Center Stand

[gumby302ho]

 My FJ was brought back from the dead from the guy I got it from. It had a header at one point but was replaced back with stock exhaust with the black chrome cans. He added center stand that he got from flea bay. My question for you guys is " Is it just me or is the FJ hard to put up on the center stand. I am a fairly big guy and still like to think I have a bit of power in my body but I have to push and pull almost blowing my sphincter O-ring out. Is this typical for the heavy J ? "

[FJmonkey]

If the rear is lower than normal then you will need more effort. I make sure I am pushing down hard with my foot, while I am lifting up, no problem for me. 180 lbs. 5'-11".

[rktmanfj]

My '89 was a beast to get on the c/s until I put on the YZF600 wheel and shortened the dogbones.

Now it's the easiest bike I've had... the unmodded '90 project bike is still a beast.

[simi_ed]

+1
My Dad's stock '90 was a killer, while my '89 w/YZF rear wheel and longer shock is a breeze by comparison.  (At least it was the last time I saw it)

[red]

My FJ was brought back from the dead from the guy I got it from. It had a header at one point but was replaced back with stock exhaust with the black chrome cans. He added center stand that he got from flea bay. My question for you guys is " Is it just me or is the FJ hard to put up on the center stand. I am a fairly big guy and still like to think I have a bit of power in my body but I have to push and pull almost blowing my sphincter O-ring out. Is this typical for the heavy J ? "

Gumby,

There is a trick to getting the bike up on the center stand.  First, conduct a search below the edge of the seat, and find the heavy solid grab-handle.  You want to have a firm four-finger grip on that handle.  Once you put the center stand down to the ground, you need to hold it there with one foot, of course, but then you need to stand on that little center-stand pedal, with most of your weight.  (A solid boot sole makes this part more comfortable.)  Pull up and rearward on the lift handle, push down on the little pedal with your weight, and you can use the other hand to pull rearward on the handlebar grip, as you also steady the bike.  If all of your weight on the pedal is not doing the job, then you are not pulling rearward, and lifting, hard enough.  You should not need a lot of lifting strength on the handle; the pull should be as much rearward as it is upward.  Try that with increasing efforts, not your full strength at first, until you are able to levitate the bike at will.

If that trick does not make it easy enough, you may need to modify or change your center stand.  If you run 16" tires now, it is a very popular mod here to change to newer 17" wheels.  That mod will make the center-stand easier to use.  The larger wheels will have lots more tire choices for you, too.  The tires available for 16" wheels are a fairly limited selection.  If you are short of inseam length, the larger wheels would make it more difficult to mount up, and to put your feet down at a stop.  Everything is a trade-off, it seems.         

Cheers,
Red

[andyb]

If the bike is lowered, you'll have quite the difficulty using the centerstand.

At the dragstrip, I require help to use it, and I'm not exactly a puny weakling.

Seems to me that using the centerstand is not unlike doing a wheelie.  Really difficult unless you have the technique down a bit, though you can brute force your way through.


That said, I've got a 17" rear, and it's fractionally shorter than the 16 that it replaced.

[The General]

Not so long ago I had the same prob. It`s crazy that it now seems comparativeley easy. Unless there`s been a height change due to mods the answer is definateley in technique and confidence. There`s a few examples on You Tube. Try this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFd9IynVEIc

[Capn Ron]

I have to push and pull almost blowing my sphincter O-ring out. Is this typical for the heavy J ? "

Give Randy a call, he has replacements available in a number of popular sizes:

   

Yeah, what everyone else said...It's a smooth combination of technique and commitment.  Practice on a nice FLAT piece of pavement...maybe with a buddy on the starboard side to spot you in case it goes wrong.  After a few tries, you'll be good at it.

For three months, I had an extra 120 pounds on the back of the FJ in the form of full Givi hardcases.  I would put it up on the stand to do oil changes or if I was in very remote areas, to get the maximum amount of fuel in the tank at the few-and-far-between gas stations!



It was definitely harder to get up on the center stand with the extra weight, but my o-ring is still intact.   

Cap'n Ron. . .

[X-Ray]

Yep, definatley noticed the extra effort needed since doing the rear wheel change. Still have to raise the rear slightly which should make it easier.

[red]

Gumby,

One more idea, at least for the times when you are at home base: roll the rear wheel up onto a short pine plank (e.g. 1x6) and then do the center stand trick.  The extra height at the rear wheel helps.

Cheers,
Red

[winddancer]

When i first got my 90 it was hard to get up on the center stand but I just bought a 92 and it goes up no problem except for the bike weight what i found is the 92 has a tapered push point where the 90 is flat so it is hard to get leverage.

[ribbert]

Yep, definatley noticed the extra effort needed since doing the rear wheel change. Still have to raise the rear slightly which should make it easier.

Ray, the OD of the 17" wheel is within a bee's dick of being the same as the 16", shouldn't make any difference. Raising the rear does make a difference though.

I have a terrible back and made this a few years ago, works like a dream, I can even do it in bare feet.



I has a stop for the front wheel and the weight of the bike rolling back just about puts it on the stand itself.



And for God's sake don't someone reply telling us there is a knack to getting a bike on the centre stand like they did last time this was discussed.

Noel

[X-Ray]

Thats a great simple idea Noel, looks like it works well. I'll have to measure the gap to the ground of the back wheel while its on the stand, its a bugger to get it there , must be me getting old.

What is a definate trick is getting the FJ on the centrestand while its on the lift table, but I have that figured, will post a photo later, 

[JCainFJ]

If your FJ is hard to put up on the center stand, the fork and shock springs are dead. When you replace these springs with proper new ones and set the static ride height to 30-35mm front and 25-30mm rear the whole bike will set higher and it will be very easy to center stand.

[Dan Filetti]

If you do not have a center stand, and use a track stand, as is the case with the Gixxer which never came with one, I found that the simplest way to track stand a bike is with The Cyclecat track stand.  It lifts the bike off the side stand for you. 

Cyclecat

Dan