Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: orionburn on May 28, 2007, 10:59:38 AM
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Hi, all. Nate here from Northern Indiana. Just picked up a '03 1200S on Saturday. Sadly I can't get the plates until at least Tuesday, so haven't had a chance to really take her out and see what she can do. She has a few nicks in the tail section, but other than that it's in pretty tip-top shape. Only 6200 miles on the clock. Not a newbie to riding, but am to this bike. Good looking board and I'll be doing a lot of lurking in the next few weeks digging up info and learning about this bike.
Btw...it's been a long time since I visited Squidbusters, but am I wrong in seeing some familiar names from there?
Here's some pics of the new toy. Bone stock at the moment, but hoping to change that soon. Was raining the past few days, so the people I bought the bike from were kind enough to trailer it down for me yesterday. After being out in the weather she needs a good washing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/orionburn/Bike%20Pics/Picture003-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/orionburn/Bike%20Pics/Picture008-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/orionburn/Bike%20Pics/Picture007.jpg)
And some pics of my other pride & joy, my 87 FZR1000 -
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/orionburn/Bike%20Pics/Picture008.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/orionburn/Bike%20Pics/Picture012.jpg)
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:welcome: Nice rides.
Feel free to ask questions and join the banter. More fun than just lurking.
:motorsmile:
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welcome to the board
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:welcome:
Ah, another teal bandit! Wait till Sven sees it... :wink:
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Nice ride - great colour ! :welcome:
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:welcome: I really like that color seems to make the bike look slimmer to my eye. I wonder what that color was called, Ocean teal or sea green maybe, very nice.
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Nice colour don't get that one in Aus. Graham :taz:
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Thanks for the welcome guys.
I thought I saw on some site awhile back it was called seafoam green. Hell if I know...I'm colorblind :lol: Although I can at least tell that it's green.
Heading to the DMV tonight to get the plates. Sucky thing is that they're calling for rain again today, and possibly for the rest of the week. I may get to ride it before summer is over.
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:wink: Actually, the official name is Metallic Surf Green, code YV4
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:wink: Actually, the official name is Metallic Surf Green, code YV4
I knew it had something "water" sounding in it...lol. Planning on at least getting the tails repainted this winter to fix the scratches & scuffs. I'll admit I was considering going a different color route for the whole, but I really have taken a liking to this color and don't think I'll be changing now.
And after repainting the Fizzer two years ago I'm not exactly in a big hurry to repaint an entire bike.
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And repainting the B12 is more of a chore than the yammie since the frame is body colored, too.
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And repainting the B12 is more of a chore than the yammie since the frame is body colored, too.
Yup, and at that moment of noticing that was when I said "you know, green ain't so bad after all." :lol:
Ok, I probably have THE worse n00b question of all time...lol. I'm going to clean and oil the chain when I get home from work. I have yet to put the center stand down, so what's the trick in doing it? Call me paranoid...don't want to drop the bike since I won't have anyone there to help. Is it easier to do it from the side or sit on it and rock it back?
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Don't feel bad... you'd be suprised how many old veterans out there still don't know how to put their bike on the centerstand properly. :roll:
Stand on the left side next to your bike.
Put your left hand on the left handlebar grip.
Put your right hand under the rear grab rail, or under the rear seat/tail section somewhere relatively solid.
Put your right foot on the centerstand lever/pedal and push it down to the ground.
Make sure the bike is balanced so that both feet on the centerstand are touching the ground.
Now, in one smooth movement, step down with most of your weight on the centerstand lever/pedal, at the same time lifting up on the rear with your right hand. Use your left hand on the bars to keep the bike steady and straight.
Should pop right up on there no problem at all. :wink:
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Did you buy it at Xtreme Motorsports on Kennedy Ave. in Hammond. They had one in there last Saturday. Nice bike :congrats:
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Don't feel bad... you'd be suprised how many old veterans out there still don't know how to put their bike on the centerstand properly. :roll:
Stand on the left side next to your bike.
Put your left hand on the left handlebar grip.
Put your right hand under the rear grab rail, or under the rear seat/tail section somewhere relatively solid.
Put your right foot on the centerstand lever/pedal and push it down to the ground.
Make sure the bike is balanced so that both feet on the centerstand are touching the ground.
Now, in one smooth movement, step down with most of your weight on the centerstand lever/pedal, at the same time lifting up on the rear with your right hand. Use your left hand on the bars to keep the bike steady and straight.
Should pop right up on there no problem at all. :wink:
wow- I learn something new everyday...I just sit on the bike, and push the stand down with my left foot, til it touches, then pull the bike up and back while pushing the stand down. I will have to try the above method now.
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I think you'll find it much easier... the weight on the centerstand lever does all the work, you barely have to pull at all.
Of course, this is meant to be done when the bike is already on the sidestand... as you normally would put the sidestand down before getting off the bike. Then try it. :wink:
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Re: getting b12 onto center stand.
One thing I find is that the grab rail is too far back to get much leverage. On my last bike, the rail extended forward, so that you would grab it almost directly above the center stand. It would just pop up onto the stand with little effort. With my 01 b1200s, it takes a little more grunt, or a rock back-n-forth, before I can get it onto the center stand.
Maybe I just need to work out more...dt
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Did you buy it at Xtreme Motorsports on Kennedy Ave. in Hammond. They had one in there last Saturday. Nice bike :congrats:
No, I bought if from a private seller just across the border in MI. Been looking all over for a Bandit for the past couple of weeks and thought I found all the dealers at least somewhere close to me, but never came across the one in Hammond. :duh:
One dealer a bit south of me actually jerked me over and never called me back. They had a '99 for sale that I was close to getting, but never called me back on the offer I made. Which now I'm glad because I had wanted the newer style anyway.
Thanks for the tips on the center stand....got her up no problem last night. I was paranoid about the bike falling over to the right, but once I realized the other leg of the center stand keeps it a bit balanced I wasn't so worried. I agree that holding underneath the tail didn't help me at all. My big arse was enough to push down on the stand and get it up. I did hold on to the OSB to help balance it. Spent two hours cleaning it last night...thank God the rain held off today...lol.
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One thing I find is that the grab rail is too far back to get much leverage.
:headscratch: You get MORE leverage the further you are away from the pivot point.
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Red01 wrote:
dpturner wrote:
One thing I find is that the grab rail is too far back to get much leverage.
You get MORE leverage the further you are away from the pivot point.
OK, let me try this again. Leverage is not what I mean. Rather, I am lifting a weight. It is easier to lift that weight when it is closer to my body (right in front of me) than farther away (12" to my right).
I understand that most of the effort of getting the bike onto the centerstand is putting all your weight on the stand while pulling back on the bars. But still, lifting up on the grab rail helps. If the grab rail was right in front of me (my position being dictated by where the cenerstand is located), it would just be a little easier.
s'ok?
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I understand that most of the effort of getting the bike onto the centerstand is putting all your weight on the stand while pulling back on the bars. But still, lifting up on the grab rail helps. If the grab rail was right in front of me (my position being dictated by where the cenerstand is located), it would just be a little easier.
s'ok?
I think you're missing some of the instructions given. :grin:
You're only using your left hand to steady the bike, you're not rocking the bike with it.
You're right, you DO use the right hand to assist your foot's efforts. :thumb:
When ZenMan said, "Put your right hand under the rear grab rail, or under the rear seat/tail section somewhere relatively solid," keep in mind this is a generic statement.
On most bikes with a centerstand, there is a grab rail/handle/fixture in place with the purpose of giving you a good place to put your hand. Don't confuse this with the grab handle on top of the bodywork for the passenger to hang on. Bandits have a loop of frame just below the bodywork that will fall right at your right hand as you face the bike to raise it on the stand. The sole purpose of this loop is to assist you in putting it up on the C'stand. This loop is not present on the bike's right side.
Zen's instructions, once again: :bandit:
Don't feel bad... you'd be suprised how many old veterans out there still don't know how to put their bike on the centerstand properly. :roll:
Stand on the left side next to your bike.
Put your left hand on the left handlebar grip.
Put your right hand under the rear grab rail, or under the rear seat/tail section somewhere relatively solid.
Put your right foot on the centerstand lever/pedal and push it down to the ground.
Make sure the bike is balanced so that both feet on the centerstand are touching the ground.
Now, in one smooth movement, step down with most of your weight on the centerstand lever/pedal, at the same time lifting up on the rear with your right hand. Use your left hand on the bars to keep the bike steady and straight.
Should pop right up on there no problem at all. :wink:
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My FJR has a recess just under the pillion seat to access a handle for putting the bike onto the centre stand. When I test rode the 1250, I couldn't find a ready-made handle or recess and just grabbed the frame under the seat - is there a better place?
BTW, my technique doesn't involve putting weight onto the centre stand foot beyond firmly holding it in place. The idea (to my way of thinking anyhow) is to use the foot of the stand as a pivot and pulling the bike back with one hand on the left grip and one hand on a point at the rear of the bike should easily enable the bike to pivot on the foot and up onto the stand proper. What you shouldn't do (and this is what many inexperienced people do), is to try and lift the bike onto the stand - that's the easiest way to injure yourself.
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I understand where dt is coming from. I tried putting more "umph" into lifting up on the grab rail but found it's easier for me to simply use my weight on the stand to pop it up. At 6'2" and 300lbs my big @ss serves a helpful purpose for once :lol:
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BTW, my technique doesn't involve putting weight onto the centre stand foot beyond firmly holding it in place.
pulling the bike back with one hand on the left grip
Yer doin' it the hard way, D! :wink:
There's no need at all to do ANY pulling or pushing on the bars or wrestling of any kind. And the lifting force with your right hand is very minimal. 90% of it is putting your weight on the foot. It's LEVERAGE.
I'm tellin' ya, try it... once you do it right you'll say "WOW!" and never go back to your old way. :bigok:
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BTW, my technique doesn't involve putting weight onto the centre stand foot beyond firmly holding it in place.
pulling the bike back with one hand on the left grip
Yer doin' it the hard way, D! :wink:
There's no need at all to do ANY pulling or pushing on the bars or wrestling of any kind. And the lifting force with your right hand is very minimal. 90% of it is putting your weight on the foot. It's LEVERAGE.
I'm tellin' ya, try it... once you do it right you'll say "WOW!" and never go back to your old way. :bigok:
That's what I don't understand Zen - I'm not putting any effort into it right now anyway. Maybe we are doing it the same way but I'm describing it differently.
BTW, did you get a 100W bulb sorted for your bike?
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That's what I don't understand Zen - I'm not putting any effort into it right now anyway. Maybe we are doing it the same way but I'm describing it differently.
Well, when you say your not putting any weight on the stand, and pulling back on the bars, that's not the way I'm describing at all.
I can get my bike onto the centerstand one-handed, without even touching the handlebar. I just lay my hand on the grip lightly to steady it, that's all.
Whatever. Do it any way you want, this is getting frustrating! :roll:
BTW, did you get a 100W bulb sorted for your bike?
Yep, quite a while ago...
http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?p=69532#69532
Did you get your baby home yet? I'm looking forward to some pics with the lower fairing! :bigok:
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Did you get your baby home yet? I'm looking forward to some pics with the lower fairing! :bigok:
This coming Saturday! Licensing paperwork all complete and ready to roll. :grin:
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I can get my bike onto the centerstand one-handed, without even touching the handlebar. I just lay my hand on the grip lightly to steady it, that's all.
You know,.. I read your instructions and thought, yup,.. I do all those steps... but there's not a lot of smooth and "pop right up" , there's a lot of tugging, and grunting and swearing... Usually takes 3 or 4 good tries to get it up there, and that's on a b4! (Luckily(?!?) the 919 is centrestand challenged)
I watch the other half do it, and it's fairly effortless, but he can't seem to figure what I'm doing wrong. Any chance this has something to do with height too? Like people under 5'6" can't do it easily?
:lol: :wink: Apparently you have to stand taller than the bars on your bike? :embarassed:
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You know,.. I read your instructions and thought, yup,.. I do all those steps... but there's not a lot of smooth and "pop right up" , there's a lot of tugging, and grunting and swearing... Usually takes 3 or 4 good tries to get it up there, and that's on a b4!
If you are "tugging, grunting and swearing" (I don't like to see ladies tug, grunt and swear :wink: ) then you must be doing something wrong.
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. 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.
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I don't like to see ladies tug
I'll leave that one alone.... :stickpoke:
:lol:
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If you are "tugging, grunting and swearing" (I don't like to see ladies tug, grunt and swear :wink: ) then you must be doing something wrong.
Now that might be the understatement of the week. :stickpoke: 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. :wink:
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. :grin: 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.
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.
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Stormi... use the force... :bandit:
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. :bandit:
BTW... the centerstand also creates a tripod... the front wheel, and the two feet on the stand. :wink:
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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.
And we can all guess how many fingers you are going to lose when your technique isn't perfected and your grip goes. :lol:
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C'mon, D... I'm trying to help out here! :roll:
Ok. A toothless, dead crocodile, alright? Jeez.
It's the type of force being applied that I'm trying to get across here. :wink:
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C'mon, D... I'm trying to help out here! :roll:
Ok. A toothless, dead crocodile, alright? Jeez.
It's the type of force being applied that I'm trying to get across here. :wink:
Is he stuffed,... or just smelly and decaying?? :stickpoke:
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I give up. :duh:
I guess it's not something that can be taught on a BBS. :roll:
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Stormi... use the force... :bandit:
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. :wink:
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? :lol:
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.
The bike will pop right up on the centerstand. :bandit:
Pop for you, rock and wobble for me. :grin: I promise to practice though.
BTW... the centerstand also creates a tripod... the front wheel, and the two feet on the stand. :wink:
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.
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I give up. :duh:
I guess it's not something that can be taught on a BBS. :roll:
:wink:
oh c'mon,.. we're just having fun with ya! :stickpoke:
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I know... it's OK. :bandit:
I'm not the one "tugging, grunting, and sweating". :lol:
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sweaRing
Girls don't sweat dontcha know? :stickpoke:
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sweaRing
Girls don't sweat dontcha know? :stickpoke:
That depends... :evil1:
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JUST JOKING!!! :bikeflip:
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What?? speak up!!! :stickpoke:
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BTW... the centerstand also creates a tripod... the front wheel, and the two feet on the stand. :wink:
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.
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I can't believe the extent we argue about things sometimes... :roll: :lol:
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. :stickpoke: :bandit:
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/orionburn/Bike%20Pics/Picture003-1.jpg)
:welcome:
Welcome Aboard! Got the BEST Bandit color, I see. :clap:
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/PaulVS/Bandit07.jpg)
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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.
Well,.. that and my camera doesn't weigh 400+lbs, though after carrying it around for a while it feels close....
Incidentally, I have shot with my tripod like that and the biggest concern was the camera weight being able to take the furthest leg off the ground, and topple that way. Not so much a risk with a bike. :motorsmile:
Interesting. I understand both sides, but I'm not convinced that either is necessarily superior. Both are fraught with perils, and as I see it, the most important part of this is to make sure you park where the fewest people can do damage to it. Also part of the reason that I -don't- park on sidewalks in front of stores, unlike what a lot of riders here do.
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Really guys...I got the center stand figured out now :lol:
Thanks for the welcome, Paul. I always look forward to your (jiggly) posts :wink: Any idea who the hottie is on the left side of your sig?
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I can't believe the extent we argue about things sometimes... :roll: :lol:
Yet it still keeps going. :lol:
When the sidestand is used, the tripod is more like:
``X``
`````
`X```
`````
``X``
Agreed. Of course the 919 seems to lean a fair bit further, but for this purpose, this is acceptable.
which is a lot less stable than the centerstand:
``X``
`````
`````
`X`X`
`````
No matter how much you sweaR at it. :stickpoke: :bandit:
see this is what I don't agree with. Your diagram is a little inaccurate. ( sorry. :) )
It should be more like this:
``X``
`````
`X`X`
`````
`````
The rear half of the bike is typically in the air. The centrestand, to my eye, raises the bike's centre of gravity, changes the height ( therefore potentially making it a larger obstacle) and makes it less stable, because it's balancing on 3 points spanning a little more than half the length of the bike. Whereas the sidestand uses the entire length of the bike, doesn't change its height or centre of gravity. In my mind, and I'm sure someone will be able to point out why my thinking is wrong, that should make the bike more stable...
Now, this is all for parking on flat ground, if you park on a hill, you're likely to find problems, but here's the thing, on the sidestand, you can take advantage of the strength of the transmission to not let the bike roll forward and off the sidestand. The centrestand has the rear in the air, no such stability.
And you can prevent the sidestand from sinking witha crushed popcan, or similar under it...
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And you can prevent the sidestand from sinking witha crushed popcan, or similar under it...
Strange as it may (or may not) seem, I've never had a bike sink on the centerstand enough to ever be in peril of falling over, so I've never felt the need to put a pair of pop cans (or similar) under the c'stand's legs. (Besides, I think MY rear tire would touch the ground and the bike rest on four points first since my rear tire is barely off the ground on the c'stand anyway.)
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Or maybe I just like to put it on the centerstand because I have one and not many bikes do these days. :wink:
Repli-racers don't, cruisers don't, most dual sports don't, even some of the bikes in the Bandit's "standard" class don't.
When the bike parking at work is full of bikes, the only other bike I ever see in the lot on a c'stand is a KTM 640 Adventure (and that's a long-legged c'stand!).
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Strange as it may (or may not) seem, I've never had a bike sink on the centerstand enough to ever be in peril of falling over, so I've never felt the need to put a pair of pop cans (or similar) under the c'stand's legs. (Besides, I think MY rear tire would touch the ground and the bike rest on four points first since my rear tire is barely off the ground on the c'stand anyway.)
Yeah, I've never had the problem here, but a friend "down south" mentioned it to me once, along with the pop can trick, and it was also mentioned in this thread as well. :)
I think where the problem would be is if you left the bike long enough, and the pavement was cooled and a little more solid, before you tried to move it...:shock:
Here, I'm more likely to find cracked pavement that caves in, Hit a pothole and snap the swingarm (http://www.630ched.com/station/blog_bob_layton.cfm?bid=12563), or have the bike freeze up before I get it started. :annoy:
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which is a lot less stable than the centerstand:
``X``
`````
`````
`X`X`
`````
No matter how much you sweaR at it. :stickpoke: :bandit:
see this is what I don't agree with. Your diagram is a little inaccurate. ( sorry. :) )
It should be more like this:
``X``
`````
`X`X`
`````
`````
(ahem) I beg to differ:
``X`` - front wheel
````` - steering head
````` - engine
`X`X` - swingarm pivot
````` - rear wheel
With your "correction", you have the centerstand under the engine. :stickpoke:
Havlng said all I have about this, I gotta tell ya that I use my sidestand most of the time when parking the bike out and about. The centerstand I use mainly for maintenance and parking in the shop for the night.
Stormi, I think once you get the hang of "popping" it up on the centerstand, you won't have any problem with using it more often. Granted, the sidestand is better for sloped or uneven ground, but on flat, even ground, it's purty durn stable... dontcha know?
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Or maybe I just like to put it on the centerstand because I have one and not many bikes do these days. :wink:
Repli-racers don't, cruisers don't, most dual sports don't, even some of the bikes in the Bandit's "standard" class don't.
When the bike parking at work is full of bikes, the only other bike I ever see in the lot on a c'stand is a KTM 640 Adventure (and that's a long-legged c'stand!).
Oh that could be. :) I know that where the other half works, there are about 3 - 4 bikes that get parked there, and they're all on their side stands.
The 919 is one of those sans-centrestand bikes, and the only time I miss it is for things like greasing the chain, and taking the front tire in for replacement. (You can order one from Honda though)
OMFG! The KTMs are HUGE! We were at one of the dealerships and I think it was a 990? It was on a centrestand and I felt like Alice after she was shrunk!! My feet were dangling a good 6" off the ground!
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(ahem) I beg to differ:
And that is your prerogative. :grin:
``X`` - front wheel
````` - steering head
````` - engine
`X`X` - swingarm pivot
````` - rear wheel
With your "correction", you have the centerstand under the engine. :stickpoke:
see, now it sure looks like the half way point to me,.. or at least very close to, closer than to the back wheel, which is what we were indicating with the first diagram. The centrestand actually sits about even with the SS on Dita when extended...
(http://members.stormi.ca/images/ditaold.jpg)
I would post a better pic, but it's 1am and I don't wanna go outside and take pics in the dark. :grin:
Havlng said all I have about this, I gotta tell ya that I use my sidestand most of the time when parking the bike out and about. The centerstand I use mainly for maintenance and parking in the shop for the night.
Why when parking it where it's protected anyway? The only thing I can see is preservation of the tires... one anyway.
Stormi, I think once you get the hang of "popping" it up on the centerstand, you won't have any problem with using it more often. Granted, the sidestand is better for sloped or uneven ground, but on flat, even ground, it's purty durn stable... dontcha know?
Maybe that's my problem. We rarely have clean stable flat ground to park on. And of course, since the b4 isn't my daily rider, I do what "comes naturally" to me....
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LOLOL,
Hey Nate, nice looking bike! I've got an '03 B12 S, Silver.
Your welcome thread is turning into a epic tale of side VS center standing. LOL
My 2 cents...
Side stand WITH forks turned and locked when about town (hard to turn and lock on center; not stable)
Center stand in garage, on flat smooth surface to save space and allow for rear tire inspection, chain lubing/cleaning, decompression of rear suspension for adjustment before riding two up.
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Actually...
Hijacking thread...
I lift the front of my Bandit and HANG my bike in the corner of my garage on one of those big rubber covered hooks. :lol:
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Actually...
Hijacking thread...
I lift the front of my Bandit and HANG my bike in the corner of my garage on one of those big rubber covered hooks. :lol:
:worthless:
:lol:
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Hey Nate, nice looking bike! I've got an '03 B12 S, Silver.
Your welcome thread is turning into a epic tale of side VS center standing. LOL
Thanks. I've done my fair share of hijacking on forums, so I don't mind. Is good for a laugh :lol:
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Hey Nate, nice looking bike! I've got an '03 B12 S, Silver.
Your welcome thread is turning into a epic tale of side VS center standing. LOL
Thanks. I've done my fair share of hijacking on forums, so I don't mind. Is good for a laugh :lol:
He hee! You call this hijacking? :lol:
When I posted my 'just got my new bike' thread, it somehow went from the bike to accessories, buying property, farm equipment, Jeeps, where do the Simpsons live, zip codes, is Bigfoot real, the IRS, and existentialism (and a few more tossed in I don't recall).
10 pages:
http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=8546&start=0
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He hee! You call this hijacking?
Farm equipment? Ok, you win. :rofl:
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I'm guessing it rained where all you people live this weekend ;)
Don't worry about difficulty putting bikes on the centrestand. The first time my wife went out on our 50 cc scooter, she realized she did not know how to park it!
She ended up wheeling it into the lobby of our apartment building and leaning it against a wide brick pillar until I came home.
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She ended up wheeling it into the lobby of our apartment building and leaning it against a wide brick pillar until I came home.
When I first read that I thought you meant she did a wheelie going into the building :duh: :lol:
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No no, the wheelie is your emergency maneuver to get home if the front tire gets a flat.
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No no, the wheelie is your emergency maneuver to get home if the front tire gets a flat.
And that's what I tell the officier when I get stopped, right? :cop:
:lol:
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wow- I learn something new everyday...I just sit on the bike, and push the stand down with my left foot, til it touches, then pull the bike up and back while pushing the stand down. I will have to try the above method now.
You must have long (and strong) legs!
It took me a while to get good at hefting he bike into the centerstand...the bike is top heavy and you have to have trust that you're not going to just drop it.
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Getting past that fear of not dropping it was the biggest part for me. Once I realized I didn't have to worry as long as I was holding on to the bars and the tail it was a piece of cake.
Although I did get a bit lucky last night. Wasn't paying full attention when I was pressing down on the stand. Was wondering why the tail was trying to pivot so much when it was going up then felt the other leg of the stand come in contact with the ground rather hard. Must have had a good 3 inches of air on the other side before coming down. Whoops :shock: Have to remember to keep the bike fully upright when doing it.
:duh:
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The easiest way to do that is to make sure that before you start the backward movement, that you actually tip the bike til you feel both feet on the ground. (At least that's what was demonstrated to me the two times I've been shown how to do it. ) It actually makes the next step easier.
That's one of my first steps, then strrrrreeeeeeetch Dita out and onto the centerstand. ( of course for most humans, unlike me, it's not a 2 minute ordeal. :lol: )
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The easiest way to do that is to make sure that before you start the backward movement, that you actually tip the bike til you feel both feet on the ground.
(Yeah, you meant "both feet" off the centerstand, not the rider...)
You talking while astride the bike or not?
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Yes, both feet of the centerstand on the ground, and I meant for this to be done whilst standing beside the bike,.. if I was standing astride it, my feet would come off the ground mid-operation. Not an option for someone like me, who's afraid of heights. :wink:
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Sorry if the answer is already there, no patience to read all comments...But you will find it easier if you press down on the center stand using your LEFT foot while standing very close to the bike...for one thing it helps by placing your hand better on the grab rail