New shocks: now centerstand issues

[bleeble]

I just installed new Progressive springs and shocks that are slightly longer than the OEM ones. Previously, when my bike was on the centerstand, there was just barely enough clearance underneath the rear tire to spin it. With the new shocks, the tire is fully planted when the centerstand is down. I can rock it back and forth a little bit, but it won't come off the stand without lifting up the rear still.

I've seen pictures of other GS's on the centerstand and it looks like their rears tires are 1+ inches off the ground. Do I have a borked centerstand/frame or is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

[TheCafeKid]

I just installed new Progressive springs and shocks that are slightly longer than the OEM ones. Previously, when my bike was on the centerstand, there was just barely enough clearance underneath the rear tire to spin it. With the new shocks, the tire is fully planted when the centerstand is down. I can rock it back and forth a little bit, but it won't come off the stand without lifting up the rear still.

I've seen pictures of other GS's on the centerstand and it looks like their rears tires are 1+ inches off the ground. Do I have a borked centerstand/frame or is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

Its cos they are longer than stock. The position of the swingarm is relative to the length of the shocks. Because they are longer, theyve pushed the swingarm down a bit. On my cafe, i did an GS1100 swingarm conversion, and its slightly longer than the stock, by two inches, so i had to get longer shocks to make up the ride hight difference. I got 14.5 inch shocks, and i probably should have gotten 14 inch shocks. My rear doesnt touch as bad as yours, but its definately lower than it was on the centerstand before.

[bleeble]

I know it was the longer shocks that caused it. My main question was whether others had/have the same clearance issues using the OEM shocks.

[TheCafeKid]

*I* have never. Ive had the OEMs on the cafe, not a problem, have em on my 1100G, not a problem. Though you should have seen the shocks that came ON the cafe when i bought it. They were a whopping 10inches long. You want to talk about making is IMPOSSIBLE to get on the centerstand by yourself...lol

[bleeble]

Hmmm... maybe there's a taller centerstand I could put on it. From one of the bigger bikes maybe? I'll have to see if a taller stand would cause clearance issues (assuming I can do it).

[tkent02]

Hmmm... maybe there's a taller centerstand I could put on it. From one of the bigger bikes maybe? I'll have to see if a taller stand would cause clearance issues (assuming I can do it).

You could lengthen yours easy enough.

[bleeble]

You could lengthen yours easy enough.

How would I do that?

[dardoonk]

Its cos they are longer than stock. The position of the swingarm is relative to the length of the shocks. Because they are longer, theyve pushed the swingarm down a bit. On my cafe, i did an GS1100 swingarm conversion, and its slightly longer than the stock, by two inches, so i had to get longer shocks to make up the ride hight difference. I got 14.5 inch shocks, and i probably should have gotten 14 inch shocks. My rear doesnt touch as bad as yours, but its definately lower than it was on the centerstand before.

Funny, I think I told you about the longer shocks with the swingarm converstion, but my rear tire has plenty of room when on the centerstand

[Ed Vrolijk]

How would I do that?

Take your centre stand off, and weld a small plate of about 5mm thick underneath each leg. That way you don't have to respray your stand. try it before you weld them, maybe you need a thicker plate.
Good luck.
Ed

[Switchman]

Bleeble...for the short-term, until you get the center stand extended some, just throw a small chunk of wood under it. Grab up a piece of 1x4 long enough to span...12" or 14" and use that under the stand. You can also do that to get an idea how much you need to add to the stand to get the clearance you're after.

[Nessism]

A taller than stock rear tire doesn't help this situation either. What size tire do you have on the rear?

[bleeble]

A taller than stock rear tire doesn't help this situation either. What size tire do you have on the rear?

I think it's 140/90-16. Well, I'm at least sure about the 140... Which is interesting because, in all these tire threads, everyone says that you'll have clearance issues with anything over 130. No such issues here.

[Nessism]

I think it's 140/90-16. Well, I'm at least sure about the 140... Which is interesting because, in all these tire threads, everyone says that you'll have clearance issues with anything over 130. No such issues here.

The GS rims are quite narrow. Using a 130 is pushing things, 140 is too wide although some people do it anyway.

[bleeble]

The GS rims are quite narrow. Using a 130 is pushing things, 140 is too wide although some people do it anyway.

Ah, that was about the rim... Didn't even think about it like that.

I put a brick (1 inch thick?) under the center stand yesterday when I was trying to figure out where those scary noises were coming from. Wow, was that hard to get the bike up! :shock: I had to get my brother to help me. It lifted the rear wheel probably four inches off the ground. I think adding a few mm to the bottom of the centerstand will work nicely.

Now all I have to do is find some thick steel scraps... and get my hands on a welding torch... then learn how to weld...