TOPIC:

Obviously the center stand is just for show. Whats the secret? Use a jack?

I have heard a lot of people say its impossible so the first thing I try when I got my bike was to put it on the centre stand, I am 6ft 3 110kilos and fairly strong but failed to achieve the centre stand challenge , I did read somewhere were some one had shorten there stand a little

Center stand is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezey. The important thing is to realize you are NOT lifting the bike with your arm- you are pushing DOWN on the stand with your leg. More power, better leverage. So- here we go.

- Bike is on the sidestand. Stand on the left side of the bike. Left hand is on the handlebar, right hand is either on the grab bar, or a part of the frame close to it (I think I grabbed right in front of the rear shock).

- Using your right foot, place it on the little peg of the center stand, and bring it down. Using mostly your right hand, bring the bike up to vertical, until both of the main center stand pads are on the ground.

- IMPORTANT! Transfer your foot from the side peg to the larger pad on the main downtube of the stand. DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, use the side peg to get the bike up on the center stand. It was not made to do so, and you WILL break it. The center stand should remain down on it's own. If not, the bike is too low (In a pothole or depression), and you probably won't get the bike up. Wheel it forward or backward, and try again.

- To actually raise the bike up on the stand, PUSH DOWN with your right foot, while at the same time pulling up with your right hand. This is where your power comes from. About 60-70% of the effort should be in your leg, with the other 30-40% pulling up with your right arm. The left arm does nearly nothing- it's only purpose is to keep the bike going straight.

- If you do it right, the bike should lift up and back in one fluid motion. As it gets past the point where it's not going to fall back down, shift your right hand from a lifting motion into gently guiding the bike down until it's fully on the stand. Don't let it "crash" on to the stand- this is an excellent way to bend the stand mounts and lead to early stand fatigue.

Compared to other bikes, the KZ1300 really isn't that bad. I have a '76 GL1000 Goldwing that weighs probably 100lbs. less than a 1300, but it is an absolute PITA to get up on the stand. A fully fueled KZ1300 is a breeze, comparatively. It's all about geometry, and the 1300 actually nails it pretty good.

If you're really straining something, you're doing it wrong. Good luck!

(I'm about 5'11", 170 lbs., and a runner, so I have little upper body strength, and I can get it up on the stand pretty easily. With Goldwings you kind of have to, so I've gotten pretty good at it.)

+2 one that one Lucien, it's ALL about getting your weight up on your right foot on the large pedal of the center stand. God knows how many people I've had to show this to.

+1 from me too - Lucien is spot on. There is no need o strain once you get the hang of it. The only time I have had to strain is when I've had to lift the bike from it's side after a spill (embarrassing 5mph spill on some oil)

I think some of the problems are as a result of (ahem, shorter) people lowering the bike by sliding the fork tubes up in the clamps by an inch. Once this has happened there isn't the correct frame height to get the centre stand on to the cam part.

Exactly like Lucien mentioned, I gues sit is rather 80% technical and 20% power driven. When I bought mine I did not manage to bring it up. Shown how it worked I succeded. Went home with the new bike and tried it again. Did not manage, but hurt my back.

Took me six weeks to bring it up again.

regards,

Holger