Center stand and chain maintenance.

I think this may take the title for "dumbest" question here. Even at risk of that, what is everybody's tricks to getting the vfr (1999 in my case) up onto the center stand? With my last bike I finally realized technique was infinitely more important than brute strength.

I like to clean and lube the chain regularly. So... Also, how often do people here (or should people) clean and lube their chain and sprockets? Any tricks to this as well when it comes to the vfr?

 

My VFR is my first bike with a center stand, so I had to watch a video to get the technique correct. At first I would push the center stand down and try and pull on the handlebars to roll the bike backwards onto the stand...

Anyway, if like me you didn't know already, the bracket that holds the lefthand passenger peg also serves as a handle to lift the bike onto the center stand. So I hold the left handle bar with one hand, step onto the center stand lever, grab the passenger peg handle and stand with all my weight on the stand lever and pull up on the handle at the same time. The bike fairly easily raises into position.

As for lubrication frequency, it depends on conditions. In dry weather I lube every ~1000km, which usually works out to monthly for me. If I get rain on my rides I do it much more frequently. Depending on how much rain I can end up lubing weekly.

The center stand makes lubing a piece of cake. I just throw it up on the stand, clean the chain if need be, slide a piece of cardboard/junkmail between the wheel/brake and chain, spin the wheel with one hand and spray onto the chain with the other, then I take a rag and wipe of the excess.

 

Don't feel bad, not a dumb question... this was my 3rd post to this forum when I joined. Maybe you will find some helpful hints here. http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/17935-centerstand-im-weakling.html

As for cleaning/lubing the chain. I lube every 500 miles, and clean before lubing every 1000 miles. I just spray on some cleaner, rub it off with a rag, turn the wheel to get to the next section, repeat.

 

As Pawnboy said, Is very well hidden, but the left footpeg of passenger is ALL IN ONE PIECE with the helmet lock, between the footpeg and the lock, there is a big grab handle reinforcement which function is exactly to grab the bike to deploy the centerstand!!!
I confess that at the first time when I get my 1998 VFR the logical place to pull up the bike IT SEEMS TO BE part of the left seat cowl, but the grab handle is exactly behind in line with the plastic.
So, Left hand in the left grip, right hand there under the seat cowl and PULL UP WITH ALL YOUR STRENGHT, WHILE STOMP HARD the centerstand, it's magic.

 

Holding the bike vertical, START lifting only after you have determined (by slightly rocking the bike) that both centerstand feet are resting evenly upon the ground. Put a little weight on the stand to get both feet down before giving the BIG pull back and up. It's a 2-step procedure.

Best to wear hard-soled shoes or boots to avoid possibility of hurting your foot.

 

What you want to do is push the centerstand into the ground, not lift the bike onto the centerstand. In order to do that you will have to use the leverage of the bike. Hold the bike steady with 1 hand on the handlebar, and 1 hand on the side of the bike, now just push the centerstand into the ground, don't try to lift the bike onto the centerstand, you want to push the centerstand under the bike. Trying to lift the bike will make it much harder than it is.

The only reason it might be hard to do is if the bike has been lowered, or you have a flat tire. Then it might be a bit more difficult.