GSX1400 Owners .org

General => Bike Chat => Topic started by: Milts on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 06:45 AM

Title: First impressions
Post by: Milts on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 06:45 AM
 Hi 

   I'm thoroughly enjoying my new bike but kin' ell getting it on it's centre stand!..... no one mentions that in the buyers guide  :doh:.
.
It's gradually becoming do-able but jeez what a lump, definitely helps wearing appropriate footwear though.

But what a great bike! Think this one's a keeper.


   
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: ARH on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 06:48 AM
Welcome Miles!  Good you found us as there's loads of good info and well informed folks on here.   Pearl of wisdom for you.... don't drop it ffs  :rofl2:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: seth on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 06:55 AM
It's a knack to getting it on the stand
Also under the left side rear seat cowl there is a handle to help .
I do left hand on the lead bar right do it on the stand (left foot on the floor) right hand on the handle bit and then stamp on the footrest while shifting my weight back .
I can get the bike on the stand no problem even when fully loaded with luggage.
Like I say it's a knack practice and you'll get it.
:cheers:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Andre on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 07:29 AM
I put my right foot on the main stand thingy and lift my left foot off the ground - up it goes. For balance I hold onto the handle bar and the pillion handle. I weigh about 100 kg, guess that helps a bit.
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 09:36 AM
There is a knack but not that hard. I always make sure the centre stand is very squarely on the ground and lift with right hand under the seat at the same time as pushing all of my immenseness on the centre stand.........thinking heavy !!
"Not to be done in jandals or bare feet"  :onya:

Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: black14 on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 10:25 AM
I have a few bikes - the 14 is by far the easiest to put on the stand!
Sounds like perhaps you're trying to lift it ( :facepalm: ) onto the stand rather than use the stand leverage to push it up there.
I can also manage pretty easily in thongs (that's jandles or flip flops for those from other lands!).
Like Seth said, just grab the left bar to steady (don't turn the bars) and the grab handle and stand on the centre stand lever - up she comes!!
:hat:
:cheers:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: shanered6 on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 04:37 PM
Quote from: black14 on Thursday, 11 October  2018, 10:25 AM
I have a few bikes - the 14 is by far the easiest to put on the stand!
Sounds like perhaps you're trying to lift it ( :facepalm: ) onto the stand rather than use the stand leverage to push it up there.
I can also manage pretty easily in thongs (that's jandles or flip flops for those from other lands!).
Like Seth said, just grab the left bar to steady (don't turn the bars) and the grab handle and stand on the centre stand lever - up she comes!!
:hat:
:cheers:

Thats an image i will never get out of my head  :facepalm: !!!   thongs over here is a very skimpy pair of ladies under wear !   :happy1:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: froudy on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 05:04 PM
As Black14 said, you need to push down on the stand rather than trying to lift the bike..I'm a scrawny 11 stone wracked with joint pain 14 rider..And I can do it ok :onya:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: grog on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 07:06 PM
If you think centrestand is difficuklt just wait until it falls over. had mine not quite 180 but close, wifes leg under muffler, stuck in dirt. rh end of bars almost touching down. seriously inverted, somehow, not sure how, my 85kg frame uprighted it. was my mistake on dirt track. she had a burn that healed few weeks later. i felt like a total fool. still do 2 yrs later. where i got that muscle to fix , never know. end result for bike was just a mirror, bike dirty as hell, rhs engine cover, tiny scratch on can which polished out. bike fine, ego destroyed. my shoulder was stuffed for months.
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Red Biker on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 08:51 PM
Welcome Milts!

I dropped mine for the first time on the way up to the Scottish meet, held on to it as she was tipping over which I like to think saved her from more damage.

Scraped engine case and broken clutch lever was the damage but could have been far Worse 😇

Touched the case up yesterday and new lever on order.


Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: seth on Thursday, 11 October 2018, 09:03 PM
Looks a good repair you'd never know there was a scratch even if it was just a small one.
Like you say it could have been much worse.
:onya:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Hooli on Friday, 12 October 2018, 06:35 AM
I bought one with an Akra and no centre stand, no issues that way!
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: black14 on Friday, 12 October 2018, 07:53 AM
Quotethongs over here is a very skimpy pair of ladies under wear !

That's a thong! Or maybe a dot thong... As opposed to thongs.
None of which are necessarily limited to those of the fairer sex!
:cheers:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Mick_J on Friday, 12 October 2018, 06:57 PM
A bloke in a thong is just wrong, no matter how you look at it.  :thumbs_down:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: gsxbarmy on Friday, 12 October 2018, 09:20 PM
Quote from: mjgt on Friday, 12 October  2018, 06:57 PM
A bloke in a thong is just wrong, no matter how you look at it.  :thumbs_down:

....or a mankini  :facepalm:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Proteous on Saturday, 13 October 2018, 02:40 AM
But thats a bendy lever.... they are not meant to break!!! :facepalm: :doh:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Red Biker on Sunday, 14 October 2018, 02:04 AM
Hi Proteus,
It must have it square on the end so no chance to bend!
A bit of a waste of time when you think about it, if the bikes are dropped they will always fall at the same angle!
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Jeykey on Sunday, 14 October 2018, 07:44 AM
To help lift mine, besides putting a foot on the center stand, I grip the pillion footrest bracket, help me a lot in pulling it up.
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Milts on Wednesday, 17 October 2018, 11:30 PM

Well i'm still missing this knack of getting it on it's centre stand, but i can manage to get it up.... just!    (ooh Matron!)

I recently met an owner with a very tasty 14 who said after he fitted rear suspension risers to his, he discovered it made it easier to get it on it's centre stand,  any others with risers agree with that?
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: froudy on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 12:40 AM
From memory when I had my risers fitted it IS easier to get it on the centre stand..
But then it doesn't raise the back wheel off the ground which makes rear wheel removal difficult. You then have to put a plank of wood under the stand to raise it enough.
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 02:12 AM
Milts, it's more technique than brute strength.
This is what I do:
Bike on side stand, stand on left of the bike, grab handle bars, put front brake on, flick side stand up, bike is now upright with front brake on & both hands on bars - you're balancing it while standing beside it, right hoof pushes main stand to the ground, (now bike is upright, both hands on bars, front brake on & stand down), release the brake, pull back on the bars and at same time stand (push down with your body weight) on the main stand foot piece. Bike will just nicely roll back & onto the stand.


It's the timing of the pull back & press down that's important. The pull back gives the initial momentum & the press down does the job. It helps if you're more than '7 stone wringing wet' too.  No point in trying to 'lift' the heavy thing, that'll just bugger yer back & other parts of your anatomy.

Have a go & practice in your garage, you'll get it.  Hope this is of assistance for you.  :onya:

@Milts
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Milts on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 04:29 AM
Hi KiwiCol

   Appreciate your feedback, i will give that ago.

   I will have to get some mates round as a safety net, I think when you're trying to do it on your own. my fear is i could drop it   at anytime.

   Once that fear is conquered i'm sure all will be fine!

   At least i know fitting risers is a win win, should i decide to go that route
   
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 05:29 AM
Jeez Col l can't even reach the front brake from standing on the left side of the bike.
But l have no problem getting it onto the center stand.

Milts maybe you need to eat a few more pies. Thus increasing the mass available to push down on the stand
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 07:10 AM
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 18 October  2018, 05:29 AM
Jeez Col l can't even reach the front brake from standing on the left side of the bike.
But l have no problem getting it onto the center stand.

Milts maybe you need to eat a few more pies. Thus increasing the mass available to push down on the stand
To achieve the described technique, you do need to let go of your wallet for a few minutes . . .  :happy1:  :whistling:
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: Kiwifruit on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 08:25 AM
Col, wallet has to be held tight, it might blow away.
Title: Re: First impressions
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 09:50 AM
Least you get to hold yours - Mrs has got mine!!