center stand help

[aaronbaker33]

Hi all!  Im pretty new to the community, so i think ill start with a stupid question.  i recently bought a 2006 gs500f (finally got it out and about yesterday).  The guy i bought it from had removed the center stand.  He gave it to me when i bought the bike, but i have no hardware for it.  I was wondering if anyone could tell me what nuts, bolts, springs, scews, etc i am going to need to put it back on.  Thanks!!!

Aaron

[bassmechanicsz]

just looked on bike bandit at the parts diagram for the center stand and it looks like all the parts you would need should cost about $15-$20 at a dealer.  Don't know how cheaply you are trying to re-attach the centerstand for but it might just be easier to go to a dealer and tell them what you need and they will order them for you.  Don't know how much you would really be able to save by buying the parts at a hardware store.

[gsJack]

http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm/Module/Main/TypeID/26/Type/Motorcycle/MakeID/2/Make/Suzuki/YearID/47/Year/2006/ModelID/7851/Model/GS500F_2004-2006/GroupID/373100/Group/STAND_(MODEL_K4/K5/K6)_

[Bluehaze]

I you dont really use your center stand that much... maybe you just use it for when you are maintaining your bike. I recommend just using a long screwdriver. Just pop that through all the holes and you got yourself a removable center stand.  works great.

[ke7syv]

I you don't really use your center stand that much... maybe you just use it for when you are maintaining your bike. I recommend just using a long screwdriver. Just pop that through all the holes and you got yourself a removable center stand.  works great.

WHAT!!!
How could someone not use the centerstand that much? Anytime I go the anywhere I put it on the centerstand. I fact it's in the garage right now on the centerstand. Anybody who's bumped into their bike when it's on the centerstand will agree it's pretty solid, but I've always been weary about the sidestand. If a car was to bump into it, a shopping cart hits it, or just a curious kid tries to get on, I'd feel much safer having it on a center. Not to mention, the thing only weighs 400. It's not like some of these 800lbs.+ cruisers out there where you can damn near sleep on the thing. Just my 1 1/2 cents

[badguy]

WHAT!!!
How could someone not use the centerstand that much? Anytime I go the anywhere I put it on the centerstand. I fact it's in the garage right now on the centerstand. Anybody who's bumped into their bike when it's on the centerstand will agree it's pretty solid, but I've always been weary about the sidestand. If a car was to bump into it, a shopping cart hits it, or just a curious kid tries to get on, I'd feel much safer having it on a center. Not to mention, the thing only weighs 400. It's not like some of these 800lbs.+ cruisers out there where you can damn near sleep on the thing. Just my 1 1/2 cents

The sidestand is actually more stable than the centerstand as long as you park the bike in gear to keep it from rolling and folding the sidestand up.

Think about it:
Sidestand
    - two tires and the sidestand = triangle with about 56" on one side and about 30" on the other two...pretty wide footprint
    - center of mass is closer to the ground since it's already leaning a little

Centerstand
    - two centerstand legs and the front wheel = triangle about 8" on one side and a little over 30" on the other two...much narrower; and the front wheel can still spin, allowing it to come down off the stand should someone bump it from behind
    - center of mass is higher up due to it being straight up and one wheel off the ground

I'm not saying that the centerstand is unstable, just that the sidestand is more stable with the bike in gear.  Evidently I'm good at continuing side discussions in threads while almost completely ignoring the initial post  

[amodea1]

Well while we are being noobs i got a center stand ? myself...I want to use the center stand for when its parked in the garage just cause my dog likes to sleep under the warm engine and it gives her a nice little cunny hole. But im a chicken S*&^ when it comes to putting the thing up on the center stand..I hate doing it cause i always feel like ima let it lean to far to one side and not be able to save it or my pride( and blinkers XD). any tips from some vets out there, this isnt my first bike and certainlynot the heaviest( have a harley) but the first ive had with a center stand..
i feel like a tard asking this kind of thing but i jsut want some pointers on how to do it safely.

[adidasguy]

When I put the bike on the centerstand, I hold the handlebar with my left hand. I grab the bar in the blue circle as I step down on the centerstand and balance the bike. Then I press down hard on the centerstand with my right foot. Then I do sort of a dead-lift pulling up and slightly back and it comes right up. Because I am beside the bike and not leaning over, there is no chance for it to fall over. When I first tried using the grab handle, it was not as stable. I'm 5'8" so doing it that way stretched my arms too far and I was not as stable (plus I had an injured left achilles tendon).



NOTE: When I use the side stand, I always leave the bike in gear. That prevents it rolling forward off of the side stand should it get bumped.

[reajcox]

I like my center stand for storage and service. Really i just grab the rear grab bar and the left grip and push the stand down. as soon a the feet contact the ground with a little pressure it settles right up where it should be. But when I'm out and just stop somewhere i throw the center stand down and hit it to first.

[VWAG]

When I put the bike on the centerstand, I hold the handlebar with my left hand. I grab the bar in the blue circle as I step down on the centerstand and balance the bike. Then I press down hard on the centerstand with my right foot. Then I do sort of a dead-lift pulling up and slightly back and it comes right up. Because I am beside the bike and not leaning over, there is no chance for it to fall over. When I first tried using the grab handle, it was not as stable. I'm 5'8" so doing it that way stretched my arms too far and I was not as stable (plus I had an injured left achilles tendon).

NOTE: When I use the side stand, I always leave the bike in gear. That prevents it rolling forward off of the side stand should it get bumped.

Exactly. I always bring the center stand to the ground with my right foot, and make sure I can feel that both of the center stand feet are on the ground. Then just do the deadlift/standup thing that adidasguy described, until you feel the weight of the bike rock back onto the center stand.

[Grommett2k]

Stands? I just ghost ride it into a couple of old mattresses I have in the garage.

My bike does not have a center stand, took it off to put on the exhaust. I think I still have the springs and hardware in my toolbox. I will take a look this weekend and PM if you if I have em.

I use this when I am working on the bike or have it put away in the corner for extended periods of time.

[plewis51]

NOTE: When I use the side stand, I always leave the bike in gear. That prevents it rolling forward off of the side stand should it get bumped.

I thought the bike shuts down automatically if you put the kickstand down while in gear? At least this is what happens with my 07 F. It's a prevention so I don't start riding with the kickstand down.

[amodea1]

^ true it will not run while in gear with the stand down....took me 2 hours to figure that one out and a whole lot of cursing 
Thanks for the step by step, im 5'8" myself and i have been using the rear handle thingy and yeah it just dont work. tried it with the piece of frame under the seat and that seemed much easier

[plewis51]

^ true it will not run while in gear with the stand down....took me 2 hours to figure that one out and a whole lot of cursing 
Thanks for the step by step, im 5'8" myself and i have been using the rear handle thingy and yeah it just dont work. tried it with the piece of frame under the seat and that seemed much easier

LOL I was cursing up a storm as well when I couldn't get the bike to start until I realized the stand was down!! HAHA   

I just set the bike on the center stand using the method you provided and it works great. I was normally using the rear grab handle but the stretch was difficult to prop the bike.