02-10-2014, 01:36 AM
Wow! I just got to the end of this thread. Proper method is well described. I have one comment and one story to add. First, the comment. Ferret mentioned using a 2X4 as an aid for lifting bikes onto their center stand. This is an excellent suggestion for those with back issues and for everyone's use with the difficult bikes. I made mine by cutting one end of an 18 inch 2X4 at a 45 degree bevel. I glued a piece of non slip rubber drawer liner to the bottom to prevent slipping on concrete. One places this "tool" a foot or so behind the rear wheel then role the bike back so that the wheel roles up onto the 2X4. Now, deploy the center stand with the bike already most of the way up. Makes the job so much easier. I use this tool with my FJR and I made examples for my friends with back issues.
And for the story....a friend told me this episode a while back. He rides a shaft drive and his wife rides a chain drive. She takes meticulous care of her chain to the extent that she is the only person that I know who got 50K+ miles out of a chain. Their normal routine when returning from a ride is to place her bike on the center stand and tend to the chain. She can probably get her bike on and off the center stand by herself but being a petite thing weighing about a hundred lbs. her husband, being a big guy, does this part of the chore for her. Fast forward a few days and they come out into the garage readying themselves for the day's ride. He pushes her bike off the center stand and immediately experiences what he described as the the most pain he has ever felt in his life. By now you have guessed it; the side stand landed on the top of his foot. It pains me to think of it! If there's a moral to this story I'll let you write it.
And for the story....a friend told me this episode a while back. He rides a shaft drive and his wife rides a chain drive. She takes meticulous care of her chain to the extent that she is the only person that I know who got 50K+ miles out of a chain. Their normal routine when returning from a ride is to place her bike on the center stand and tend to the chain. She can probably get her bike on and off the center stand by herself but being a petite thing weighing about a hundred lbs. her husband, being a big guy, does this part of the chore for her. Fast forward a few days and they come out into the garage readying themselves for the day's ride. He pushes her bike off the center stand and immediately experiences what he described as the the most pain he has ever felt in his life. By now you have guessed it; the side stand landed on the top of his foot. It pains me to think of it! If there's a moral to this story I'll let you write it.