who uses the center stand

robs ss · Mar 3, 2017

And... from one of the non-Commando brigade...
650SS with monoblocs (pre '65 ??) didn't come with side stands anyway. The chopped RH carb needs the bike to be level to get the correct fuel flow from the LH fuel bowl.
So these bikes are "centre-stand-central"
Cheers
Rob

Nortoniggy · Mar 3, 2017

It never ceases to amaze me how fervently people here tell others what they must & must not do. It's mostly just an opinion. Offer advice yes, but tell people what they "must" do? No.

You can park your bike on any stand you like, nothing bad will happen whatever you choose. However you park it the isolastics are going to be in tension of some sort but nothing like the tensions they are subjected to while riding. Do the people who park their bikes with the full weight on the tyres realise they are putting flats on their tyres by doing so. Therefore, you "MUST" hang your bike up from the ceiling to avoid this, having of course first fitted the parking bolts you've made that hold the engine/gearbox unit to the frame so that the isolastics are fully centralised and unloaded. :roll:

You can start it on the centre stand or not. The stand won't break if you do. I've been starting mine from cold on the stand for 44 years and it hasn't broken yet!

gortnipper · Mar 3, 2017

Like I said, for 20 years I had no side stand and would always start it on the center stand.

gripper · Mar 3, 2017

Nortoniggy +1 or lean it up against a tree

ashman · Mar 3, 2017

When I first convered my Commando to the Featherbed frame in 1980 I had no stand at all and it stayed that way for over 30 years, you always find somewhere to lean the bike on, fence, post even used my helmet as a make shift stand, my motor is a HC engine and I have never had any problems starting it without any stand at all, I now have a bolt on side stand that has been on for a few years but its hard to get out of bad habits as I sometimes still lean it on a fence when parking at mates places, we still have a laugh about it, "wheres Pricey's bike, o its leaning over there on the fench"' in my shed when its parked I put a car stand under the foot peg to hold it up.

When I first brought my 850 Commando new I was only 17 years old, a skinny runt with very skinny legs and weighted 9 stone nothing, at first I used the stands to start whether side stand or centre stand, but after getting use to starting it I had no problems after that without using them, so really its up to each one to do what they want with their bike, myself I have no troubles starting without using a stand and with the JH maggie it starts on half a swing on the kicker every time even while sitting on the seat.

I still use the side stand when needed but I don't relie on it as being only a bolt on one that clamps to the frame it some times moves from its right position and if it ever scraped while in tight corners then it will be removed.

So do what ever suites you and if the mounting wears out jut fix it so easy.

Ashley

cNwRestomod · Mar 3, 2017

Nortoniggy said:
It never ceases to amaze me how fervently people here tell others what they must & must not do. It's mostly just an opinion. Offer advice yes, but tell people what they "must" do? No.

You can park your bike on any stand you like, nothing bad will happen whatever you choose. However you park it the isolastics are going to be in tension of some sort but nothing like the tensions they are subjected to while riding. Do the people who park their bikes with the full weight on the tyres realise they are putting flats on their tyres by doing so. Therefore, you "MUST" hang your bike up from the ceiling to avoid this, having of course first fitted the parking bolts you've made that hold the engine/gearbox unit to the frame so that the isolastics are fully centralised and unloaded. :roll:

You can start it on the centre stand or not. The stand won't break if you do. I've been starting mine from cold on the stand for 44 years and it hasn't broken yet!

For one who berates another about telling people what or what not to do, it appears to me that you fell into the same trap by telling people what to do (read your own post). Personally, I was not 'telling' people what to do but rather passing along information that I'd received by someone that's worked on more of these bikes than all of us put together. That said, when I tie my bike down to my Handy Lift by the front forks, they are very loose as I use the front wheel clamp as well, also very loose. I'm fortunate in that no one else uses my shop so I have no concerns about my bike tipping over. In terms of tires going flat on one side due to sitting in one position; true enough until they warm up when ridden and then it's a non-issue. Note race car drivers weaving around when the caution flag is out? That's to keep their tires warm so traction is good. And, you have a point. The very best method would be to hang the bike from your ceiling; however, I think I'll take a pass on that idea! Hey, the forum is to express ideas and pass along knowledge. It's okay to disagree but you could be a little more pleasant about your retorts. Cheers!

Fullauto · Mar 3, 2017

ashman said:
When I first convered my Commando to the Featherbed frame in 1980 I had no stand at all and it stayed that way for over 30 years, you always find somewhere to lean the bike on, fence, post even used my helmet as a make shift stand, my motor is a HC engine and I have never had any problems starting it without any stand at all, I now have a bolt on side stand that has been on for a few years but its hard to get out of bad habits as I sometimes still lean it on a fence when parking at mates places, we still have a laugh about it, "wheres Pricey's bike, o its leaning over there on the fench"' in my shed when its parked I put a car stand under the foot peg to hold it up.

When I first brought my 850 Commando new I was only 17 years old, a skinny runt with very skinny legs and weighted 9 stone nothing, at first I used the stands to start whether side stand or centre stand, but after getting use to starting it I had no problems after that without using them, so really its up to each one to do what they want with their bike, myself I have no troubles starting without using a stand and with the JH maggie it starts on half a swing on the kicker every time even while sitting on the seat.

I still use the side stand when needed but I don't relie on it as being only a bolt on one that clamps to the frame it some times moves from its right position and if it ever scraped while in tight corners then it will be removed.

So do what ever suites you and if the mounting wears out jut fix it so easy.

Ashley

You'd be screwed crossing the Nullarbor, Ash. Not a tree in sight and the posts are plastic!

ashman · Mar 4, 2017

Fullauto said:
ashman said:

When I first convered my Commando to the Featherbed frame in 1980 I had no stand at all and it stayed that way for over 30 years, you always find somewhere to lean the bike on, fence, post even used my helmet as a make shift stand, my motor is a HC engine and I have never had any problems starting it without any stand at all, I now have a bolt on side stand that has been on for a few years but its hard to get out of bad habits as I sometimes still lean it on a fence when parking at mates places, we still have a laugh about it, "wheres Pricey's bike, o its leaning over there on the fench"' in my shed when its parked I put a car stand under the foot peg to hold it up.

When I first brought my 850 Commando new I was only 17 years old, a skinny runt with very skinny legs and weighted 9 stone nothing, at first I used the stands to start whether side stand or centre stand, but after getting use to starting it I had no problems after that without using them, so really its up to each one to do what they want with their bike, myself I have no troubles starting without using a stand and with the JH maggie it starts on half a swing on the kicker every time even while sitting on the seat.

I still use the side stand when needed but I don't relie on it as being only a bolt on one that clamps to the frame it some times moves from its right position and if it ever scraped while in tight corners then it will be removed.

So do what ever suites you and if the mounting wears out jut fix it so easy.

Ashley

Click to expand...

You'd be screwed crossing the Nullarbor, Ash. Not a tree in sight and the posts are plastic!

Yes that would be a problem but funny, but I think carring extra fuel be the biggest problem, some long straights without close fuel stops for motorcycles, but it has a stand on it now, but you be surprised in what you can use when you don't have a stand, I want to get over your way sometime in the future on a bike, traveling our great country is on the cards on my bike .

Ashley

DogT · Mar 4, 2017

Since I have the early bike, I don't use the CS much, I have to run the front tire up on a 2x4 to get it over center, or get someone to help. It was missing from the bike when I got it and am thinking about pulling it off again. Also helps to take the seat off so I can get my hand right on the frame. As far as the SS, I've been doing it all wrong since I got the bike. Either I'm too weak in the legs, to short in the legs, or just never developed the correct method, but I've always been starting my bike on the SS, believe it or not. I have to get both feet up on the pegs, then balance more to the right and push it through from just past compression through the next compression and then it usually starts. I have seen guys start my bike being astraddle of it. Legs not long enough to keep the bike upright when astraddle, and I've never been able to start it from the side, it falls over that way too without any stand. But I'm very careful about balance when I start it on the SS. SS mount looks just fine even now. I also carry around a little 1x block to put under that short stand. I've heard there's a BSA replacement that's a bit longer and fits the mount too, but I've never found it. I may have a part number if I look.

As far as storage, prolly the early bikes weight should be unloaded from the engine/cradle. I found after only 3 months into a new set of isolastics, they already took a set to the down side by about 1/4". That's when I installed the top engine spring, it helps but doesn't fix it.

Fullauto · Mar 16, 2017

Just got my repaired centre stand back on today after a month or so without it. I am so pleased it's back. Life is much easier now.

Ash, you'd be welcome over here. Bring your Featherbed!

ashman · Mar 16, 2017

Fullauto said:
Just got my repaired centre stand back on today after a month or so without it. I am so pleased it's back. Life is much easier now.

Ash, you'd be welcome over here. Bring your Featherbed!

Its on the cards but I have just started a new relationship with a new woman she has a Winnabaro which we will be traveling around Aussie land, I perferr to ride around but living comfortable is also great, I am going to build a 2 motorcylce inclosed trailer with a small workshop the Norton and my CRF450X will be the 2 bikes, one for bush the other for road and I am sure I will be visiting a few Aussie members on the way, as well any members who are heading this way are also weclome here for as long as they want, the beer fridge is always full.

Ashley

Fullauto · Mar 16, 2017

ashman said:
Fullauto said:

Just got my repaired centre stand back on today after a month or so without it. I am so pleased it's back. Life is much easier now.

Ash, you'd be welcome over here. Bring your Featherbed!

Click to expand...

Its on the cards but I have just started a new relationship with a new woman she has a Winnabaro which we will be traveling around Aussie land, I perferr to ride around but living comfortable is also great, I am going to build a 2 motorcylce inclosed trailer with a small workshop the Norton and my CRF450X will be the 2 bikes, one for bush the other for road and I am sure I will be visiting a few Aussie members on the way, as well any members who are heading this way are also weclome here for as long as they want, the beer fridge is always full.

Ashley

Excellent!

who uses the center stand

robs ss

Nortoniggy

gortnipper

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