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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: nazgulnarsil on September 01, 2007, 07:58:53 PM

Title: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: nazgulnarsil on September 01, 2007, 07:58:53 PM
i've touched down on the left side a couple times and the tires definitely have some more lean in them.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: kml.krk on September 01, 2007, 09:42:17 PM
what kind of front springs do you have? cause I'm kinda scared to lean my bike that much on a stock front springs...
my bike is 2004.
cheers
KaMeL
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: frankieG on September 02, 2007, 10:45:32 AM
i lean waaaay over but i have woodcraft rearsets, the center stand has never touched down.  besides you have to take the headers off to get at it
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: gs500f-gaz on September 02, 2007, 12:57:46 PM
you dont have to take the headers off. i done it yesterday buy just taking out the exhust holder bolt on the pillion peg. then just keep winding the bolt out while pulling down on the silencer.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: frankieG on September 02, 2007, 02:23:18 PM
on a gsf?
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: ohgood on September 02, 2007, 03:56:54 PM
Not enough clearance for a 10" curb and a V&H aftermarket ;)

Oh, you meant leaning.... Not bouncing over curbs and armadillos ?
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: nazgulnarsil on September 02, 2007, 04:03:10 PM
i'm pretty sure it's the centerstand that scraped as the footpegs don't seem to have the rubber scraped off on the bottom.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: toyopete on September 05, 2007, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: nazgulnarsil on September 02, 2007, 04:03:10 PM
i'm pretty sure it's the centerstand that scraped as the footpegs don't seem to have the rubber scraped off on the bottom.
should be easy to see, fresh scrapes show metal, old scrapes are rusty...havn't been that far yet but I sure wil as i get used to the bike  ( have it one week now )
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: toyopete on September 05, 2007, 03:40:54 PM
Quote from: kml.krk on September 01, 2007, 09:42:17 PM
what kind of front springs do you have? cause I'm kinda scared to lean my bike that much on a stock front springs...
my bike is 2004.
cheers
KaMeL
Please explain,. what can happen to the front if its standard an we are planning to go really low as low as whatever scrapes the road first,..
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: Jarrett on September 05, 2007, 03:44:42 PM
Not a whole lot.  The front suspension is weak, but if you're cornering properly, and staying on the throttle through the corner, then the front suspension shouldn't be a limiting factor in lean angle.  However, the front is the FIRST mod anyone should do to their bike.  Bottoming out the front springs while quickly stopping for a stop light is just unacceptable. 
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: CndnMax on September 05, 2007, 05:32:26 PM
Quote from: Jarrett on September 05, 2007, 03:44:42 PM
Not a whole lot.  The front suspension is weak, but if you're cornering properly, and staying on the throttle through the corner, then the front suspension shouldn't be a limiting factor in lean angle.  However, the front is the FIRST mod anyone should do to their bike.  Bottoming out the front springs while quickly stopping for a stop light is just unacceptable. 
i've never had the front bottom out from stopping quickly, but i have an 06 and according to some1 on here they changed the springs in the newer years  :dunno_white:. they did seem to bottom out on a few bumps tho, kind of a clunking noise.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: RobTheTyrant on September 06, 2007, 07:03:52 AM
the center stand comes off pretty easily w/ the exhaust still on.  I don't know about how much clearance you gain but I do know it looks alot better than having that thing bulging out of the bottom of the bike.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: cd on September 06, 2007, 10:26:33 AM
you should leave it on in case your brakes go out and you need to jump on it to slow down? i use my center stands to goof around on
its fun to stand on them at speed
sparks and loudness
ahahaha
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: CndnMax on September 06, 2007, 10:32:25 AM
??? ???
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: RobTheTyrant on September 06, 2007, 01:48:09 PM
agreed...  :cookoo:

In the event that you lose front the brake... how HUGELY improbable would it be that you'd lose BOTH front AND rear?

Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: CndnMax on September 06, 2007, 02:08:30 PM
Quote from: RobTheTyrant on September 06, 2007, 01:48:09 PM
agreed...  :cookoo:

In the event that you lose front the brake... how HUGELY improbable would it be that you'd lose BOTH front AND rear?


And even if u did manage to loose both, you still have engine breaking. Which would work a lot better then jumping up and down on the center stand  :laugh:
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: cd on September 07, 2007, 07:49:49 AM
obviously, but its still fun to stand on it at speed. dont pretend like you all arent looking at your bike going hmmmmmmmmm
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: RobTheTyrant on September 07, 2007, 08:31:13 AM
I'll honestly say that I'm not... or can't as I've removed the damn thing.  If a gixxer doesn't need one, neither do I!  :flipoff:
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: kml.krk on September 07, 2007, 10:10:08 AM
sorry for posting my question here but I don't think it is worth separate topic.

my question is: how do you adjust the drive chain after you have removed the centerstand??
I want to get rid of my centerstand either... I'm just not sure if it is usefull in any way...

Thanks for your help on this one

Cheers
KaMeL
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on September 07, 2007, 10:17:57 AM
Quote from: kml.krk on September 07, 2007, 10:10:08 AM
sorry for posting my question here but I don't think it is worth separate topic.

my question is: how do you adjust the drive chain after you have removed the centerstand??
I want to get rid of my centerstand either... I'm just not sure if it is usefull in any way...

Thanks for your help on this one

Cheers
KaMeL

You're supposed to do chain maintenance on the sidestand..
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: kml.krk on September 07, 2007, 10:39:35 AM
I'm not going to argue with you NiceGuysFinishLast  - I'm not a pro, although according to what I found here on gstwin forum http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24039.msg246158#msg246158

I need to use centerstand to adjust the chain...  :dunno_white: 
Here is a text pasted from that topic

1) with bike on sidestand feel the chain tension.
2) roll forwards a bit then recheck. repeat until the tightest point is found.
3) put bike up onto centre stand.
4) loosen Axle nut until the adjuster plate is free to move. use a spanner on the other end to stop the axle spinning.
5) turn the adjuster nuts on either side through the same number of faces to tighten the chain. (guess)
6) put the bike back onto the side stand and check the tension.
7) repeat steps 5 and 6 until the tension is correct.
put the bike back on the center stand  then tighten the axle nut.

So I'm not sure - but what the heck - I will adjust the chain first and then get rid of that ugly centerstand :)

Cheers
KaMeL
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: Chuck on September 07, 2007, 01:57:22 PM
You can take off your center stand and... here's an idea... keep it.  Throw a rod though the mounting holes and lift the bike up to do your maintenance, then drop it back on the tires and pull the rod out and put the center stand away.  That's what I do.  You can also attach it with the original mounting bolts, but that takes about an extra minute.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: CndnMax on September 07, 2007, 03:43:44 PM
You don't need the center stand to tighten the chain, it works just fine with only the side stand. The only time i use my center stand is to clean and lube the chain and the occasional just for fun.



Quote from: cdobviously, but its still fun to stand on it at speed. dont pretend like you all arent looking at your bike going hmmmmmmmmm
uhh no, ive never had the urge to stand on my center stand going down the road-never will  :cookoo:
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: coll0412 on September 07, 2007, 04:03:23 PM
Its much better to do the chain on the side stand, since the tension increases as the swing arm moves up, so its best to do it with at least the static preload on the rear.
Title: Re: how much extra clearance do you gain by taking off the centerstand?
Post by: RobTheTyrant on September 08, 2007, 08:15:07 AM
When I'm doing my chain I usually put in a chock so it's upright but not on the center stand(since I haven't got one :laugh:)  And you WANT weight on the swing arm when you're doing it anyhow.  If you don't, once you get proper tension at 0 load, add some weight and you'll be WAY too tight on it.