center stand

[yatts]

I'm very new to this BMW 1200lt world. I'm having a hell of a time getting this monster on the center stand. I weigh enough that I should be able to engage it but it's not happening. Does anyone have a simple solution that I'm not getting. There must have been a slight problem because the new one's have automatic center stands : :confused: I also want to thank all that gave me ideas about my windshield, so I ordered a (cee bailey) after market windshield.

[katnapinn]

I'm very new to this BMW 1200lt world. I'm having a hell of a time getting this monster on the center stand. I weigh enough that I should be able to engage it but it's not happening. Does anyone have a simple solution that I'm not getting. There must have been a slight problem because the new one's have automatic center stands : :confused: I also want to thank all that gave me ideas about my windshield, so I ordered a (cee bailey) after market windshield.
John... It really is not too hard to get the big girl up. Just stand close put right hand on grab handle under the left side of the seat. Left hand on lift grip. Step on center stand now make sure both feet of the center stand are on the ground. Push down with your right foot and lift with your right hand.Oh yea make sure it is not in gear or reverse :eek: It takes a lil practice and will get easyer with time

[strsout]

Are you sure you don't have the new model that you just have to push the button??? :) :)

just joking :)

I believe that the easiest way is:
1) side stand
2) get out of it
3) step on the step and push it down until touch the ground.
4) lean the bike against you, until the other side of the center stand touch the ground.
5) grab the stand push bar (right hand) and the left handle bar (left hand)
6) Step on the step bar and push your right hand at the same time.

The secret is having both sides of the center stand on the ground.

[SilverBuffalo]

You might want to check on your rear shock adjustment (under the seat)
it's a lot easier to get it up on the stand if your shock is "cranked up" a little.

My technique for centerstand was left hand on the handlebar and right hand on the saddlebag handle, (don't worry you're not gonna break it) and lift/pull and push with the foot all at the same time.
pretty easy once you get the "hang" of it, now I just push the button. :)

[Tat_n_Telle]

I used to work up a sweat (literally) trying to get that beast up on the center stand. I always had this fear that when I was standing beside it, and raising it off the sidestand to center, it was going to go overcenter and topple to the right, dragging me kicking and screaming with it.
Finally, I had a friend stand on the right side, just in case. I found out that I was always trying to hoist it up before the center stand had both feet down. Once I became confident enough to realize that it will NOT topple over provided you have some weight on the center stand (you can feel when both feet are down), it pops up with relative ease.

[alanforn]

I struggled in the same manner until someone suggested using the saddlebag handle as the grip point instead of the dedicated grab handle under the seat. Made it MUCH easier for me. I was assured the saddlebag handle would take the pull, I can now report the same after using this way for a year and a half. For me using the stock handle caused me to lift up more, not up and back.

[coug66]

Make sure that both legs of the center stand are contacting the ground before engaging.

It is much more difficult if you try and hoist it up on one leg.

2 reasons It will go up easier and it will not brake the center stand.


Ian

[painlessbob]

I'm a new owner too. I talked about the problem with another guy, who looked at me like I was a girly man. Then I saw how his bike was set up. Even with the center stand deployed, his wheels were still scrapping the ground. When I was finally able to get mine up (by following most of the advice previously given), there was two inches of clearance! The first success was with a very slight slope. This gave me confidence to keep trying on flat ground.

Like the man suggested, check the rear shock. There's a big difference between raising the bike half an inch and two inches.

[CajunBass]

Make sure that both legs of the center stand are contacting the ground before engaging.

That was the key for me too. I always felt the bike was straight up, but it was actually tilted a bit to the left. Let it lean a bit more right, and (I) use the grab bar.

If it's any comfort, I had the same problem with my previous bike, a Yamaha Majesty scooter that weighed about half what an LT does.

Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard.

[big_ed]

It was kicking my butt until I figured out the real magic trick... "Feel" two legs down by slightly rocking and "Squeeze' the clutch when you lift, frees the rear wheel to roll and comes right on up!

[pbmcb]

Hi,
I'm new to the BMWLT riders and new to BMW.Just bought my first one March 8th.Had a Honda Goldwing (2001) last.Put 89,000 miles on it. Got a new 2007 K1200LT , Ocean Blue. Love it !!!!! Going to get my 6,000 mi. service tomorrow.Then we are going to canada next thursday. :bmw:
We are going to the CCR reunion in August. Paul & Brenda

[quohog]

Hi Yatts. If i can do it anybody can.
Everyone is right about getting both centerstand legs on the pavement. I do grab the luggage rack and left handlebar and push down with right foot on the centerstand and i hold it level, I then grab the grab rail and push down on the centerstand with right foot and drive the right foot down and pull slight up and back on the grab rail and it will pop right up ( also check rear susp. settings) you still have to hold the left handlebar.

I am 5-10 and 165 (runner) This bike is easier for me to get up on my centerstand than my Honda CBR1000F. (no kidding)

When you are done getting it up your left foot should be up in the air and you are balancing on your right foot on the centerstand on the ground and left hand on the handlebar.

Good luck after a few tries youll have no problem.

Quohog

[KHLT]

Hi Yatt, Try to put on slight slope practice and you can feel the feeling of easier.
Or try to have slight angle block at your parking lot then you will know it is not so bad.
After you used it you can pull it more easier but must follow the suggestion above that both point of center stand must touch ground and the procedure been done. :p

[Rick-L]

Does anyone else put the centerstand down while still straddling the bike? Will it want to tip over easy? I've been doing it this way and it seems just as easy as or easier than doing it from the side. So far as long as I'm on level ground it seems to go up just fine. I used this method on my old PC800 for years without a problem.

I just put it down, make sure both sides are touching, then stand with all my weight (about 190#) while pulling back on the handlebars. She goes right up.

[atrovarious]

Any tips on getting it off on an up hill slope? I know how I do it but I'm wondering if there are other ways.

[cws]

Any tips on getting it off on an up hill slope? I know how I do it but I'm wondering if there are other ways.Have to do that every day, my parking position at home and work is uphill slopes (on small ramps). Only way I've ever done it is to get on the bike, stay standing flat footed, and rock forward hard, ready to grab brake lever. My old K75RT was great, used to just ride it off the centrestand (if I had open space in front, of course.. :rotf: ) and I believe you can do it with the LT too, but I figure it's just a little too top-heavy to risk it.

[wipatters]

I struggled for months with getting it up on the center stand until I figured out that I cranked the preload the wrong way. Move it all the way out (I think it's the LOW setting) and it's a piece of cake after that. Use the pannier handle, left handle/clutch released, both center stand feet set, and use either foot. It was such a different experience with the preload set right.