and it only had 670 miles on the clock. The exhaust note is rather louder and rather pleasant. The screen buffeting is just the same as is the finish (I fear). The most notable improvement was how staggeringly easy it is to put on the centre stand. Brakes seemed to be more responsive - without the problem servo assisted jobbies.

Nick