Author Topic: Another newbie (aka how I learned to use the center stand) (Read 12230 times)

stormi · « **Reply #30 on:** June 06, 2007, 03:51:50 PM »

Quote from: "SteelD"

If you are "tugging, grunting and swearing" (I don't like to see ladies tug, grunt and swear ) then you must be doing something wrong.

Now that might be the understatement of the week.

I usually use the rear stand for the 919 on the Bandit if I need the rear tire up, that's how much I Hate the centrestand. Trust me, I don't like the one to be tugging and grunting and swearing.

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My 264kg (dry) FJR goes up on the stand first time every time. There is a knack and I don't think you've got it yet. Even a 125 is going to cause grief if you don't know how to do it. Try experimenting with different approaches.

I will! The next time she's home.

I do know that I do too much work with my left arm, but the right seems equally abused. The centrestand is awkward for me to step on while getting a good grip on the under-rail. No part of my body seems in the right place to facilitate it.

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The only time I used the sidestand is when I stop just before putting it onto the centre-stand. I don't trust side-stands for any length of time or when the bike is unattended in case it digs into the ground and topples or somebody walks into it - the centre-stand is much more stable and so on it goes every time.

See, and I use the sidestand almost exclusively. The way I look at it, you're making your bike a tripod, and the further apart the legs of the tripod, the more stable. And of course, I don't have a lot of worries about sinking sidestands. Not in our climate.

ZenMan · « **Reply #31 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:17:11 PM »

Stormi... use the force...

Stand facing the bike, left hand on left handlebar grip.

Right foot on centerstand lever.

Right hand under seat on frame rail.

Now stand on your right foot all the way (left foot off the ground) while pulling up with your right hand.

Lighter people have to use more force pulling up from under the seat.

Here's a fun analogy... pretend you have a large crocodile in front of you that's been knocked out with a tranquilizer dart. You want to open his jaws. So you put your right foot on his bottom jaw, and your right hand under the front of his upper jaw, then pull his jaws open wide.

The bike will pop right up on the centerstand.

BTW... the centerstand also creates a tripod... the front wheel, and the two feet on the stand.

SteelD · « **Reply #32 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:21:25 PM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

Here's a fun analogy... pretend you have a large crocodile in front of you that's been knocked out with a tranquilizer dart. You want to open his jaws. So you put your right foot on his bottom jaw, and your right hand under the front of his upper jaw, then pull his jaws open wide.

And we can all guess how many fingers you are going to lose when your technique isn't perfected and your grip goes.

ZenMan · « **Reply #33 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:24:19 PM »

C'mon, D... I'm trying to help out here!

Ok. A toothless, dead crocodile, alright? Jeez.

It's the type of force being applied that I'm trying to get across here.

stormi · « **Reply #34 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:33:07 PM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

C'mon, D... I'm trying to help out here!

Ok. A toothless, dead crocodile, alright? Jeez.

It's the type of force being applied that I'm trying to get across here.

Is he stuffed,... or just smelly and decaying??

ZenMan · « **Reply #35 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:39:31 PM »

I give up.

I guess it's not something that can be taught on a BBS.

stormi · « **Reply #36 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:40:35 PM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

Stormi... use the force...

Stand facing the bike, left hand on left handlebar grip.

Right foot on centerstand lever.

Right hand under seat on frame rail.

Now stand on your right foot all the way (left foot off the ground) while pulling up with your right hand.

Lighter people have to use more force pulling up from under the seat.

Check. Will try this as soon as Dita brings the other half home. :) I'm reasonably sure this is what I'm doing, but it sure sounds a lot easier when you say it. :) I tried taking the left foot off the ground last time,.. but Dita has poor balance, and I couldn't get that left foot far enough out to act as a rudder.

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Here's a fun analogy... pretend you have a large crocodile in front of you that's been knocked out with a tranquilizer dart. You want to open his jaws. So you put your right foot on his bottom jaw, and your right hand under the front of his upper jaw, then pull his jaws open wide.

See, now D,.. my first question would have been why was I in front of a croc in the first place, tranquilized or not... and why would I want to put my hand in his mouth?

I did notice that the act of putting her on the centrestand seemed like "stretching her out", so I'm probably at least part way there for technique.

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The bike will pop right up on the centerstand.

Pop for you, rock and wobble for me.

I promise to practice though.

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BTW... the centerstand also creates a tripod... the front wheel, and the two feet on the stand.

Yes it does, but the feet on the centrestand are close enough together to -almost- act as one. For instance, since we're using analogies, when I go to the mountains and shot images of waterfalls, sometimes I stand in the water at the base of that fall. So does my camera and tripod. With all that rushing water around would it be more prudent to have the tripod legs like this:

------------- o

----------o--------o

or this:
------------o

----------o---o

The first way, I have reasonable stability from impact coming from all directions. The second, while stable from the top and bottom, any impact coming from left or right, and my camera is likely to be in the drink.

stormi · « **Reply #37 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:40:51 PM »

Quote from: "ZenMan"

I give up.

I guess it's not something that can be taught on a BBS.

oh c'mon,.. we're just having fun with ya!

ZenMan · « **Reply #38 on:** June 06, 2007, 07:34:56 PM »

I know... it's OK.

I'm not the one "tugging, grunting, and sweating".

stormi · « **Reply #39 on:** June 06, 2007, 07:48:47 PM »

sweaRing

Girls don't sweat dontcha know?

ZenMan · « **Reply #40 on:** June 06, 2007, 07:56:03 PM »

Quote from: "stormi"

sweaRing

Girls don't sweat dontcha know?

That depends...

ZenMan · « **Reply #41 on:** June 06, 2007, 11:47:46 PM »

JUST JOKING!!!

stormi · « **Reply #42 on:** June 07, 2007, 03:19:21 AM »

What?? speak up!!!

Red01 · « **Reply #43 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:42:53 AM »

Quote from: "stormi"

Quote
BTW... the centerstand also creates a tripod... the front wheel, and the two feet on the stand.

Yes it does, but the feet on the centrestand are close enough together to -almost- act as one. For instance, since we're using analogies, when I go to the mountains and shot images of waterfalls, sometimes I stand in the water at the base of that fall. So does my camera and tripod. With all that rushing water around would it be more prudent to have the tripod legs like this:

------------- o

----------o--------o

or this:
------------o

----------o---o

The first way, I have reasonable stability from impact coming from all directions. The second, while stable from the top and bottom, any impact coming from left or right, and my camera is likely to be in the drink.

OK, now in your tripod example, shorten the leg on the left of the camera body so the camera is tilted and the shorter leg is on a weak overcenter hinge that can fold.

True, the centerstand is on a hinge, too, but it is more secure with it's much stronger over-center and spring locking mechanisms.

ZenMan · « **Reply #44 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:56:04 AM »

I can't believe the extent we argue about things sometimes...

When the sidestand is used, the tripod is more like:

``X``
`````
`X```
`````
``X``

which is a lot less stable than the centerstand:

``X``
`````
`````
`X`X`
`````

No matter how much you sweaR at it.