Either I'm super weak, or this bike is HEAVY!

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by headshrink, Apr 18, 2018.

  1. headshrink

    headshrink New Member

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    I'm still in my first month of VFR ownership, and I ordered the pitbull rear stand because I couldn't get the bike on the center-stand without help. I just got it setup and tried it for the first time.... boy was I disappointed. I was able to get it up, but just barely, and almost pulled a muscle. Also, the bike didn't seem that stable in the stand, as the pin doesn't go very deep into the rear axle. I'm super nervous about getting it setup on the table-lift. I have no problems with my other bikes, and I really wasn't expecting it to be THIS hard. :/

    EDIT: New replies are occasionally still rolling in, so I thought I'd post an update at top.
    I GOT IT!!!! Thanks for all the help in understanding and developing the secret technique.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  2. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

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    The center stand is just a matter of getting used to. There was a thread I started making fun of myself not getting the hang of it (don't remember the title, it was a year or so ago.) . Many piped in. I was trying to do it late at night with stupid shoes( oh and a beer or two!) . You just need to get the bike up on the stand and firmly plant your weight on the base. Hold the bar with the left hand and put your right arm down toward the frame or passenger peg and use your weight with a single pulling motion. ( I know i am not telling you something that you dont know) Once you do it and get it, it really is pretty easy. First few times without people making fun of me was a bitch, but once you do it you are good. I felt real stupid not getting it on the stand. I had a GPz11oo that was 40 plus pounds more and that was a bitch to get up on the stand. Look in the 8th gen forum for the thread.
     
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  3. fink

    fink Member

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    Think you just need to work on your technique. I can put mine on the stand with my slippers on.
     
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  4. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    All technique mate.
    If you need strength you’re doing it wrong.
    You might also be weak as piss. ( no offense)
     
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  5. Nelix

    Nelix New Member

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    It's technique as previously been said. I was taught by an ex police biker and have no problems with the VFR. Plenty of vids on you tube.
    Watch then practise. Get someone to stand at the other side of the bike if nervous.
    We will give you one week to learn, if after this time you still cannot do it you will be required to donate your bike to the forum and buy a 50cc scooter.:Violin:
     
  6. Thumbs

    Thumbs Member

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    I'd agree with all the above, I struggled for a while then the foot on the stand, pull on the left bar and lift the pillion footrest and it rolls on ....took me a few times with my buddy standing the other side to steady my confidence and catch if required ...he never needed to
     
  7. PawnBoy

    PawnBoy New Member

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    As with others, first time I tried to get it on the center stand I needed help, now I can do it with my slippers on. You shouldn't be lifting using your arm muscles, should feel like you're pushing down the center stand with your foot, your right arm locked, hand gripping the passenger foot peg bracket.
     
  8. Zeta

    Zeta New Member

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    Fulcrum/leverage thing--technique.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2018
  9. blitz jr

    blitz jr New Member

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    Make sure the bike is in neutral. (I tried it when it was in gear and it doesn't work.)

    I'm 60 years old and not very strong, and I can do it. It is not easy (for me), and yes it is a heavy bike.
     
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  10. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    That's exactly how to do it. You don't lift the bike, you push the centerstand into the floor. At least that is how it should feel.

    OTOH you might check to make sure the bike hasn't been lowered, that would make it much more difficult to get on the stand.
     
  11. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    It's unanimous, you need to work on your technique.
    I'm 5.4" 137 lbs of solid beauty. If I can do it, you can do it.
    I can pick it up too. lol
     
  12. headshrink

    headshrink New Member

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    Thanks guys, I'll work on it. I was more surprised how the pitbull stand wasn't as easy, or as stable, as on my other bikes.
     
  13. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    I believe that the 8th gens are a little harder to get up on the stand than the 6th gens, iff I remember correctly. They probably moved the pivot point a little bit. I am 73 and not exact strong either, but the above techniques work. I will add that I always make sure both feet of the center stand are firmly on the ground first, this only happens when bike is completely vertical. Press hard with your foot on the stand, but understand that the main force that will get it up will be your right hand on the footpeg bracket and what ever force you can exert with your left on the handle bars. There is some force provided by the center stand, that is where some of us heavier folk have and advantage. My '83 is the opposite, I can just about get up with the center stand alone, totally different physics.
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2018
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  14. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    Here's something I noticed about my 5th Gen VFRs...

    In the Fall of 2016 I purchased a '99 VFR and began riding it. Just like you I immediately discovered the bike was a lot harder to put on its center stand than I anticipated. I didn't ride the bike more than 5 or 6 times before I took it into the garage for a thorough refurb, which included a Jamie Daugherty rear shock (rebuilt from a 954, I think). After my refurbishment efforts were done (with the properly adjusted rear shock installed) I discovered that my '99 VFR was much easier to put on the center stand.

    Then, in the Fall of 2017 I purchased my second 5th Gen, the '00. On this bike I did a similar refurbishment effort, but I did not upgrade the shock. Just like my '99, when I first began riding it the '00 was hard to put on the center stand. But after I adjusted the rear shock pre-load to match my weight and riding style the bike was much easier to put on the center stand.

    Also, on both the '99 and the '00 I rebuilt the front forks with the Daugherty cartridge upgrade package, and I set the fork up for my weight and riding style.

    In both cases I believe my VFR's rear suspension was set up with too much static sag, and probably the front fork sag was contributing also. To put it another way, the prior owners had the rear shock pre-load setting adjusted way too soft, which made the bike sit lower to the ground than a properly adjusted bike would do.

    This meant that when I tried to put the bike up on the center stand I was starting out from a lower overall elevation which brought the legs of the center stand into contact with the ground earlier (at a flatter angle) and required more actual lifting of the bike to reach the "overcenter" point.
     
  15. Thumbs

    Thumbs Member

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    Do the other bikes weight 1/4 ton?
     
  16. Nelix

    Nelix New Member

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    Greg, I'm only 5'5, when I first got the VFR I had it set as soft as it would go as a starting point, then started stiffening up front and back. Rear was stiffened further for taking gf on pillion.
    Never noticed a difference when putting it on the center stand at any setting tbh.
     
  17. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Hmm, I'd have to question how you're using the stand or what pin you have. I have a Pit Bull stand and find it very easy and very stable once the bike is lifted.
     
  18. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    Maybe we've just discovered your superpower. You're completely impervious to the effects of mechanical leverage. If the geometry of a pivot/fulcrum is changed your superpower ignores it and keeps the effort required to move the attached mass exactly the same. I believe there might be a spot available on The Avengers.
     
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  19. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

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    Oh yeah, that thread was a classic Bubba - complete with A.M's sketch and the suggestion to try using both balls :D I'm sure the OP would enjoy it - here's a link:

    What the hell am I not doing that I cannot get this beast on the Center Stand!
    http://vfrworld.com/threads/what-th...not-get-this-beast-on-the-center-stand.53687/

    It should be mentioned that this is actually a good problem to have as many bikes that purport to be sports tourers don't even offer a center stand as an option (e.g., Ducati "SuperSport").
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2018
  20. headshrink

    headshrink New Member

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    I DID IT!
    I was running late for work, so I didn't try to repeat it, but it was satisfying. The only things I'm consciously aware that I did differently was to a) only lift up, not back, and b) I found a better handhold on the rearward horizontal part of the passenger peg, lower OE pannier mounting point.
     
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