T160 it is so damn heavy

My Rapide with top box etc is probably getting close to t160 weight.
It has what is called a " Dave Hills Tread down centre stand" . Stock Vincents do not have a centre stand, instead they have a godawful rear stand.
Dave built hundreds of these Vincent centre stands over the years. He passed away a few years ago.
You simply push down with your foot on a tube attached to the stand and a 500 lb bike is instantly parked on its centre stand.
Back in the 50s, another fabricator, before Dave, worked out the geometry.
He looked at all the different centre stands of the time and came up with his own.
I built one of these stands for the other Rapide I had and , lo and behold, it worked just like a DH stand!
I have often thought that this geometry could be applied to any bike, although the MK3 Commando is really not difficult to get on its stand.
My BSA is probably 80-100 lbs lighter than a t160, but still a pig to put on the stand, so it would be a good candidate for an experiment.
It sounds like the T160 could also benefit from a centre stand redesign.

Glen
 
Last edited:
OK. Good news or bad news?

good news - I did the left foot swivel pickup as suggested earlier - it seemed to work but the bike was then at a silly angle within the garage, it had to go back down for a second try


bad news - I promptly dropped it! Onto the Commando, and pushed that over onto the racking.

I managed to pick it up, did I mention it’s fheavy, and didn’t give myself another heart attack thankfully the last one was a killer!

good news - no apparent damage to either. But the T160 needs a sensible stand!
 
The T160 is marvolus but a heavy cuss. It is a parking lot pig but really nimble on the road. As I remember the T160 had a tall and difficult center stand. Some stands, like the one on my Triumph T100 are centered and just the right height. When I pull it on the center stand I feel like I am going to throw it backwards. My Norton is good with a reasonable center stand pull.

I am reminded of the time I dropped my 73 750 when the stand broke. The stand was up but the bike was falling and my brain just couldn't process those two pieces of information at the same time. I followed it down to the ground with my foot still on the stand lug.
 
Maybe roll it aft , then , when its moving , flick down the mainstand , so the inertia throws it up n on .
But most people threw the centerstand away , so it wouldnt scrape , and slow down the cornering :p .
 
I always removed the centre stand back in the day as it was a weighty casting.
...that was until the first time the old boat anchor had a flat away from base!
 
Onder said:
I always removed the centre stand back in the day as it was a weighty casting.
...that was until the first time the old boat anchor had a flat away from base!
Click to expand...
I always removed them and threw them away
But my trident takes up less room on the centre stand
And a few years ago it saved my bacon when the drive chain snapped
The chain neatly wrapped itself around the stand actuating arm
I was thankful it stopped there without punching a hole through the case's
Or locking the back wheel up!!!
 
If you boys think a T160 is hard to get onto the centre stand you need to come & have a go with my AJS 650 CSR. I think the centre stand was designed by an olympic weight lifter. It is without doubt the worst one I have ever used. On the bright side there is a bloke in the owners club making roll on stands which work, thus proving that it is down to the design of the stand & not the weight of the bike.

Martyn.
 
Matt Spencer said:
Maybe roll it aft , then , when its moving , flick down the mainstand , so the inertia throws it up n on .
Click to expand...



However, care should be taken when lifting the T160 not to 'throw' it onto the centre stand as the frame lugs are part of a casting and have been known to break meaning a complete stripdown to repair.
 
Matchless said:
If you boys think a T160 is hard to get onto the centre stand you need to come & have a go with my AJS 650 CSR. I think the centre stand was designed by an olympic weight lifter. It is without doubt the worst one I have ever used. On the bright side there is a bloke in the owners club making roll on stands which work, thus proving that it is down to the design of the stand & not the weight of the bike.

Martyn.
Click to expand...
I had a G12 CSR many moons ago, but I don’t recall how easy the centrestand was to use. I know it used to be used a lot when I was seemingly forever taking the engine out to fit yet another crankshaft.
 
L.A.B. said:
However, care should be taken when lifting the T160 not to 'throw' it onto the centre stand as the frame lugs are part of a casting and have been known to break meaning a complete stripdown to repair.
Click to expand...
The centre stand on my T160 broke once and I decided against strengthening the replacement for that very reason. It seemed better to replace the stand once every few decades than risk damaging the frame !
 
Fast Eddie said:
The centre stand on my T160 broke once and I decided against strengthening the replacement for that very reason. It seemed better to replace the stand once every few decades than risk damaging the frame !
Click to expand...
Hmmmmmm now you tell me ! My t160 stand broke once and I strengthened it before I replaced it
Where does the frame crack exactly?
 
baz said:
Hmmmmmm now you tell me ! My t160 stand broke once and I strengthened it before I replaced it
Where does the frame crack exactly?
Click to expand...
Dunno.

I didn’t do it cos of any prior knowledge of cracks Baz, it’s just how I thought about it (if somethings gonna give, better to be the replaceable part).
 
Fast Eddie said:
Dunno.

I didn’t do it cos of any prior knowledge of cracks Baz, it’s just how I thought about it (if somethings gonna give, better to be the replaceable part).
Click to expand...
Made me paranoid now!!
About a year ago I heard a sharp banging sound whilst out
I did pull over and concluded it must have been the centre stand banging as I went over a bump
I'm not so sure now!!!
 
baz said:
Made me paranoid now!!
About a year ago I heard a sharp banging sound whilst out
I did pull over and concluded it must have been the centre stand banging as I went over a bump
I'm not so sure now!!!
Click to expand...
;)

T160 it is so damn heavy
 
baz said:
Hmmmmmm now you tell me ! My t160 stand broke once and I strengthened it before I replaced it
Where does the frame crack exactly?
Click to expand...

As long as care is taken not to 'throw' the bike up on the stand so the stand stops don't hammer the lugs as they come into contact because they aren't that strong for a bike of such a size/weight then there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
T160 it is so damn heavy
 
One thing I forgot to mention is that the T140 stand will probably need a stop plate to keep the stand foot clear of the drive chain and also prevent it from hitting the rear brake master cylinder on the other side when the stand is raised.

The T150 had a stand stop plate (83-2033, item 24) the T160, however, did not although both models had the same 83-1267 centre stand.
T160 it is so damn heavy

I modified (shortened) a T150 stop plate with a 3/8" bolt, two thin nuts (and a rubber tube prevents the 'clang') but could also be made from scrap sheet metal.
T160 it is so damn heavy
 
Just went and measured the T150v on perfectly smooth garage floor on its centre stand. I get almost 1 1/2 inch clearance with a 19" WM3 and TT100 twixt tyre and floor surface. The stand is 10 1/8 inch. 150s already have the stand stop so I shall just order
the stand and see how I make out. A lot of money but then damage from falling over in a failed attempt can exceed that.
 

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