How to get a Goldwing on and off the center stand

[jandjgoldwing]

I watched some YouTube vids, which turned out to be very helpful. I also discovered that, with my GL1500, long pants and boots helped prevent leg abrasions. If on macadam, in Summer, the center stand will dig in quickly, so I use a thin steel plate under it. I first decide that the bike will go up on the stand. Then I do it. "There is no try." I weigh 177, am older than dirt. I put the bike up regularly to check fluids. I interpret the instructions to require that, not the side stand.

[WingAdmin]

I watched some YouTube vids, which turned out to be very helpful. I also discovered that, with my GL1500, long pants and boots helped prevent leg abrasions. If on macadam, in Summer, the center stand will dig in quickly, so I use a thin steel plate under it. I first decide that the bike will go up on the stand. Then I do it. "There is no try." I weigh 177, am older than dirt. I put the bike up regularly to check fluids. I interpret the instructions to require that, not the side stand.

You're correct, the fluid levels must be checked only when the bike is on the center stand, in order for them to read correctly.

[Cameron 63]

I have watched the videos and read everyone's tips but I still have a beast of a time getting my gl1800 on its center stand. I have not tried the tip about using a board under the rear wheel yet, so that's next. I wonder if it's possible that my center stand was not installed at the proper point and that's what causes mine to be so heavy to pull up that my back aches afterward!

[T=Trouble]

I have not been successful in the past on getting my bike on my own on the center stand. After having watched the video, I will definitely try it again. Update to come...

[bikommuter]

I've used this method on my CM400T, my friend's CM400T, my other friend's 86 VN750. All worked fine. I'm 5'5 1/2" with shoes on, 160 lbs. My garage floor looks like a frozen rough ocean (wavey). It's hard to find a spot flat enough that at least one of the wheels is not rolling up hill. With the bike on the center stand, the rear wheel is usually at least 2" off the floor. I use a bike jack to get it up and level and then let it back down onto the center stand for storage. I can see (or not see) that your head is out of the video, and your hip is higher than the seat which makes you at least 6 inches taller than me. I don't even try to swing my leg over the seat. My mounting method has brought tears to the eyes of people laughing while they watch me get on it , but with 2' lifts in my boots, I can ride it (and stop at lights) comfortably. I think I have given up on trying to pull the bike up onto the center stand.

[Metal Mangler]

Everyone these tips are very good although when I am doing this with my right foot I use the center of my foot as a as advised by an older more experienced Goldwing so I don't tear any tendons or muscles in my foot by using my toes.

[Paul Narramore]

My 1977 GL1000 came to me fitted with S&W Street Stroker shocks #10291 which have a 320mm eye-to-eye measurement. The standard shocks are 335mm. I have tried and failed to ever raise the bike up on it's centre stand as my foot doesn't have sufficient room between the centre stand pad and the bottom of the silencer, perhaps only 1/2". The nothing wrong with the centre stand, no corrosion, cleaned, painted and well greased with grease nipples, but with these shorter shocks, no damned room to get my little boot in there. Solution? Get a pair of the correct length shocks .

OMG! Why this ended up on the GL1100 section, I don't know. Can the mod please move it across, ta?

[Maz]

Get smaller feet, Paul.

Maz (Ian)

[Paul Narramore]

Ian, Isn't size 7 small enough? No, I shall get some shocks the right length and "all my troubles (will) seem so far away".

[Maz]

Assuming you don't have a problem planting your feet on the ground when seated, I think that's your best option. I've got Hagons on mine, which are very slightly shorter than stock but, now I've replaced the frame, I've got my rear wheel clear of the ground and it rolls onto the centre stand nicely.

Maz

[WingAdmin]

My 1977 GL1000 came to me fitted with S&W Street Stroker shocks #10291 which have a 320mm eye-to-eye measurement. The standard shocks are 335mm. I have tried and failed to ever raise the bike up on it's centre stand as my foot doesn't have sufficient room between the centre stand pad and the bottom of the silencer, perhaps only 1/2". The nothing wrong with the centre stand, no corrosion, cleaned, painted and well greased with grease nipples, but with these shorter shocks, no damned room to get my little boot in there. Solution? Get a pair of the correct length shocks .

OMG! Why this ended up on the GL1100 section, I don't know. Can the mod please move it across, ta?

You'd still have huge difficulties. I lowered my wife's PC800 a good inch, and that inch makes a tremendous difference when getting it up on the center stand.

Normally, the center stand rotates down so that when the feet touch the ground, they're not moving down so much and instead are rotating forward more. This means you pushing the center stand pedal downward is actually only lifting the bike a very small amount - giving you the mechanical advantage required to hoist hundreds of pounds of bike into the air.

When the bike has been lowered, the center stand feet are still moving downward (and not so much forward) when they contact the ground, so this mechanical advantage is diminished. I'm a reasonably strong guy, and it now takes literally everything I have to hoist that PC800 up on its center stand. With the stock suspension I could do it without even trying. That one inch makes a huge difference.

[Paul Narramore]

I couldn't agree more with the resident from Strongsville

[jandjgoldwing]

I recently discovered that, if I run the front wheel up on a 3/4" piece of plywood, the job is even easier. Every time I put the scoot on the center stand, I have a moment of apprehension until I find the balance point when I am tilting the it upright. I have visions of having the thing start over on the right side and sending me careening over the seat head first. Thrills are part of ownership.

[wrkey]

Original post is 6 years old and still helping people! I recently acquired a GL1100A and couldn't get her up on the center stand. After watching this video I tried again but to avail. I then remembered that reply posted stated that it was easier with the suspension aired up. Since mine had been sitting a while I tried that. It helped.. but still not able to pull her all the way up. So.. I adjusted your process a bit. Instead of grabbing the passenger rail I reached down farther to the brace at the edge of the saddle bags and grab there. A good grunt/pull and she was up. I am 5'10" and 170lbs so I don't have a lot of weight going for me but I got it up on the stand and that's good enough for me!

Thanks again for the great information here!

Rusty

[jandjgoldwing]

I learned by watching the video's on Youtube, but I learned an additional tip:
I carry a short piece of pine 1 x 6 for the primary purpose of having something to put under my kickstand on sand. I live near and ride to beaches, and some parking lots are also turf, so that little piece of wood is essential. Otherwise, I must resort to the other video, which deals with getting one's 'wing back up after dropping it.
Additionally, I can drive my front wheel onto this piece of pine. Raising the front wheel by that small amount makes the center stand much easier to use. After the pine is under the wheel, I balance the scoot on the 2 points of the center stand, bounce once on the lifting pedal, then put all my weight on it when the bike rebounds from my bounce. It works every time.
I'm almost the same size as you, and am 73, so getting it up (in both respects) is as much a matter of pride as it is necessity.

[Animal76]

I CANNOT get my 76 on the center stand without putting the rear tire on a 2x4....reasons??

[Sempai]

Recap:
Both tires inflated to a serviceable pressure.
Left hand on the left handle bar grip, bike in neutral.
Right hand holding the left side passenger's hold.
One foot squarely on the cenger stand's foot hold.


Stand the bike upright until you can feel that both of the stand's landing plates are hitting the parking surface. Once there, step full force DOWN on the stand's foot pad while simultaneously lifting on the passenger's hold. This should get you there.

[WingAdmin]

I CANNOT get my 76 on the center stand without putting the rear tire on a 2x4....reasons??

It could be worn out rear shocks that are sagging. When I replaced the old, sagging shocks on my 82 GL1100 with new ones with fresh, new springs (Progressive 416's), I couldn't believe how much easier my bike was to get onto the center stand.

[Animal76]

New rear shocks would not help. There is simply not enough room under the bike for the center stand without raising the rear tire, or entire frame, from the ground.

[Maz]

I CANNOT get my 76 on the center stand without putting the rear tire on a 2x4....reasons??

Non original rear shocks (shorter than original)?
Broken/rusted frame cross-member (the bit under the motor that the stand pivot is welded to?
Need to eat more spinach?
Maz