11-02-2016, 06:12 AM
(11-02-2016, 02:12 AM)Rboe_imp Wrote: If you use a sheet of plywood so the whole bike is on it then it will be like using the center stand on the ground.
I've had easier bikes to pop up on the stand and worst (my old KZ550 Ltd was not easy, Goldwings were a piece of cake). For me, the trick is to shove the stand down with the foot while providing "some" assistance with right hand in pulling it up. You can do a good deal of the work pulling up with your hand/arm but that way leads to darkness. Pain. etc.
I suppose if you drew up a force vector diagram it would be about equal and you are essentially prying the center stand and the hand grip away from each other. You do have the advantage of your body weight on your foot though (some of us have more of an advantage than others)
Get a sheet of 1/4" tempered hardboard, 1/4-3/8" wafer board (Blandex, OSB, etc.) which are solid materials and cheaper than plywood. I would imagine thick cardboard would be suitable too - if not that long lasting.
Good luck!
No bike I owned required any showing or pulling; I could lift them on the center-stand merely by putting my full weight (80 kilograms give or take) straight down on the foot lever of the stand. Center-stands are, I believe, designed so that this is all that is required.
To those that doubt this, I suggest an experiment (on flat, hard surface, with side-stand extended, just in case):
Have a friend stand on the right-hand side of the bike, and hold it by both handlebars so it does not tip over. Now without touching any other part of the bike, step, while fully upright, in hard-sole footwear, on the center-stand's foot lever. Unless you are a true featherweight, I bet you the bike will pop on the stand. No discomfort or strain of any kind, and the effort will be no different than making the first step up a flight o stairs.
The trick is to be able to do it alone; that is to keep the bike in balance without being bent over it.