You just made my day with this video. Just got a 2003 Goldwing GL 1800A, was nervous to put it on the center stand. It's so much easier than I thought it would be. Thanks for your video and your technique.
I watched this as a reminder. It's really easy to center-stand a bike, just a little intimidating thinking you could push it over, away from you. I always make sure the center stand is touching the ground before I transfer my weight.
In military I learned to always look towards the rear of the bike while putting it on the center stand. Makes things a lot easier, no matter the weight. 1. You go where you look (as always with motorcycles ;-) 2. You have better control not to unwillingly bump into something behind the bike. 3. As soon as the bike is properly levelled 50:50 on both pegs of the center stand it cannot fall over anyway. So level it on the center stand, put the right foot on the stand lever, look back and simulate climbing on the stand lever until it swings with absolutely no effort.
Nice! But you need to show how to get it down too. We only got half the story. There is some bad advice out there telling you to turn your handlebars to the right before getting it down. That is dangerous and unnecessary, just keep the front wheel straight when bringing it down. You could also demonstrate 2 other ways to get the bike down. Way 1: Mount the bike with hands on the grips and feet on the ground and rock the bike forward. Way 2: Mount the bike with hands on the grips and feet on the pegs and rock the bike forward (way 2 is good if your legs cannot reach the ground). Also, when getting the bike up start with a rock and if it doesn't make it on the first rock, then keep on rocking baby! It works. This sounds like a lot of detail but believe me when you finally get it up for the first time (by "it" I mean the bike) after many attempts, the thought of getting it back down is scary, so way 1 and way 2 are a good way to ease into it. Remember everybody, lets rock yeah yeah. Of course when you have the knack you do it first rock without thinking about it. May the Honda be with you.
Best advise is when the right foot of center stand hits the ground, then you push down with the leg that's on the center stand and carry the bike up with hand that's on the grab rail. Your leg muscles does the lifting not your shoulder. I have to grab both grips and push the bike forward with the kickstand down to get it off the center stand.
Getting off the center stand is just as important. I wish you would have added it. I know some have more difficulty getting off the center stand or just as much.
In fact you dont have to pull with your hand instead just transfer your weight to the Stand, by standing on to it. I own a 2023 GW and i always keep the bike in center stand when parked in the Garage. I had a BMW 1600 K but its much difficult than GW to put in Center Stand.
At the end of the day, its all down to "Leverage" and "Upper Body Strength" If you have "Neither" then it is going to be a Problem, lifting a Piece of Metal "Up and Over" I could not lift a Suzuki GT750 Water Buffallo onto its Center Stand, because the grab rail was too far back, and the foot Lever was too small, which mean't poor leverage.
