Need Help with Center Kickstand

650ed wrote:

H1Vindicator wrote: It seems like oiling the chain would be a major pain in the @zz without a center stand.

++1 Not to mention checking the oil level becomes a 2 person job unless you have a damn long neck :laugh: so I would be putting the centerstand on before every ride because that's when I check my oil. Also, when letting the bike idle or warm up while on the side stand the carbs aren't level so there may be uneven fuel flow. I use the centerstand 99.9% of the time. Ed

You guys just convinced me to leave that sucker on my bike! LOL! :woohoo:

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Here's an easy way to check oil level when there's no center stand or assistant to hold the bike balanced upright.

While sitting astride the bike, use an inexpensive pocket style telescoping mirror to see the oil level through the sight glass. Such mirrors are readily available from almost anywhere automotive tools are sold.

No precariously trying to hold the bike steady and level while squatted down and bent over or on your knees beside the bike.

Works even better with a flashlight or work light on the floor with beam directed at the sight glass.



Good Fortune!

Be careful when doing this, especially the first time. To assure stability of a lifted bike that won't slip off the jack.

With bike on side stand, a standard automotive style hydraulic floor jack (lift) may be used under an accessible point to lift the right rear of the bike until the rear tire rises off the floor.

Whereby the bike is resting on three points: Front wheel; side stand; and jack (instead of rear wheel).

And the rear wheel may be rotated by hand while spraying oil onto the chain.

Same technique may be employed to adjust the chain slack.

Good Fortune!

And for LTD (Living The Dream) owners, there's also the standard biker's pipe option as glorified in the following link:

kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/236039-center-stand

Good Fortune!

And when using a center stand to lift an LTD, it's a piece of cake when a suitable plank is first placed under the rear tire.

Here's mine just before rolling the bike forward whereby the rear tire rests on the plank.

When on the center stand, the plank may be easily kicked away from underneath the tire.

This is especially useful when the center stand is "too long" for the bike, as where using a Z1 center stand to lift a KZ900 LTD.

Kawasaki did not equip the KZ900 with a center stand. However, the mounting tabs were continued on the frame.



Good Fortune!

martin_csr wrote:

clutch wrote: My Vance and Hines 4-1 kit came with a small bar. It took me about 2 seconds to realize what it was for after installing the exhaust and pushing the bike out of the garage. It shouldn't be too hard to fab something like this out of a sturdy piece of sheet metal or steel bar (I shop at lowe's a lot lol).

Hope this helps you

~Clutch

Is that how far down your center stand hangs? If so, it looks kinda low to me. I'd be worried about scraping the ground.... or is it just rigged that way for the photo?

It looks lower than it is. The bike is on the side stand, and I'm taking the pic from a high angle. I've ridden for quite a while (at least a year) without scraping that once.

Correction...over two years, and several thousand miles

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martin_csr wrote: Without the muffler there, it looked wrong.... couldn't put my finger on it until now. :laugh:

The pic really is a weird angle too. On the side stand, the lowest point of the center stand is still a good 4" to 5" off the ground...maybe more