Ok, so I've been taking some time to do a bunch of little maintenance tasks and putting some grease in the center stand tube was one of them. I followed the How-To here, just so you know. I got it done without much fuss, but now I swear that the bike leans very slightly to the right when on the stand. It's still very stable, but when I look at it from the front or rear that tiny lean bugs me. Prior to this, I'm quite sure that it always seemed level. It baffled me because there's really no wiggle room for that tube. There is some rust down in those parts, but it's very far from being structurally unsound.
I had another look down there tonight and had the idea that maybe a difference in the tightness of the pinch bolts on each side could make one side of the tube a tiny bit higher or lower than the other side. I wrenched around with the pinch bolts a bit and I think the bike is now about level when I put it up on the center stand. Does that make any sense? Or am I losing my mind as I swirl deeper into the black hole of Gl1100 maintenance?
Slight lean to the right after lubricating center stand. Pinch bolts?
- Wilcoy02
- Posts: 1176
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:37 pm
- Location: Marengo, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1983 GL1100 I purchased 3/16
1983 GL1100I frame with an 80 engine. poor boy installed with C-5 ignition--DIED in Grande Prairie Alberta Canada 8/15
98 valkyrie sold 8/16
Re: Slight lean to the right after lubricating center stand. Pinch bolts?
You need to get out of the black hole.
- winguyjo
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:26 pm
- Location: b.c. Canada
- Motorcycle: wing1 : 1982 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing2 : 1980 gl1100 interstate; resurrection complete. SOLD.
wing3 : 81gl1100i frame/82gl1100a engine/81cb900 bits. resurrection complete. naked. SOLD.
wing4 : 1977 gl1000 black w/ blue pinstripes; resurrection complete. SOLD
wing5 : 1977 gl1000 black w/gold pinstripes; nearly roadworthy when purchased, NOW RIDING.
wing6 : 1975 gl1000 blue; SOLD
Re: Slight lean to the right after lubricating center stand. Pinch bolts?
be careful of the "fix it til it breaks" syndrome. 

- AZgl1800
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:46 pm
- Location: Lake Oologah Indian Territory USA
- Motorcycle: '02 GL1800
2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc
Re: Slight lean to the right after lubricating center stand. Pinch bolts?
my 1800 "feels like" it is leaning to the right side, when I stand on the left side while it is on the center stand.
I always put the 1800 up on the center stand when I'm not riding it, a requirement for me to get back on it.
from the front and rear, it "looks to be" vertical....
I suspect it is a visual misconception for us from the way the plastics are attached.
I always put the 1800 up on the center stand when I'm not riding it, a requirement for me to get back on it.
from the front and rear, it "looks to be" vertical....
I suspect it is a visual misconception for us from the way the plastics are attached.
~John
'02 GL1800
2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc
'02 GL1800
2009 Piaggio MP3 250cc