revtothelimit - motorbike forum

tricol wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 3:38 pm The only update...

I can't get the bike up on the center stand. Is there a technique to doing it? I've never had a bike with a center stand before.

I've not tried a Tracer centre-stand - but with most of them it's a case of getting the right amount of leverage.

Can you "stand" on the stand - ie, can you put ALL your weight onto the centre-stand lever? With my BM's if you can do that without over-balancing, then they'll come up easily - depending on the bike, the design of the stand, the weight distribution etc etc. Sometime a rear-wards pull is also needed, which you can generally do while standing on the centre-stand lever with a hand on the grab-rail.

It may take some practise.

tricol wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 3:38 pm The only update...

I can't get the bike up on the center stand. Is there a technique to doing it? I've never had a bike with a center stand before.

With the big old work bikes, centre the stand so have both bits of the stand touching the floor, square on. point your foot and body towards the back of the bike. So you're not sideways on to the bike, you're pushing it down but also towards the way you want the bike to move.

It's much easier to do than to explain how to do it

Yep, both stand feet down so bike stands straight, it won't topple over, push stand into the ground with a little lift should do it.

Some bike's are easier than others. The gs 1200 is easy, the continental gt put a lot more on your back, no likey.

The GS 1300 actually lifts the bike up to maximum suspension height when you lower the centre stand down.

But it’s still a pain.

Fitted a new screen. Wanted to have something a bit smaller than standard, as it's a bit too big. Was going to go for the OEM sports screen, but at £160 and heavily tinted, I decided to go for a Puig light smoke sports screen. Fitted today and went for a quick ride which included a blast up the M6. The wind has moved to my shoulders, but it's not turbulent, so it shouldn't be too much of a pain on longer journeys.

And it looks much better than standard.

F83A0739edit by Colin, on Flickr

F83A0747edit by Colin, on Flickr

Nordboy wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 5:46 pm

tricol wrote: Wed Dec 03, 2025 3:38 pm The only update...

I can't get the bike up on the center stand. Is there a technique to doing it? I've never had a bike with a center stand before.

With the big old work bikes, centre the stand so have both bits of the stand touching the floor, square on. point your foot and body towards the back of the bike. So you're not sideways on to the bike, you're pushing it down but also towards the way you want the bike to move.

It's much easier to do than to explain how to do it

Caveat: experience from mainly BMWs. Sorry

A lot depends on how the bike is balanced front - rear ie when on the stand will it see-saw (R series) or is most weight still on the front (K bikes - you need a jack under the engine to get the front wheel up ... )?

Also:
- is there a tang out the side of the stand to put your foot on?
- is there anything on the side of the bike to hold onto?

On the bigger Be-Ems, the technique is:

Level surface. If facing uphill it'll go up easy, be a pain to get off. If downhill, the reverse - possibly off too easily ...

Lift the bike upright. Stand down. Rock the bike eversi slightly side to side to make sure both sides of the stand are down.

Right foot on the tang, right hand on the handle.

Back straight, knees bent.

Hop! All your weight (left foot off the ground) onto the tang. At the same time, a tug on the handle, just 'assistance' - not a lift.

If it doesn't go up, don't persevere by trying to lift with your arm and back. That's hernia territory. Put it back down, reset.

Still ages too late, but ...

[And this is why mahoosive BMWs have low fold-out handles]

NB could a folding footrest & bracket be bolted on to the frame, but upside down?

That was the only way to get the Africa Twin on its centre stand as it was so high up, so no way I could safely pull the bike up by the handlebars. When I was putting fuel in, I always had it on the centre stand and the filler car was at chest height and i'm over 6ft tall.

Thinking of a change, possibly to this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detai ... -to%3D2026

tricol wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2026 3:39 pm Thinking of a change, possibly to this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detai ... -to%3D2026

That's certainly a change... everyone should own a Ducati at some stage. !

Only if I can offload the Tracer easily enough and perhaps throw a leg over a 950s somewhere. I've always had an eye for them over something like a VFR/SX1000 etc.

Thats the easy bit. Bikes can always sell that day, just depends on how much you take

Didn't like those in the pics when they came out, but changed my mind when I saw one in the flesh. Especially with a different pipe on. Look pretty spiffing in real life.

The insurance quotes are pretty eye watering, so maybe it's a no go for now.

tricol wrote: Mon Jun 08, 2026 4:10 pm Only if I can offload the Tracer easily enough and perhaps throw a leg over a 950s somewhere. I've always had an eye for them over something like a VFR/SX1000 etc.

Do you mind why you're selling the tracer? I'd been looking at them as a replacement for my vfr1200f dct. Thanks.

I just can't quite put my finger on it. It's a fantastic bike, it can do everything. It's comfy, fast for the road, handles really nice, loads of spec etc.

And maybe I'm trying to buy my way out of losing the mojo a bit.

tricol wrote: Tue Jun 09, 2026 11:07 am I just can't quite put my finger on it. It's a fantastic bike, it can do everything. It's comfy, fast for the road, handles really nice, loads of spec etc.

And maybe I'm trying to buy my way out of losing the mojo a bit.

The vfr feels a bit like that... perfectly good at everything, but I rarely can be arsed to take it out.

Also looking for a 0% apr deal on some mojo.

I've lost my mojo for riding the MT. It ain't going anywhere. It'll do the odd trackday and maybe the odd day out, but my mate always asks if I fancy a ride out and I just don't. Now, I'll piss about on the monkey as much as possible so wtf is going on here.

I reckon it's down to riding on our shit roads with lots of shit drivers not paying attention. I still like a trip but that's GS territory. I think I'm just enjoying riding at a much slower pace, on a 100kg bike that looks a bit silly.

All 3 are keepers.

@tricol , what about getting a smaller bike that you can ring out more often, say 400 - 800cc.

The roads are fine, there's always been potholes and shite drivers.

I love motorbikes and I love riding, but riding the same places by myself is just tiring. I'm starting to plan a trip home via Scotland and hopefully a night or two away when I'm there. I have to get over my obsession with having a spotless bike all the time and just get out and ride.

A friend has picked up a Honda CRF for some green laning, maybe I need to try something like that, or a small capacity bike.

Did you say the roads are fine. ?