Lift Handles

[gopher]

I am interested in obtaining a lift handle for my 2002 R1150R to help raise the bike onto the center stand. I have seen a Wonderlich handle for sale on line for $119.00 plus shipping. I think that that is a little pricey. Does anyone know of an alternative source or another aid to leverage that would make getting the bike up on the center stsnd easier?

[DG02]

The trick with the R is not to lift it so much as to push down hard on the footpad while pulling up and back at the same time. The work is done mostly by pushing down with the foot. That's the best way I can describe it, but I find it goes onto the centre stand very easily. In fact, I very rarely use the side stand.

[taosports]

Gopher,

I personally find the u shaped bar that the rear passenger foot peg is attached to to be the perfect leverage point for guiding the bike back on to it's center stand. I purposely chose the words "guiding" and "back" because that's all that you need to do. No real "lifting" is necessary. You shouldn't need to add anything to the bike. Proper technique and leverage is all you need. (left hand on left hand grip, right foot on centerstand peg, right hand on the u shaped bar - the one closest to the front of the bike - and just pull the bike back as you simultaneously put pressure on the centerstand peg with your right foot.)

I'm just a 5'7" lightweight with a bad lower back and I find the bike extremely easy to place on the centerstand.

Hope that helps...and saves you $$$.

[MIXR]

Have to agree - Save some money and practice technique first. It's not a strength thing unless you ride with cases 'loaded' all the time. Then it's hard to get the thing off the centrestand if it's facing uphill!

[Just-Beeming]

Just wondering how big everyone who can 'center stand' the bike is. ?

I think maybe I am just too small. I am 120 lbs. I have tried to put it up but fear dropping it. I had my husband stand by as a spotter but I just hang there on the center stand like a ballerina on one foot.
Its kind of funny.

Needless to say, I am using the side stand alot, I have to have a push off if my husband puts it up...especially if it is uphill. If it has the slightest angle uphill....NO MATTER how much I kick and swing I am just not going anywhere!

I get tired of being a wimp But I wont let it deter me from riding the sweet beast.

Carol

[Beemeridian]

756

[mnnden]

I was going to purchase a "Lift handle" but after a couple of lifts and getting the technique down I found it was not necessary, But, I did read somewhere that a person could purchase a "Foot peg" put it on upside down, could be used as a Lift. Den

[Boxer]

All good suggestions for getting it ON the stand. But I have to agree, If I didn't have my 200+ lbs of bulk, I might be looking for a handle too. Balance is the trick though. And having it on even pavement, which you can't always accomplish out there in service station parking lots.

One trick for taking it OFF the stand, is make sure if you DO have to park uphill that you have space to drive out toward the front. Then mount up with it on the stand, put it in gear and with a little bump down on the back wheel, let the clutch out. It will roll right off the center stand and keep going. Be prepared to keep going though! And don't try to put your feet down when you take off. I've done this while traveling, just for the fun of it and to get on the bike easier when it's loaded down with gear and hard to lift my leg over the front seat.

The "handle" on the BMW system case racks aids in the lifting for me. I have a problem when I have a full load on the bike and can't grab those "handles". But even with the difficulties associated with lifting this beast, that centerstand is a stroke of genius!

[wncbmw]

I use Taosports technique. I have to add however, I usually put it on sidestand before getting off the bike to put in on centerstand rather than balancing it while swinging my leg off the bike like I used to. After a near drop when my left knee did one of it's periodic collapses while getting off, I do that as a precaution.

Technique is everything. Even 120-females should be able to do it with some practice. Don't give up! You can learn it and amaze your brutish male riding companions!

[leno]

I don't count myself as big or hunky althought I must be on the heavy side of 120 pounds. We don't use that much in the UK so 11 stone would be quite a few pounds I guess. But I'm drifting so the trick for me is that I push down with a good firm right foot untill I'm sure I've got good contact with both the center stand feet. In this state you should be able to hold the bike up right, hands off ( but don't cause it's not worth the pain of the getting it wrong ) Then grab hold of the system case rail with your right hand and bend the knees a little. Now as you strighten up your legs you are using the stongest musle in your body, the aim being to keep your hand hold static against your body and push the leg and foot down. The bike should lift up in a smooth movement. Remember you are not lifting the bike onto the stand, which would be way beyond possibilities, but only swinging the center stand down. So push down don't lift up.

[Just-Beeming]

Thanks for the lifting tips.
I will give it a few more tires. I am far too cautious to try it alone. I need a spotter...just getting the weight upright to the balancing point makes me nervous.
I am small but I am fit so the lifting part should not be a problem. I like the 3 year old daughter and the trantula analogy.

As far as amazing my hulking male counterparts, ...it is really not about that. I just want to be self sufficient and independent of anyones help...unless I absolutely need it.

sigh....Try try again
Carol

[NoRRmad]

Also... When the centerstand is down and both 'feet' are just touching the ground, notice the angle of the centerstand. The force applied to the bike at this point should be perpendicular to this angle. Only slightly 'up'. Mostly 'back.' Taosport's technique with the passenger-peg 'U-loop' is what I use. That part of the frame is at just the right angle to pull back; using the bag mount rails puts your hand too high, and encourages you to pull up, which is not the right angle.

[fnfalman]

I think that the Wunderlich hand grab is a total waste of money. You can grab the frame just fine and save yourself the money. But like others have said, put your entire weight on the centerstand. Bounce on it for the extra oomph.

[beemer-biker]

Thanks for the lifting tips.
I will give it a few more tires. I am far too cautious to try it alone. I need a spotter...just getting the weight upright to the balancing point makes me nervous.
I am small but I am fit so the lifting part should not be a problem. I like the 3 year old daughter and the trantula analogy.

As far as amazing my hulking male counterparts, ...it is really not about that. I just want to be self sufficient and independent of anyones help...unless I absolutely need it.

sigh....Try try again
Carol

Carol, this is a little off topic, but, what part of the PNW are you and your husband located? I am in Yakima, WA. Maybe we could arrange a ride sometimes with my riding buddies. We tend to get around WA/Columbia River area.
George

[socalrob]

Just Beeming,

I used to use my center stand every time. Now I am much more lax. I feel alot of BMW owners are a bit over the top anal about "oil leaking into the lower tilted cyclinder" while parked. Remember, the S model boxers with the lower body panel does not have a center stand. CycleRob tore his RR down & the "higher" cylinder was the one carboned up.

My bike is using basically no oil right now, and I never see smoke on startup, side stand or center stand.

My point is not to obsess about the need to center stand it.

That said, if you weigh 120lbs, and you can lift 50/60 lbs, when you lift the bike you should be standing on one foot on the center stand lever, thus you are applying 220/240 lbs to the bike. That should do it. The trick may be to stand on the center stand with enough pressure to "feel" the opposite side touch down as you lean the bike away from you. The bike won't drop if you have all your weight on the center stand. I weigh about 195, I figure it only takes me about 10-15 lbs to lift the bike if I'm standing only on the center stand.

Also, practice without the system cases & low gas. It does make a difference, especially the system cases. Its the weight at the rear of the bike you are lifing.

Getting the bike off the stand may be worse for you. I still feel a bit squirly if I'm not sitting astride it when I rock the bike off. Standing to one side & pushing the bike off is a recipe for trouble unless your practiced at it. I've not dropped it that way, but I'm still very careful.

[bikermeow]

The racks at the back of the bike for the System cases ... use it to lift/pull back when exerting weight on the centre stand at the same time.

Good luck

Meow

[rdsmith3]

I use Taosports technique. I have to add however, I usually put it on sidestand before getting off the bike to put in on centerstand rather than balancing it while swinging my leg off the bike like I used to. After a near drop when my left knee did one of it's periodic collapses while getting off, I do that as a precaution.

Technique is everything. Even 120-females should be able to do it with some practice. Don't give up! You can learn it and amaze your brutish male riding companions!

Same here. I put side stand down. Get off bike. Put left hand on handle bar and right hand on the spot that Taosports described. I put my foot on the center stand, push down until it touches the ground, then carefully ease the bike onto the other foot of the center stand. The bike is now balanced on both feet of the center stand. Then I push down hard with my foot while pulling back a little bit with my right hand.

It is 90% foot push, and I have to feel the center stand at just the right spot on my boot, or I will not try it. I will start over. I don't want my foot slipping off.

[duke]

I use Taosports technique. I have to add however, I usually put it on sidestand before getting off the bike to put in on centerstand rather than balancing it while swinging my leg off the bike like I used to. After a near drop when my left knee did one of it's periodic collapses while getting off, I do that as a precaution.

Technique is everything. Even 120-females should be able to do it with some practice. Don't give up! You can learn it and amaze your brutish male riding companions!

Same here. I put side stand down. Get off bike. Put left hand on handle bar and right hand on the spot that Taosports described. I put my foot on the center stand, push down until it touches the ground, then carefully ease the bike onto the other foot of the center stand. The bike is now balanced on both feet of the center stand. Then I push down hard with my foot while pulling back a little bit with my right hand.

It is 90% foot push, and I have to feel the center stand at just the right spot on my boot, or I will not try it. I will start over. I don't want my foot slipping off.

IMHO the above describes the perfect approach.

Don't forget the sidestand - it's your best friend. Also if you have problems weight/size - do put the sidestand down before disengaging from centrestand.

I have tried only one other type of bike on centrestand - Suzuki GSF 500 - which is good 6 stone lighter than a Rockster - VERY difficult compared to the Rockster. And I am 16 stone 6' 2".

[P_Jensen]

I have to disagree about putting down the side stand before comming off the centerstand. I was standing next to a friends F650 when he came off of the centerstand with the sidestand down, when the suspension compressed the sidestand hit and pitched the bike to the left if I had not been standing there it would of been on its side. Yes the lifting handle is expensive but it does work and is well made as is most of the Wunderlich stuff.

[duke]

I have to disagree about putting down the side stand before comming off the centerstand. I was standing next to a friends F650 when he came off of the centerstand with the sidestand down, when the suspension compressed the sidestand hit and pitched the bike to the left if I had not been standing there it would of been on its side. Yes the lifting handle is expensive but it does work and is well made as is most of the Wunderlich stuff.

Are we talking R1150R and derivatives or F650 - all of the above was solely based on Rockster/R1150R.

I can't comment on F650 - never tried one.

Was your friend sitting on the bike at the moment of disengagement?

Because I do not sit on mine while getting off stand, and the suspension never compresses to the point of hitting the sidestand.

Cheers