Thanks for all the replies on my question about getting my bike on the center stand. I still haven't gotten it up there, but am hoping I can spend some time this weekend working on that. I just bought my bike and have no idea about it's maintenance history so I want to do an oil change, clean and lube the chain and all that stuff. I've never been a motorhead, but would like to do my own maintenance. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Any suggestions/tips/warnings/etc? :cheers:
Those are simple. Just don't let yourself be tempted to clean/lube the running chain. Fingers have been lost that way.
Re oil change: Run the engine warm, then let it sit for a quarter hour. The engine will still be warm (oil thin), but the headers will be cold. Much safer that way.
Quote from: Squirrel on August 11, 2006, 06:14:24 AM
Am I biting off more than I can chew? Any suggestions/tips/warnings/etc? :cheers:
You are absolutely NOT biting off more than you can chew! :thumb: Once you know how to do these things, they're VERY easy! :cheers:
Do you have any friends that ride? For me, it helps a lot to have someone show me how to do something (ie. getting the bike up on its centerstand).
You GO grl!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :icon_mrgreen:
i think this has imspired me to do the same. i just got the bike and yeah, havent gotten her on her center stand. i must be doing something wrong in how i handle her when i try cuz im pretty strong and it shouldnt be this hard.
d2
Yea, it's more technique than strength that matters. Use your foot to press down on the stand, lifting the bike. Use your hand to pull back on the frame by the passenger peg. It'll pop right up there.
-M
Cleaning and lubing the chain are both easy... Just kinda dirty (here's a tip... You can buy rags and gloves at any hardware or automotive store).
Changing the oil is no big deal. Just make sure you don't over-tighten the three nuts that hold on the oil-filter cover... Check out the FAQ/How Too section... Lots of good stuff in there. :thumb:
Quote from: Squirrel on August 11, 2006, 06:14:24 AM
Thanks for all the replies on my question about getting my bike on the center stand. I still haven't gotten it up there, but am hoping I can spend some time this weekend working on that. I just bought my bike and have no idea about it's maintenance history so I want to do an oil change, clean and lube the chain and all that stuff. I've never been a motorhead, but would like to do my own maintenance. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Any suggestions/tips/warnings/etc? :cheers:
getting it on the centerstand is easy. It requires technique though. What I do is.
stand on the left side of the bike, gripping the handles. I press the centerstand down until it touches the ground. Then I just rest my right foot on the pedal. In one motion I pull back on the handle bars and press down with my right foot. Like I'm pressing a stake into the ground. I usually lift my left foot off the ground so I have full force on the centerstand the bike then pops into the centerstand. Vioala. Try that a few times. I only weight 150 and I can get it everytime. Also keep your right hand on the brake incase you don't make it up. You don't want the bike to go rolling forward on it's way down if you don't make it. Good luck. :thumb: :thumb:
so last night while attempting to run some test on my bike (i'm sure you've seen the posts :icon_confused:) i decided i would try and get it on the centerstand. i had read the posts and gave it a go...and nearly dropped it into another parked bike! luckily i was able to muscle it back towards me. moral of the story:
once you rock it back, get ready for anything...and be sure you have a solid grip on that bike!!!!
Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on August 11, 2006, 08:38:33 AM
I'm 6'2" and 225 lb, and when I first got the thing, I couldn't get it to go up on the centerstand.
I got one better: I'm 5'10" and 125lbs and I eventually figured out how to lift my 480lbs behemoth ('82 650 Maxim). So, if little ol' me can do it...
Do be careful
not to over-torque the acorn nuts on the oil filter cover.
Quote from: tussey on August 11, 2006, 12:09:20 PM
getting it on the centerstand is easy.
its not easy. the gs is one of the hardest bikes I have ever gotten on the centerstand. The bmw gs1150 is a beast of a bike but a real breeze to get onto the centerstand. It does require technique, but you still need more muscle than many other bikes to get er up.
s12
Quote from: scratch on August 11, 2006, 02:37:35 PM
[Do be careful not to over-torque the acorn nuts on the oil filter cover.
+1 +1 +1 +1 :mad: :mad:
just screw them on with your fingers then go like 1/8 or 1/16th beyond that with a wrench if not you will have headaches. I had to replace all three bolts and bolt covers and get a new gasket. The slightest bit of stripping will prevent a good seal and oil will leak. It's very frustrating.
When I first got my bike, I couldn't get it on the centerstand either. And I'm a big guy. You just have to know the right technique. Tussey's technique is pretty close to what I do.
1. Approach bike on its sidestand from the left side and grab hold of the handlebars.
2. Use your right foot to push down on the "pedal" on the centerstand. Push down until the centerstand touches the ground. You don't have to push hard yet.
3. While maintaining downward pressure on the centerstand, lift the bike up straight using the handlebars. When the bike is straight, the right foot of the centerstand will touch the ground. You can just about hold the bike upright using only the downward pressure on the pedal of the centerstand -- but don't. :)
4. Move your right hand from the right handlebar to the passenger handhold behind the seat. Use your hands to help hold the bike upright.
5. Now the most tricky part -- pull upward on the passenger handhold while at the same time shifting most or all of your weight to the centerstand pedal.
The bike should pull right up onto the centerstand. I can just about put it there using foot pressure alone. If I overdo it, it launches itself up there so forcefully, I'm afraid it'll break the centerstand. :laugh:
Keep that grip on the handlebar and passenger grip just in case you don't get it up there, but as long as you keep applying downward pressure with your foot, the centerstand should hold the bike upright very well, even if the bike isn't up on the stand.
Hope that helps!
For more maintenance help, check out that section of the GS500 Wiki (http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Main/Maintenance). Its a work in progress but it might be of some use in the more routine tasks.