Can't get it up.....

[kgerry]

now that i have your attention.... just bought a '13 RT.... can't for the life of me get it up on the centre stand... i'm not a weak (overly weak) guy, but i can't for the life of me heft it up onto it's centre stand.... i even hoped when i added the Wunderlich pannier protection bars it would give me a better amount of leverage, but no success... i have blood blisters/bruising on my right hand where i gripped that luggage rail during the multiple times i tried to heft it.... it must be a technique issue.... like i'm not doing something right... i can't believe it's a lack of physical strength.... any tips??

[Danny caddyshack Noonan]

There is an inertia element to the new RTs. I had a hell of a time yesterday because I wasn't thinking and took a moment to make sure the stand was touching on both feet.....unfamiliar parking lot.

It has to be done using the momentum generated in the technique. As soon as the centerstand touches, start the rest of the cycle. I usually just assume it is on good ground and pull back on the left grip and "handle" on the seat grab frame thingy, that I don't like much, and put somewhere around 160lbs (guessing) on the foot pad. There is a definite loss of leverage with the new handle. One can only hope that the extra foot pressure required doesn't negatively impact the lifetime of the historically piss-poor design of BMW centerstands (I have had two fail, K100RS and R1100RT).

 

Top case and side case load seems to have a big impact in making it harder.

 

Just to make us feel bad, the demo escorter at A&S told me that he saw a copper down in AZ or TX put the bike up on the stand while astride it.

[Big_Gray]

now that i have your attention.... just bought a '13 RT.... can't for the life of me get it up on the centre stand... i'm not a weak (overly weak) guy, but i can't for the life of me heft it up onto it's centre stand.... i even hoped when i added the Wunderlich pannier protection bars it would give me a better amount of leverage, but no success... i have blood blisters/bruising on my right hand where i gripped that luggage rail during the multiple times i tried to heft it.... it must be a technique issue.... like i'm not doing something right... i can't believe it's a lack of physical strength.... any tips??

My RT is a 2003 model and I don't know how much the centre stand has changed but I am sure your bike is considerably lighter than mine, I am not strong...even for my age, but I can still get it up (the bike on the Center stand). I am thinking it is technique. When I got mine in 2003, I didn't find putting the bike on the center stand to be either easy or intuitive. My original technique was to put my right foot on the center stand tang, hold the lifting handle with my right, the left hand grip with my left hand and then lift and grunt like crazy until either it went onto the stand or I blew a hemmorhoid. I can't remember where (probably on this forum), I learned to put my LEFT foot on the tang, push down on the tang and use my body weight to roll the bike back onto the stand rather than trying to lift it. I am sure you will get other better suggestions, but this works for me.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

Maybe you're already doing it this way, but just in case you aren't:

 

-left hand on left bar

-right hand on rack/handle

-right foot on centerstand lever

 

Once you've got the stand lowered to make two-point contact with the ground and you've applied some pressure with your right foot so that the bike is stable, take ALL of your weight off of your left foot. All of your weight should now be on the balls of your right foot, pressing down on the centerstand lever. As you lift up and rearward on the rack, that downforce adds to your weight pressing down on the centerstand lever.

 

That's the key: you lift and pull to the rear with your right hand, but your foot pressing down on that lever matters a lot. If any of your body weight is being borne directly by the ground, it's not helping you to bring that bike up.

[biometrics]

Another hint, I always try to use the HEEL of my shoe or boot on the center stand when pulling the bike into position. I actually put the center stand THROUGH the sole of my right shoe while learning how the stand the R1100RT up on the stand! OUCH! and almost dropped the bike!

[chrisolson]

... take ALL of your weight off of your left foot. All of your weight should now be on the balls of your right foot, pressing down on the centerstand lever.

 

That's been the key for every BMW I've owned. The right hand /arm remain in a fixed position and as the right leg extends it acts as if you are lifting, but you're really not in the way most people think.

[cris nitro]

Crazy as it sounds, I can put my bike on the centerstand with bare feet. It's all in the technique and momentum.

[JonathanE]

What everyone above said.

 

Until you get the technique down, try cranking in a bunch of extra rear shock preload. The longer the rear shock is when it's resting on the wheels, the easier it is to "get it up".

[Guest Kakugo]

Crazy as it sounds, I can put my bike on the centerstand with bare feet. It's all in the technique and momentum.

 

I believe you because I've done it myself.

[waynerd]

Until you get the technique down, try cranking in a bunch of extra rear shock preload. The longer the rear shock is when it's resting on the wheels, the easier it is to "get it up".

 

This benefit of chassis height is really apparent when you are trying to pop it up on the centerstand with a rear flat...as I recently discovered. The bike still goes up, but it takes a little more grunt.

[Quinn]

Be sure to turn the handlebars away from you so if it doesn't make it up it will at fall toward you instead of away when it bounces back down. Much easier save.

 

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[Alfred02]

It's pure ass technique.

No brawn, no momentum, no muscle.

As described by a few of them here. Once it finally clicks, you think what all the fuzz was about.

The only thing left to suggest is that you have somebody on the other side of the bike, so that you can fully concentrate of working out the technique, without having to worry about the bike falling over.

[Bernie]

All the above, put please make sure bike is either in neutral or pull in the clutch.

Is this a standard frame model or did you install shorter shocks?

[eddd]

At home you might place a square of plywood or other such material in front of the rear wheel and then ride up onto it. This will make the process much easier. With this little extra height you will be able to practice the proper technique without straining or worrying about dumping the bike. 5/8 or 3/4" should be enough.

[jeffkyle]

Don't forget to make sure to have the bike level and both legs of the center stand touching the ground. When I learned, I found that i was not putting both legs equally on the ground. It is all technique and once you get it... as was said, I have now done it in bare feet.

[EddyQ]

It's pure ass technique.

 

[Rinkydink]

Joe Freaking Friday and Alfred02 have it exactly right. Having a spotter until you get the hang of it is the key.

[Deek]

"..All of your weight should now be on the balls of your right foot, pressing down on the centerstand lever.."

 

IMO, that's the secret. We actually "stand" the bike to get it up. Weird, but it works. I do very little with my hand and arms, just standing seems to do it. I weight 210 lbs which might provide more leverage that other weight-disadvantaged riders.

 

Heck, if you think putting the RT up takes some umphs, try putting a Triumph Tiger 800 up on it's (optional) center stand! Wowee - much more difficult!

 

 

[kgerry]

i think i need a spotter as i tried again this weekend with no luck... i don't think i'm leaning it over enough for both feet on the centre stand to firmly settle on the ground...(too worried if it leans too far that way over she goes)...

 

i did however find a way that works fine for me (someone else posted here about the troopers doing it while sitting on the bike) i tried that and it works easy as pie for me... i sit on the bike in N, plant my left heel on the stand plate, press down and then while pulling back on the protection bars just stand up and lean back a bit... bike rises up and drops right onto the centre stand... and i don't have to worry about it falling over as i have both feet planted firmly on either side of it....

[tallman]

That's the hard way to do it compared to conventional off bike maethod so try again.

 

A spotter is a good idea but truly if you can pop it from the

saddle you're easily capable of the other way.

 

 

Take time, lower centerstand and grab both sides of the

handlebars with bike slightly leaned towards you, using both hands settle bike on center stand tangs, rock slightly to be certain, stand on centerstand whilst lift/pull bike to rear (should not require huge effort) once bikes starts shift weight and "push"

down on centerstand, keep momentum going.

 

Like many things, sfter first time, you'll be an expert.

Good luck.