Center Stand Technique

[GL1000K1dan]

Anyone got a good technique for putting the GL1000 on the center stand ?
My right hand is getting trashed pulling the bike up on the grab rail because I don't like leaving it on the side stand.
I can now see why an owner, of a certain age in life, would want to part with this great bike because it's soooo bloody heavy !

[MattMcCoy]

See if this helps. It’s my understanding that the GL1000 is a little more difficult.



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[landisr]

I have 2 '76s and they are both PITAs. My solution is to carry a 6" piece of 2x4, place it behind the back tire, and roll the bike up on it. Just be sure to keep both hands on the handle bar and be ready to apply the front brake to make sure you don't roll off the board. Then it's a piece of cake to put it up on the center stand as normal. Kick the block out from under the bike and stow it.

I can put my 1500 up on it's center stand in my moccasins...

Ron in AZ

[winguyjo]

i had one ... can't recall if it was a 1000 or 1100 ... it was insanely difficult to get on the center stand. eventually i started sniffing around and found that someone had done some welding on the center stand and clearly did not get it right. i grabbed one from the hoard and installed it. problem solved. still difficult, but do-able with the right technique and a STURDY pair of shoes.

[dingdong]

My 76 is a 2 person job. I get my wife to lift and pull from behind. lol. But I don't have a grab rail on mine.

[DenverWinger]

My 1100 is an absolute bear to get on center stand. There's a 2 foot long piece of 2x10 board on the garage floor that I drive over when parking, stopping with rear wheel on the board. Makes getting on the center stand MUCH easier.

Having said that I usually don't bother with the center stand unless I'm working on the bike, or I want to get to the shelves the bike leans toward on the side stand. Might smoke a little on startup, but that goes away relatively quickly.

[Joneszy]

I have both an 1100 and a 1000.The 1100 I can still get on the center stand using the technique in the video above. There is NO way I can do that with my 1000. I have to use a board under the rear tire or get a buddy to help me. I am an 75 YO geezer so not as strong as I once was and really don't want to injure myself trying to get it on the center stand using brute strength. Try the board suggestion as the little bit of elevation on the rear tire seems to help quite a bit.
BTW my 1100 is stripped so no luggage/rack weight on the rear. I am sure that helps as well.

[GL1000K1dan]

Thanks chaps for your wisdom. I think I will use the plank of wood technique.
I wonder what Honda was thinking when they developed this bike. Did they think that all the purchasers would be built like Charles Atlas ?
So far, I haven't dropped the bike trying to put it on the main stand but, I'm sure if I did, it would leave a huge hole in the ground.

[MattMcCoy]

I’ve also seen suggested to use a cheater over the tang on the center stand to create more leverage.

[WingAdmin]

Getting the bike on the center stand uses massive mechanical advantage of the center stand lever. It doesn't take the bike being much lower for that mechanical advantage to be severely decreased. An inch of sag on the rear shocks will make a huge difference in the effort required to get the bike on the center stand.

My 1100 (the one shown in the video above) was always a beast to get on the center stand. Then I replaced the old, (original!) worn-out shocks with a new set of Progressive 416's. The rear end of the bike sat up almost two inches higher as a result - the old springs were so tired!

With the new shocks in place putting the bike at the ride height it was SUPPOSED to have, putting it on the center stand was super easy! Before, with the old shocks, it took every bit of strength I could muster.

So you might want to get a measuring tape out to check your rear shocks and see just how much they are sagging.

[GL1000K1dan]

I am being lazy here (apologies), but what is the measurement of the rear shocks supposed to be ?
If my shocks are shot then that would explain the rather iffy handling qualities of the bike. I put the handling qualities down to the 'old' Bridgestone Batlax 45's that were on the bike.

[GL1000dan]

See if this helps. It’s my understanding that the GL1000 is a little more difficult.



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Thanks MattMcCoy for the video clip but the GL1000 is way more difficult than your GL1100.

[jamesw1313]

I have found that having the handle bars straight makes a big difference.

[leonardhcross]

I too have a 76 GL1000. I am 72 but relatively strong and was having a bear of a time getting my bike up onto center stand. Two things have helped. First, I installed new Hagon shocks. The second thing seems so simple but, here it is. My bike can be stubborn getting into neutral. If I park the bike and leave it in first gear, then attempt to pull it back up onto the center stand, it really fights me. Simply making sure that you are in neutral when pulling the bike up seems to make a big difference to me.

[77Goldwing]

I thought I was the only one having this problem. Twenty-thirty-forty years ago I had no problem popping the Wing onto it's center stand, but old(er) age and lack of strength have made it more difficult. Generally I leave it on the side stand and use a 3/4" board to keep it somewhat level. But winter storage in the rear of the garage requires that I back it into a corner, then have my wife help pull the rear end up/back while I push down on the center stand. I will try to back it onto a board next time and maybe that extra rear end height will make it easier.

To share a short horror story, in 1996 I went into the garage on a very cold morning to put the Wing on the center stand so that I could move a car into the garage next to it. My muscles were cold and as I pounded down on the stand I felt/heard a pop and my lower leg went numb. Yep, I had popped my Achilles tendon. Standing on one foot I let the bike back down on it's side stand, crawled into the house, and prevailed on above wife to drive me to the ER.

[GL1000K1dan]

Thanks DenverWinger and what a revelation. The piece of wood under the rear wheel works a treat.

Now to check the lengths of the rear shocks to see if they are shot, or not, as the case may be.

[offcenter]

I have both a '76 and a '99 1500.
Although the 1500 is MUCH heavier, it is much easier to get on the center stand.
The '76 1000 is damned near impossible for me.
I made up an extension out of a piece of pipe that fits over the foot pad on the center stand.
With the extension, I can easily get the 1000 on the stand. Without the extension, forget it!!

[Joneszy]

I have both a '76 and a '99 1500.
Although the 1500 is MUCH heavier, it is much easier to get on the center stand.
The '76 1000 is damned near impossible for me.
I made up an extension out of a piece of pipe that fits over the foot pad on the center stand.
With the extension, I can easily get the 1000 on the stand. Without the extension, forget it!!

You might be able to patent that extension!! Are you able to post a pic of the pipe adapter that enables you to use the center stand?

[silverbullett]

For an 1800 here is the thing to have...[url][

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[Maz]

Thanks DenverWinger and what a revelation. The piece of wood under the rear wheel works a treat.

Now to check the lengths of the rear shocks to see if they are shot, or not, as the case may be.

Dan,
Not much help, I know, but my '75 is no hassle to put on the centre stand, so long as you're wearing boots or tough-soled shoes. Get the stand down till both feet are touching the floor, grab under the grab rail with right hand, steady the bars with left hand, put all your weight on the stand foot pad and lift with your right hand. Goes straight up every time.
Maz

[cfairweather]

The best way to get a naked GL1000 on the center stand is to grab the grab bar with your right hand. The left hand goes on the handlebar and right foot on the center stand. You must lift the bike with your hands; pulling hard and straight up while pressing straight down on the center stand as hard as you can. The bike will pop right up on the stand. I have seen one that was that was very difficult due to weak front springs. To check the springs, jack up the bike to get the front wheel off of the ground and remove the top fork caps. If your springs are weak, it will be easy to reinstall the caps because there won't be much spring pressure on the caps. You may need to add a spacer or replace the springs. Weak rear springs will also make it harder than normal. The design of the center stand could definitely be better, but I have used this technique and many GL1000s and it is not a problem. If you have bags and fairing, get a helper...

[GL1000K1dan]

I haven't managed to check the suspension, either front of back, but will do soon. When I do I'll report back my findings.

I guess if this was the only Honda motorcycle I owned then I wouldn't know any different, however, compared to my other Hondas, the GL1000 is a bit of a challenge. My ST1300 pops straight up on the centre stand no problem.

As you say Maz, technique is all important (provided all other variables are good i.e. suspension). Perhaps my confidence is not as good as it should be as I am truly **** scared of dropping the bike on its side. For the time being, the bike is tucked up in the rear garage, plastered with ACF 50 and had an oil & filter change. So, for now, not a problem.

[timkrad]

I have a simple way of getting my 76 GL1000 up on the centers stand. I put a looped tie down strap on the hand hold on each side of the seat and lift it up with the chain hoist in my shop. Only problem is the chain hoist isn't very portable.