center stand min. height

Hey all

Im really in need for a center stand now but am planning on making my own. All the ones that can be bought in the shop seem to be very expensive. It would of course be nice to have one with a lift but can't throw out that much money. Even just a fixed steel stand is way overpriced for what it is...

So I'm planning to make my own out of wood. Just wanted to ask how tall I should make it? I want to keep it as short as possible as I have to lift the bike on there by myself and I am neither the tallest nor strongest guy so... How short can I make the stand to have a couple cm clearance of the wheels off the ground?

The manual says the bike clearance is 11.8 inches (30 cm). Is this with load or without load? If it's without load, will 13-14 inches be enough (33-35.5cm) be enough? If it's with load how much will I need?? Never had the bike on a center stand so I have no idea how much the spring is compressed with the bike on the side stand...

any input will be helpful

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/350-lb-motocross-dirt-bike-stand-66552.html

only 30 bucks and works well for a cheep stand

I measured my stand and its 16"

dtx wrote:

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/350-lb-motocross-dirt-bike-stand-66552.html

only 30 bucks and works well for a cheep stand

I've got one of those. My KX500 lives on it (Takes up less space that way). Haven't tried it with the heavier WR, but no issues sofar after many months usage.

OP is in Germany.... doubt they have Harbor Freight over there.

Good advice though. My aluminum one from cycle gear is about to bite the dust so I may try a HF one for a while.

all I could find were expensive lifts (80 euro and up).

Never thought about googling mx lifts .

Anyway I now found two options

http://www.enduro-store.de/staender/hubstaender/hubstaender-black-mx-enduro.php
for 28,90 €
Low setting 31 cm, high setting 40 cm (12.2 - 15.7 inches)

http://www.enduro-store.de/staender/hubstaender/hubstaender-mx-enduro.php
for 36,90€
Enduro version : low setting 24,5 cm high 37,0 cm (9.6 - 14.5 inches)
MX version: low setting 30,5 cm high 42,5 cm (12 - 16.7 inches)

which one would be most appropriate/suitable for the wrr in terms of height?? Probably the mx one right? or would the cheaper one be alright? after all only a very small height difference...

My stand is 14" tall and 12-13" square. I like the fixed height ones better. I have one of those step on lift types. IMO they not nearly as stable as the the fixed ones. Just put the stand on the other side of the bike and lever the bike off your knee/thigh to get it on the stand. More physics than strength. The lift type is Ok for lubing the chain but I find it easier start the bike and tilt it on the kickstand to lift the wheel off the ground (I got rid of the kick stand switch). Let the clutch so the wheel turns. Spray the lube. Easy. Plus the fixed ones make a nicer beer drinkin' seat.

the instability of those stands is indeed questionable... Well the other option would be my home made wooden stand with brick stones for added weight. Just rendered it guess anything really is better than studying



a fixed height one would definitely be more stable... I'll further look into making my own

I like this type of stand personally. Light, stable, easy to throw in the back of the truck. Easy enuf to make something similar out of plywood if you don want to spend the money.

http://www.aluminumcarrier.com/motorcycle_stand.htm

I have one of the Harbor Freight lift stands. It works really well honestly for both my WRR and my wifesDR200.

Well I went from this:



to this:



to this:



and finally, to THIS:




Can't say I ain't proud about my construction . Works like a charm. In the end couldn't find the proper wood for my planned dimensions so I had to adjust, but works great! The thing is rock solid. Probably weighs in at 10kg. Bike sits on it like a king no rocking, shaking or anything like that. Total cost was about 30 Euro. Don't think I could've gotten anything as solid for that cheap.

Now just need to perfect my swirly motion to hop the bike up and down

Coop wrote:

I have one of the Harbor Freight lift stands. It works really well honestly for both my WRR and my wifesDR200.

I have one of those in my garage (appartment dweller friend owns it):
http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-capacity-atv-motorcycle-lift-2792.html

But I also already had an earlier version (with handle) of this for my other bikes:
http://www.pit-bull.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PBMSA&Product_Code=F0028-000&Category_Code=rear_stands
I'll use it first, then the HF moto lift if neccessary.

Plus I have this that I bought used (cheap):
http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-lb-capacity-motorcycle-lift-68892.html

It's all so uplifting...

deerHater wrote:

But I also already had an earlier version (with handle) of this for my other bikes:
http://www.pit-bull.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PBMSA&Product_Code=F0028-000&Category_Code=rear_stands
I'll use it first, then the HF moto lift if neccessary.

I have one of those too but no spools on the dirtbikes so I needed something different.

Well right now I use a 20mm Army Surplus ammo can. >>> $15

Put 2x4 under the side stand.
Push-(lean) the bike up on the side stand so it lifts up high enough to--
>> Slide the edge of the 20 mm ammo can under the edge of the skid plate.
Pull (tilt) the bike up onto the edge of the 20 mm ammo can.
Slide the bike fully onto the ammo can. Metal on metal slides pretty easy.

Seems to wprk fine.

Coop wrote:

deerHater wrote:

But I also already had an earlier version (with handle) of this for my other bikes:
http://www.pit-bull.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PBMSA&Product_Code=F0028-000&Category_Code=rear_stands
I'll use it first, then the HF moto lift if neccessary.

I have one of those too but no spools on the dirtbikes so I needed something different.

You have a different pitbull stand. Mine has interchangeable tops, so it can be used with spools or just on the swing arm. I use it for my WR250X all the time.

how do you get it on and off of a fixed stand?

mwalker wrote:

how do you get it on and off of a fixed stand?

you need to do a swirly motion, pivoting the bike against your hip or your leg. Or try to pivot it off the stand.

I'm stilling practicing my pivoting motion, but really with the wrr it's not that difficult to dead lift the back. I grab the rear subframe with one hand, and the frame near the cylinder with the other hand, stnading ont he kickstand side. Lift the rear wheel off (using your legs not your back!!) and then just push it forward with the hip onto the stand. A bit of practice and it works fine

deerHater wrote:

You have a different pitbull stand. Mine has interchangeable tops, so it can be used with spools or just on the swing arm. I use it for my WR250X all the time.

Yeah mine is fixed for spools. I wouldn't mind having spool on my WRR once I get the SM wheels on it this winter though. Those stands are nice and sturdy, I love using mine when I have a sport bike in the garage (which I don't right now).

bsheet2 wrote:

Well right now I use a 20mm Army Surplus ammo can.  >>> $15
! (tilt) the bike up onto the edge of the 20 mm ammo can.
Slide the bike fully onto the ammo can.  Metal on metal slides pretty easy.

Seems to wprk fine.

....doubles as a watertight toobox! I like it! Not sure about cantilevering the whole bike up on the kickstand though.

sophijo wrote:

....doubles as a watertight toobox! I like it! Not sure about cantilevering the whole bike up on the kickstand though.

If you stand on the opposite side of the kickstand, pushing away from you ( one hand on the handle bar and one on the seat) the bike will lean over on the kick stand.  It will sit on the kick stand and front wheel.  So "entire" weight is not on the kick stand.  The front wheel takes some of the weight.  This lifts the back wheel.  Then I use a foot to slide the 20 mm ammo can under the skid plate.  Then pull back toward you and the bike rocks up onto the 20 mm ammo can.  About 2 inches of the skid plate will be sitting on the end of the ammo can.  Then I sort of twist the bike back and forth and work it (slide it) fully onto the ammo can.  If I need to, I some times put a board under the kick stand to get a bit more height when I lean the bike over.

Mine is a WRR not an X. So taller than the an X. You may have to put a 2x4 under the kick stand of an X to get enough height to do this with a 20 mm ammo can. Or find (build) something a few inches shorter.

I'm picking one up today after work...."Joe's Army Navy Store"!

I have no idea how you dead lift the WR. And tilting to the bike to slide something underneath always seemed hit or miss for me.  I had a static stand from my 300EXC and ultimately decided the WR was just too heavy.  For those of you on less of a budget this stand works very well with the WR:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/28665/i/msr-pro-lift-stand?WT.ac=SLIsearch

I think I paid $90 for it so the price has gone up.

-morgan

sophijo wrote:

I'm picking one up today after work...."Joe's Army Navy Store"!

I went to pick one up today and all the bottoms were belled out so the can rocked. I thought I could probably straighten them out but decided to build one......they used to darn near give them away. Now they're $35.