Trick to Putting a Motorcycle on its Centerstand

How do some people put their motorcycle on the centerstand so easily when you struggle with it? There is a trick that we explain in this video. Here's the trick: push the stand to the ground with your foot, make sure both of the centerstand's feet on on the ground, and finally stand on the centerstand so that your weight helps to lever the motorcycle off the ground and up on the stand.

Uploaded by the BMW Bikers of Metropolitan Washington
The Washington DC Area's Premier BMW Motorcycling Community

BMWBMW was founded in 1974. We serve the Washington DC Metropolitan area, including Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
We emphasize safety and rider's education, motorcycle tech and maintenance, and of course riding (and lots of it!)

[HagsRideOrDie]

I'm what most people call a "big guy", 6' 2", 290. I've picked that exact bike up off a man who wrecked in front of me. I also then carried the man to the side of the road because his lower leg had a compound fracture. Then I couldn't get the bike on the center stand! Thanks for this video, I've been trying to do it wrong my whole life! Granted, most bikes I've owned didn't have the option. Thanks for the video!

[richwhite]

Your method took all the fear out of the action. Thanks

[nicerides]

Had an old gsx1100 with a center stand years ago. Always struggled like hell to get it on the center stand. Until I had to get new tyres and I saw the mechanic lift the effortlessly. I asked him how he did it and he showed me this exact method and it made life so much easier.

[slopdog]

Thank you so much just got my virago 750 on it’s center stand I weight 145 it was a struggle but once I listened and gave up being scared of dropping it putting the weight in the stand made all the difference 🎉

[jeffrzentkowski]

That's the best and simplest advice you can give someone, thanks.

[BPRING]

Worked first time!!! Never been able to put it on the main stand before!!!

[kirknra]

Thanks Bruce .... I just picked up a used BMW R1100RT it’s my first bike with a center stand. Just went to the garage and put it on it’s center stand, ez peezy!

[mark]

Thank you for this! Working smarter not harder!

[JamesH]

So simple but so effective, thanks! Was definitely struggling with it before

[FlyingWombats]

Thanks my man! Just installed a center stand on my RE Scram 411 thanks to your vid popped it up like a charm!

[devinnyberg]

I can't thank you enough. Been trying to do it from on the bike with a backwards thrust but could only get it about 70% of the way there. This worked first try and looked 100% less stupid in the process

[josephlarmor]

Nice video. I always leave the side stand down, and put the bike in first gear. Then steady the bike on the center stand, push down or stand on it, and pull the bike back like you, using the back grab handle and left handlebar. But in addition, I will have pulled the clutch lever back to disengage first gear and allow the bike to roll back on the rear wheel.

The reason for first gear/clutch? If the bike doesn’t go onto its center stand for whatever reason, and starts to roll forwards or sideways, I simply let the clutch out to stop the bike, and drop it back onto the side stand. Always a useful back up, especially on uneven surfaces or on ground which has a slight slope that you didn’t notice. You don’t always park on a nice smooth garage floor like yours! Some people claim that the side stand can be a trip hazard, but once you’ve mastered this technique it just isn’t an issue. Safe biking!

[richardt.]

Been ridding 50 plus years and never knew that, THANX.

[johnford]

So easy, but exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

[AndyAskren]

true. Nicely, perfectly put! It's a relatively simple matter of 1) stability (trust that your bike isnt falling over if you're standing on that stand when its in contact with the floor) and 2) an easy pivot/rotation of the bike (vs. "lifting" it) around that fulcrum point.

[rosebyanthername]

I'm 5'6 and 150 lbs, just got my first bike a few months ago and doing maintenance on my chain for the first time. I had no hope of getting 800 lbs up onto that stand but this worked perfectly on the first try. Great video, thanks!

[RealityCheckThat]

WOW, this is the best explanation I've seen. I struggled with my K1300GT before and now it was relatively easy.

[Rut]

Thank you my friend. July 2, 2024. Hope all is well with you 6 years later. Thank you for the pointer. Always nervous putting my 2004 Yamaha VMax on its center stand. Just put it up and like the tip 👍

[dragonsrest]

Thank you! Followed your instructions and for the first time ever got it on the centre stand on my own!

[Phaedrus-thbi]

Ill be Just did this to my CB1100 and it worked. I did have to pull up quite a bit with my right arm, but it worked. I tried 6 times before this unsuccessfully, but then I watched the video.