Removing GS500 center stand.

[Worldtraveller]

Ok, so my wife has finally started riding enough that she is leaning enough to get annoyed by the center stand scraping.  (And I explained how it could be dangerous.) 

I started to remove it last night, and the left side bolt comes out piece of cake.  Unfortunately, the bolt on the right side is covered by the exhaust pipe!  *grumble* 

Anyone know if there's a trick to this, or am I going to have to drop the whole pipe just to get that damn center stand off?   I bought her a rear stand for parking in the garage, and she likes that much better.

[rohde88]

I loosened a few bolts on the exhaust, just up at the rear pax peg.

Did it in about 5 min at the track.

[smartroad]

What do you mean by center stand scraping?

[rohde88]

The center stands scrapes the ground at any half decent lean angle....

[smartroad]

The center stands scrapes the ground at any half decent lean angle....

Ahh, I must be too chicken LOL Never lent far enough over to have that happen! 

[Bluesmudge]

I wouldn't say any "half decent lean angle," but it did happen to me when I was pushing the bike in the twisties. When it hits probably depends on rider weight and suspension setup. For example, Bluehaze was at the track recently and scraped his peg and never scraped the center stand. Back when I had my centerstand on, it would scrape before the pegs even came close.
You can try removing the one bolt by the can and getting enough play to take the bolt out, but if that doesn't work the exhaust is just held on at the headers by 4 allen bolts. Getting comfortable taking it off is not a bad thing and the hole project shouldn't take more than an hour, even if the bike has fairings.

The bolts are the easy part. Have fun getting that spring off!  

[bassmechanicsz]

you might just be able to drop the exhaust at the rear to get enough room to get at the bolt for the centerstand.  i dunno as i have never done it but even if you need to take the exhaust off it is really easy to do.

[intergalactic]

Is the bike lowered? Or have an old rear shock?

I think a saggy rear suspension might make a scrape more likely.  GSXR rear shock upgrade might cure that. Just a thought.

Ok, so my wife has finally started riding enough that she is leaning enough to get annoyed by the center stand scraping.  (And I explained how it could be dangerous.) 

I started to remove it last night, and the left side bolt comes out piece of cake.  Unfortunately, the bolt on the right side is covered by the exhaust pipe!  *grumble* 

Anyone know if there's a trick to this, or am I going to have to drop the whole pipe just to get that damn center stand off?   I bought her a rear stand for parking in the garage, and she likes that much better.

[Bridger]

If you remove the 1 bolt by the pass. peg, it gives u enuf play to remove the RH bolt pretty easily.  Took me a couple minutes, getting the spring off is the harder part.  I took mine off because I think it is hideous and made the bike look bad from the left side.  Looks quite a bit sportier without it.

[sledge]

getting the spring off is the harder part. 

With the stand down and its retaining spring extended, force some coins, washers, valve-shims etc between the coils, push the bike forward off the stand.......then watch the spring fall off on its own, to refit it reverse the process 

[tt_four]

What about the gaskets between the headers and the engine, do they need replaced every time you pull it off?

I was going to pull mine off because the headers could use repainted, but I forgot that I heard about those needing replaced, and if that's the case I'll wait until I've tracked some down before I bother painting it.

[bill14224]

getting the spring off is the harder part. 

With the stand down and its retaining spring extended, force some coins, washers, valve-shims etc between the coils, push the bike forward off the stand.......then watch the spring fall off on its own, to refit it reverse the process 

Now THAT'S a great idea! 

Taking the exhaust off takes 5 minutes.  All you need is a socket for the muffler and a T-handle hex wrench for the header bolts.  The T-handle makes it easy.

Your WIFE scrapes the center stand?  Another guy here with a great wife!  Who cares if she can cook or clean?  She can SCRAPE! 

[jrains89]

don't take the whole exhaust off!!!


just remove the bolt that holds the muffler to the bike, and have someone push the muffler down. there's enough flex in the pipe to allow you to remove the bolt, you can get a socket with an extension right in there.

[Worldtraveller]

getting the spring off is the harder part. 

With the stand down and its retaining spring extended, force some coins, washers, valve-shims etc between the coils, push the bike forward off the stand.......then watch the spring fall off on its own, to refit it reverse the process 

Now THAT'S a great idea! 

Taking the exhaust off takes 5 minutes.  All you need is a socket for the muffler and a T-handle hex wrench for the header bolts.  The T-handle makes it easy.

Your WIFE scrapes the center stand?  Another guy here with a great wife!  Who cares if she can cook or clean?  She can SCRAPE! 

I'll pass on your kudos. 

Although, it doesn't take much, most of the scraping is because we had the rear suspension lowered about 2 inches (she has a short inseam).   

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll try just taking the one bolt by the pax peg off tonight. 

If I still can't get it off, I already called my local shop, and they will sneak me in first thing Sat.  morning and get it off for me.   

We're trailering the bikes (I have a '08 CBR 600) out to Estes Park CO for some fun in the twisties!! (Kansas roads suck.) 

[bassmechanicsz]

The roads out in Estes park are gorgeous i was out there in January but only had a car and went for a fun ride through there.  I could only imagine how great it would be on the GS and not covered in snow.

[dadsafrantic]

what are you going to do with the center stand?  i could use one if you are gonna chuck it.

[Worldtraveller]

what are you going to do with the center stand?  i could use one if you are gonna chuck it.

I'll ask the wife if she is interested in hanging on to it.  If not, it's yours for the cost of shipping. 

[dadsafrantic]

very cool.  thanks.