Now, i feel like a frackin idiot asking this question, but is there some trick to getting the bike up on the center stand? I've only ever had a sidestand before and I nearly dropped it 3 or 4 times trying to get it up on the center stand. Clymer manual is no help, it only says "put the bike up on the centerstand". Great. Thanks clymer. I tried standing on the left of the bike and standing on the stand while pulling back on the bars and lifting up on the rear, but it was really tippy/unstable. the other thing i tried was straddling the bike and putting all my weight on the stand while yanking on the bars. That was a lot more stable seeming, but there was no way it'd go up. I made sure to keep it in neutral or have the clutch in so that the front wheel could settle back. Any tips other than "have a friend help"?

Quote from: joebothehobo on May 30, 2008, 02:52:46 PM
Now, i feel like a frackin idiot asking this question, but is there some trick to getting the bike up on the center stand? I've only ever had a sidestand before and I nearly dropped it 3 or 4 times trying to get it up on the center stand. Clymer manual is no help, it only says "put the bike up on the centerstand". Great. Thanks clymer. I tried standing on the left of the bike and standing on the stand while pulling back on the bars and lifting up on the rear, but it was really tippy/unstable. the other thing i tried was straddling the bike and putting all my weight on the stand while yanking on the bars. That was a lot more stable seeming, but there was no way it'd go up. I made sure to keep it in neutral or have the clutch in so that the front wheel could settle back. Any tips other than "have a friend help"?

Don't feel bad, this is a common problem. No such thing as a bad question.

The trick is to use your weight on the centre stand foot pedal. It's all in the legs, not the arms!

You will probably find these threads useful:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=40070.0
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=8144.0

All you have to do is stand on the center stand and use very little arm muscle!

If you try to lift it with your arms then you are most likely to drop it.

Before I took my center stand out.  I would push down on the  stand with my right foot but wedge my leg behind the foot peg and use it as kind of a lever to get it up there.

There are plenty of You Tube vids.

Put the kickstand down. On a hard, level surface to start. Wear boots, again to start. Get a bud to stand on the other side of the bike to spot. Eat you Cheerios. Drink fluids. Get a couple more buds.

Grab the handlebar (I'm standing on the kickstand side) and the bar under the seat.  Step on the centerstand and push it so it touches the ground. Rock the bike over until both centerstand feet touch the ground at the same time.

Step hard on the centerstand and pull up. The bike will rock backwards a few inches, but once it is going, you are just there to keep it from flopping over.

Put back the kickstand. Take the bike off the stand by mounting it and rocking it forward.

Repeat 10 times. You will be shocked at how easy it is. Then you can start doing it without spotters, on dirt, with your eyes closed, while doing a jello shot, etc.

I dropped my bike last week doing it on a sloping gravel driveway, when I was tired (arms were shaking), and not paying attention. Maybe the thousandth time I've put a bike on a centerstand. Thank god for case guards......

I had the same problem until last week. What I do is grab the left grip with your left hand. Grab the passenger foot peg bracket (the V part) with your right hand and put weight on the center stand kick with your right foot. Lift with your right hand and put pressure down on the stand. The bike should pop right up. I couldn't get it up for anything until I tried this. Works great 

Here's a video example. Not a GS though but the technique is the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDNqCMNau9A