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That *&^% Center Stand

Wineguy

Wineguy

Moped
OK - I've read enough on these forums to know that I'm not alone, and I've learned a lot of things from these forums that have been helpful. I admitted my drop in public the other day, so I guess it's time to get my CDA number. I got my license on 4/20, researched and bought my first bike on 4/24 ('99 Connie) and have been riding and researching every day. I was trying to figure out all I could about the bike, and kept reading about the trials and tribulations about the center stand. So I read the advice, watched the video on youtube, and I was able to get the bike onto the stand without much trouble. The next morning, I went to the garage to take her to work, rocked her forward to get her off the center stand and she leaned away from me and I lost her on the right side. Thankfully, the bike was close to the garage wall, so she never went all the way down. No witnesses since the garage door was still closed, but the crash woke up my wife (who also rides) who came running downstairs to see what the hell I was doing in the garage. I picked up my bike, and my pride, and noticed only a small scratch on the faring on the right side. No other damage so I'm counting myself lucky. My lesson is to hang onto the bike better when taking it off that center stand. Also, I have a friend who showed me how he takes his Gold Wing off its center stand. He gets on the bike, rocks it forward (while on it), and as it comes down he puts both feet down, hits the brake and voila. Will that work on a Connie too? Other than that - love the bike, love the COG support, and in the 3 weeks I've been riding I've ridden in sunshine, 35 knot winds, and an impromptu snowstorm (I live in Colorado Springs). I'm looking forward to more adventures this summer. Mark Hejtmanek COG#306755 '99 ZG1000 A14 Candy Amarinth Red Colorado Springs, CO
 
He gets on the bike, rocks it forward (while on it), and as it comes down he puts both feet down, hits the brake and voila. Will that work on a Connie too? Sure will, glad she did not go all the way down. I'm pretty careful about where I roll her off the center stand while sitting on the bike. especially on gravel. If one is a little short on the inseam safer IMO to stand on the LHS :) CP Colin Prior Cogmos Committee Chairman Lake Forest Park WA COG#7767
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Mark, CDA0271. Glad to hear the forums have helped you out. Your story too will help others out. I use your friends technique as well with success. Greg COG # 7010/7010a (Tracey) CDA 0120 Connie Droppers Anonymous Awards Dude (CDAAD) 99 Connie "Herrin Christabelle". 05 Ninja 250
 
I have never taken any bike off the center stand unless I am on it standing over the seat. I am 6'1 and I can tip Connie off her stand without my feet leaving the ground. I have never even considered doing it beside the bike until I heard it here. I still will not consider it after hearing several stories like yours. I never get on or off without it firmly planted either. If I want it on the center stand I put the side stand down and rest the bike on it, get off, put my left foot as close to the bike as possible just ahead of the side stand. I then put my right foot on the center stand pushing it to the ground. Lift the bike off the side stand till you feel the far center stand foot hit the ground!!!! Sometimes I use this point to adjust my left foot even closer to the bike. Now with your left hand on the bars and right on the lift point I pull back on the bars and 95% lift the bike while pushing down on the stands foot. If you are tall then you can almost lock your right arm and use your entire body to do the pull and push with lots of force and no pressure on your back, knees or shoulders. I have two or three drops now in 30 + years and none were no speed drops. In each case I made a stupid move to late and to slow of a speed and let the weight get to far off center. My first ever was in the mud after getting the bike stuck. Second was coming to a stop with a cogger in Co. I just tried to shift my position behind him to late and when I touched the brake it said Weeeeee all the way down. Same thing on the last one. I was stopping and looked back to see where a friend was and as i looked back I turned the wheel just a tad and hit some gravel and weeee all the way down again. Each time I used what strength I had to geep it from falling hard and no damage at all with no tip over bars. My bikes over the years have been on the ground a few more times but in each case I was not with in 100 yards of it. Friends, bar parking lots and parked in the garage close to wife spot. All bad places to leave a bike.
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<p align="left"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20211686@N05/">My Photos
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I learned a long ago that it is safer to take bikes off the center stand while on the seat with both feet down. -- Steve Smith, #3184 COG Northest Area Director (somewhere in south central CT) If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
 
Thanks for the notes on getting the bike off the center stand - I haven't tried it yet, but have more confidence now that several of you say that you use that same technique. Mark Hejtmanek 1999 Concours Candy Amarinth Red COG#306755 CDA#271 Colorado Springs, CO
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