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Center Stand Mod – For easier use – ideas needed

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    Center Stand Mod – For easier use – ideas needed

    Center Stand Mod – For easier use – ideas needed

    Please share your ideas on how to modify the center stand so it is easier to hoist the bike up. I was thinking of making longer and maybe parabolic ground contact rockers. Also thinking of extending the foot press lever for more leverage.

    There are other interestingly shaped ground contact rockers on other bikes and lifting them was easy. Don’t remember what models they were and its not like center stand mods are sexy enough to get Google results, tried.

    The center stand needs to be modified/repaired anyway for the straight HD exhaust and to repair the left PO bashed contact rocker anyway so this may be time for doing this.

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
    Last edited by Andrew Vanis; 06-22-2013, 08:31 PM.
    1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
    1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
    1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

    #2
    It's amazing how much easier it is to lift a bike onto the center stand if you simply use proper technique.

    On the other hand, if you have shorter shocks on the rear, you will have farther to lift, which does make it harder.

    Other than the "straight Harley pipe" , are there other modifications that might affect centerstand operation?

    .
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    #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
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    Comment


      #3
      That motorcycle is sitting low. Sagged springs, shortened springs, for some reason it's very low. Raise the bike back to it's original hieght, it will jump up on the stand as it did originally.

      Or, shorten the stand to a length that corresponds to the bike's new lowered stance.
      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

      Life is too short to ride an L.

      Comment


        #4
        no other mods.

        Doubt it is lowered, both wheels touch the ground when on center stand.

        And to be clear, the "straight Harley pipe" is a Harley muffler that is straight back rather than up-swept (I am considering angling up the flanges at the muffler crossover to up-sweep some)

        Would love a stock muffler but seems that the Harley muffler works well for others on GSR.

        Attaching (old) bike pic for reference. The Harley muffler is replacing the JCWhitney megaphones you see in this pic.
        1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
        1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
        1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
          That motorcycle is sitting low.

          Hi Tkent,

          It is an L. Your reputation precedes you

          But considering it is an L, is your advice still applicable?
          Last edited by Andrew Vanis; 06-22-2013, 07:46 PM.
          1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
          1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
          1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Andrew Vanis View Post

            Doubt it is lowered, both wheels touch the ground when on center stand.
            Then your springs are sagged. To be expected with thirty year old springs kept under compression the whole time. They still stretch to full length when up on the stand, when they are supporting the weight of the bike it sits much too low.

            You are just dead lifting the motorcycle up, the lever is not working as designed, not doing much at all to help you get the bike up.

            Just as a comparison, I just put the 1100G up on the stand, it took no lifting at all, just a foot on the lever and up it comes.

            This bike is only a few pounds lighter than your 850.
            http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

            Life is too short to ride an L.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
              Then your springs are sagged.
              Is there a specification that we can confirm sagging? Like distance from ground to top shock/spring bolt?

              I'd like to check before committing to replacement springs/shocks as these are less than 30 years old.
              1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
              1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
              1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

              Comment


                #8
                Check the sag with you sitting on the bike. It should be roughly 1/3 the available travel.

                Less sag with the bike's weight only.

                There are specs in the book somewhere.

                The front fork springs have probably sagged too.
                http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

                Life is too short to ride an L.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
                  Check the sag with you sitting on the bike. It should be roughly 1/3 the available travel.
                  - ground to top shock bolt -

                  25 ½“ - on center stand (both wheels touch the ground)

                  25” – off center stand, no rider bike vertical

                  24 Ό” - off center stand, with rider bike vertical

                  Not a big difference. I’m unsure how to test available travel to determine 1/3
                  Last edited by Andrew Vanis; 06-22-2013, 08:11 PM.
                  1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
                  1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
                  1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

                  Comment


                    #10
                    When the bike is on the center stand the rear wheel should be able to spin freely and off the ground. That's the point of a center and after all, to ease rear tire removal and maintenance. For some reason your bike is lower than it should be.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      For reference, here is an picture of when the center stand just touches the ground (with no force) [flip-flops are for demonstration purposes only]

                      Appears about 50 deg down from horizontal
                      1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
                      1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
                      1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Tim Tom View Post
                        When the bike is on the center stand the rear wheel should be able to spin freely and off the ground. .......For some reason your bike is lower than it should be.
                        If the wheels touch when on center stand, wouldn't that mean that the bike is higher (or the center stand shorter)?
                        1981 GS750L - Owned since 1990 when graduated high school and since have been discovering all the things not disclosed by seller.
                        1983 GS750E - bought in 2016 as a rough runner to use while rebuilding 81L and then to combine with ES to make one good one
                        1983 GS750ES - bought in Toronto in 2015 on a lark as a non-runner, missing front cowling and exhaust - If you have a 1983 750ES front cowling let me know! Blue would be nice

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Andrew Vanis View Post
                          If the wheels touch when on center stand, wouldn't that mean that the bike is higher (or the center stand shorter)?
                          Or the front is higher... Something is definitely funny.

                          Those aren't stock shocks, so they're probably a little long. Probably about 1" longer than stock spec. They may have short springs to lower the bike, which would explain the center stand troubles.
                          Last edited by Dogma; 06-23-2013, 09:28 PM.
                          Dogma
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                          Comment


                            #14
                            Install hydraulic lift cylinders sorry couldn't resist
                            sigpic1982 gs750e 1186 oil cooled engine USD front mono shock rear
                            1994 gsxr1100w
                            1981 gs1260dragbike (this one I've owned for29yrs)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by akckhim View Post
                              Install hydraulic lift cylinders sorry couldn't resist
                              You would have to have a hydraulic pump and a 12vdc electric motor to drive it. Scaled down version of a sno-plow lift.

                              Maybe just a small hydraulic pump jack.

                              or a little manual scissor jack

                              How about a 12vdc screw gun motor turning a screw jack ?
                              82 1100 EZ (red)

                              "You co-opting words of KV only thickens the scent of your BS. A thief and a putter-on of airs most foul. " JEEPRUSTY

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