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Centerstand - how do you get it lifted?

19K views 84 replies 38 participants last post by  fishstick_kitty 
#1 ·
11 Bonnie SE. BC Predators.

How do you guys get your SEs onto its centerstand? I'm not a newb, but I'm also not too embarrassed to ask.

I've tossed T140s up onto their centerstands for decades. But with the exhaust pipes on the SE splayed out, it seems I have little leverage.

So, OK. What's the secret?

Cheers

Richard
 
#6 ·
^^^this. I nailed two 2x4s together into a stair configuration and ride the wheel onto it, then back the centerstand down. Works great (at home, unless you carry the wood stairs with you which would likely reduce your riding enjoyment and aerodynamics.)
 
#4 ·
This is what I do. I weigh 145lbs and it works for me. I stand to the left of the bike with my hands on the handle bars. I lift the bike off the side stand into the balanced position. Then i push the center stand down with my right foot until it touches the ground. I rock the bike slightly left and right to ensure the center stand is square on the ground. Then I move my my right and grab onto the frame ( just below the seat and forward of the rear shock - on the bar that comes up from the passenger foot peg ). Then I stand hard on the center stand foot peg while pulling back on the frame with my right hand.

They key is to get centered before you yank and stand hard on the stand. When you rock it left and right,you can feel the two points of the center stand contact the ground.
 
#10 ·
Appreciate the ideas, guys. I'll give it another go this afternoon. I wanted to oil the chain and decided to stand it up as I've done hundreds of times of the classics. This one just seemed it needed a different motion or something.

Thank you all again!
 
#14 ·
If you keep all your weight, via your right foot, on the center stand extension, while holding the left grip in your left-hand, and grip the frame near the left shock top mount whilst lifting, dropping the bike - though possible - would be unlikely.
Perhaps it is easier for us OG's because we grew up with Euro bikes that didn't have side-stands and putting the bike on the (center) stand was something we did every time we shut it off.
 
#15 ·
'Been mentioned before..., but maybe not in this thread. Roll the rear wheel onto a thickish piece of plywood if you are just lubing the chain, etc. in the garage. :cool: Leverage is just poor on this design. ALL my BMW's and Ducati's which had center stands OEM were a breeze to get up with the frame handles supplied. ;)
 
#16 ·
I agree with the "stand on the extension and lift with the frame, etc." method. I'm having physical therapy for my left rotator cuff because I pulled too hard on the left handlebar when putting the T100 on it, a few weeks back. I do have the aftermarket handle on the bike as well, I might add. Now I've learned that you really don't need to pull on the handlebar all that much. I saw a strong young man struggle a bit getting my bike on the centerstand, at the dealer................made me feel better!!

And it isn't as if the "village idiot" hasn't put bikes on their centerstands thousands of times!!! Jim
 
#17 ·
I also had a tough time at first. This works for me.

1) Stand on the left side of bike with left hand on left grip.
2) Place right foot on center stand arm, maintain downward force during next steps.
3) Stabilize the bike while bringing upright with your right hip/thigh.
4) Grab the top diagonal frame tube that runs from the bottom rear corner of the left side panel down to the left rear footpeg mount. This may be awkward for tall riders.
5) Simultaneously pull the bike up and to the rear with the right arm while pushing down on the center stand. As the bike rises the straightening leg gives added pull.

I found that this predominant rearward movement leverages the bike up much easier.

YMMV
 
#18 ·
I think we would all appreciate a video of one of these moves. I also do not weigh much and find that getting it onto the center stand, without doing the block-under-back-wheel bit, nearly impossible. Never had this issue with my older and 'vintage' Bonnevilles.
 
#19 ·
I've yet to attempt what sounds like several decent motions to lift the bike onto the centerstand. But the fluid motion of lifting the T140s onto their stands doesn't quite work for the SE. I do hope to give it a go this week as I'd like to lube the chain a bit better than I have.

Cheers

Richard
 
#20 ·
I agree, Rose. When I initially began riding T140s exclusively 25 years ago, it was a bit of a struggle somewhat. But now, tossing a 40-year-old bike onto its stand is nothing. If I can learn the motion, I'll post a vid. But if someone else has it already that'd be great.
 
#21 ·
I have found that concentrating on pushing straight down with my right leg on the stand extension and straight up with my right hand on the frame the bike comes onto the stand fine w/o any kind of shookin' and jivin'.
 
#22 ·
I, too, own a 2011 SE, and had a hard time - regardless of "technique" - getting the bike up on the center stand. There was no part number imprinted on the stand to verify that it was the correct model for the SE, but the dealer insisted it was the correct stand he ordered (though his tech admitted it was very hard to lift my bike onto its stand). Eventually, the dealer's son, a welder, removed 1/2" from its length, which nicely solved the problem. The previously very-high clearance between the rear tire and the ground, when lifted, is now very little - but it's there, and it's enough (with the stock rear tire size).
 
#24 · (Edited)
I want to re-state that regardless of the increased weight, if the center stand legs are the correct length (not overly long, as the SE-stand came, as-ordered, at least in my case), it becomes *easy* to lift the bike onto the stand.
Consult with someone, Richard, maybe a very experienced technician, about the possibility of shortening the center stand legs a bit (up to - but no more than - 10mm). In my case, the mod made a big difference.
 
#26 ·
If you're referring to the factory accessory stand..., it even comes with a warranty. :wink2:
 
#27 ·
It's possible the stand on the bike is incorrect for the model...SE vs T00 vs Thruxton vs Scrambler have different stands. I ordered the NH aftermarket stand for my T100. After installing I determined it was too short for the bike...rear wheel not clear of the flat pavement. Back & forth with the retailer and NH in the UK...we discovered that although the order and the part shrink-wrapped package part numbers were correct for the T100, the actual part inside was for the SE (leg lengths were different). Got a correct on sent out direct from UK no charge.

Getting it on the stand is still a learning experience for me but I'm successful after a couple of tries generally. I recently found that sitting on the bike to just rolling forward is a very easy way to come down off the stand.

I'm now curious if the earlier post about sitting on the bike to go on the stand might also be a good trick...
 
#29 ·
I do it all the time. I find it works easy if you straddle the bike, and then pull up and back on the bars as you rock the bike back it pops up easy and you are holding onto the bars with both hands as well as straddling the bike so you can't loose control of it. I dumped my bike once already trying to stand off to the left side and the bike fell away from me to the right. Frock that..' I just straddle it now and pull it up. Once you try it you will find out it's not that hard to do it that way. I was skeptical about it myself until I tried it. The more you do it the easier it gets. You got to have a gung ho attitude to pull it off, Sort of like the Men's section of the Department of the Navy called the USMC.
 
#36 ·
Attached are pics of the SE & T100 NH Centerstands with measurements. The T100 is ~26 cm from upper edge of pivot hole opening to the foot, while the SE is ~24 cm.
I'd expect a similar difference on the Triumph OEM parts.
 

Attachments

#33 ·
Yes, unfortunately, I have dropped my SE putting it up on the center stand (please don't tell me I'm the only one). It was right after I got my bike and maybe the second or third time I was hoisting it. I had unknowingly had the right centerstand pad on a crack in my driveway. As I yanked it up all the weight went right with me on the left, not even a chance of stopping it. Snapped the mirror and scratched a case. I initially thought I would never use the stand again, then I saw the crack. I was overly cautious for a while after that and end up with:

Centering the weight of the bike as I bring the centerstand down (still very carefully and with apprehension every time)
With both pads firmly planted on the ground and my foot on the arm my knee is naturally just under the top shock mount.
I grab the handlebars near the center (i have a phone mount in the exact center) and use my knee and right leg to lever the bike up and centerstand down while pulling with my left hand.

This works well but does put a lot of pressure on my knee and if I don't get it up (sorry). I have to walk away and start again. Something about the angle of my leg. It seem near effortless or impossible.
 
#34 ·
When I got my T100 a few months ago it came with a centre stand and for the life of me I could not get the bike on the stand without someone else pulling on the back rack rail. Thus, after a few days of struggling I thought enough is enough and ditched the stand for one of the Dunstall type stands that lifts the bike using the centre stand holes. Now, it lifts much easier and don't need to lug round the 5kgs of the centre stand in my travels!

I'm aware of the required technique to lift the bike onto the stand but for me I just can't do it...too much of a whimp!

A couple of weeks ago I sat and watched one of mates struggle with lifting his SE onto the stand. I thought he was going to give himself a hernia.

So, don't feel alone in not being to lift that 205kg lump of metal onto the stand!!
 
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