goldwing center stand on a Valk?

[currahee2-6]

Greetings to you all. I've owned my first Valk for exactly one week now. (2000 w/69K miles) I finished the required Florida basic motorcycle riders course Sunday.  So far I love it the Valk. It's the biggest bike I've ever owned ('74 cb750 for 15 years) and it's a little spooky! I'm 64 so maybe that's part of it 

I'd like to install a center stand. I have no idea why Honda didn't originally. They are great. I contacted RIVCO and they are thinking about making some more in the fall. The current going price from another source is $500!!  OMG!  I was looking around the WWW and came across a forum on which several riders were discussing trying to find/fit a Goldwing center stand to a Valk. BUT, I can't relocate that site.

So my question is: Anyone have any info on this mod? Will it work? Have they seen the discussion I'm referring to?

One last nebwie question please. Is it "VALL kyrie",  "ValKYRIE",  LOL   thanks for looking. Peace, from sunny West Palm Beach, FL

[2qmedic]

Don't know about the centerstand but welcome to the world of the Valkyrie, the cruiser of cruisers!!!

[designer]

I take it the Currahee 2-6 references 2/6 marines?!  I worked with 3/6 in Iraq and heard that call a couple of times.... Also a common call for 101st.  Welcome to the ride.

[Jess Tolbirt]

Well its spelled Valkyrie and i say Valk ree,, others have called it a volk ree,, emphasis on the first syllable

[Mildew]

Id bet I could get a wing stand on a Valk. It may take some welding, grinding and drilling but I wouldn't hesitate on trying it. Ebay normally has good pics to compare the 2 if you can dig em both up

[old2soon]

Can't help with the center stand ? but welcome to the insanity. I'm 66 and love my big fat arsed dragon. Really a unique fantastic machine. Wait til you get used to it. Again-welcome aboard. RIDE SAFE.

[PhredValk]

Mildew; this has been discussed and debunked before. If you DO figure it out, groups of villagers with torches and pitchforks will descend on your castle demanding the plans, and pix too!

currahee2-6; $500 will be the Rivco price if they do do another run (do do run run).
Welcome to the gang.
Fred.

[designer]

Can you get 10% off if you catch directline during one of thier sales?  $450

I've been pondering this for a while also.

I need to get some parts to explore the ideal, mainly the goldwing pieces to model them in cad.  Might wonder over to the motorcycle side of Honda today and see if they will let me have the cad data. 

[Mildew]

lol.. I would say she'll fit but you'd have to make a bracket or buy the bracket unless the bracket for the Wing is identical but I doubt it is. Dont look to be a difficult project if doing the whole thing from scratch but they have a lot of buy it nows for real cheap on ebay. Then just build the bracket.
 

[lacon]

Getting one to work well would be the real challenge.  My previous bike - a 1100 Goldwing - had one & I used it frequently, as it was fairly easy to get it up & down.  I put a Rivco on the Valk because I missed it, but it takes a lot more effort to use than  the Goldwing did.  I think the Rivco lifts it a little higher than it really needs to be, or maybe the balance point is not quite perfect.  As a result, it's great for oil changing & detail cleaning, - maybe roadside flat fixing, but too much effort for simply parking & everyday use.

[Sodbuster]

Seems to me I've read posts that mentioned where a center stand was prone to bend the weak cross member that supports the side stand.

If you want/need something to use for maintenance work, a wheel chock works very well ....

[F6BANGER]

Seems to me I've read posts that mentioned where a center stand was prone to bend the weak cross member that supports the side stand.

If you want/need something to use for maintenance work, a wheel chock works very well ....

Is that the harbor Freight wheel chock? What size is the plywood, 24"x24'x1/2"? Did you have to do any mods to make it fit the valk wheel? Thanks

[John Schmidt]

Seems to me I've read posts that mentioned where a center stand was prone to bend the weak cross member that supports the side stand.

Sodbuster, if you look at the pix of the centerstands above....larger one at top right, note the rubber tipped bolt. It's mounted on the black section of the stand which bolts to the crossmember. That bolt is a "stopper" and an addition to the original version which didn't have that bolt and there were some issues with the cross member because of it. It keeps the whole system from twisting the cross member, that stopper/bumper bolt is adjusted to be up against the back of the engine. I've had mine on nearly eight years with no problems whatsoever.

[Sodbuster]

Seems to me I've read posts that mentioned where a center stand was prone to bend the weak cross member that supports the side stand.

If you want/need something to use for maintenance work, a wheel chock works very well ....

Is that the harbor Freight wheel chock? What size is the plywood, 24"x24'x1/2"? Did you have to do any mods to make it fit the valk wheel? Thanks

Yes .... Yes .... & No, it fits like a glove. Some riders don't like the fact that it will pinch the tire in the front and will leave a witness mark on tire when you extract the bike from the wheel chock but it goes away in short order.

To keep the plywood from sliding I put some rubber non-slip shelf liner on the bottom of the plywood with spray contact cement.

[Sodbuster]

Seems to me I've read posts that mentioned where a center stand was prone to bend the weak cross member that supports the side stand.

Sodbuster, if you look at the pix of the centerstands above....larger one at top right, note the rubber tipped bolt. It's mounted on the black section of the stand which bolts to the crossmember. That bolt is a "stopper" and an addition to the original version which didn't have that bolt and there were some issues with the cross member because of it. It keeps the whole system from twisting the cross member, that stopper/bumper bolt is adjusted to be up against the back of the engine. I've had mine on nearly eight years with no problems whatsoever.

Ahhh .... good to know !!  Thanks for the update !!

[F6BANGER]

Yes .... Yes .... & No, it fits like a glove. Some riders don't like the fact that it will pinch the tire in the front and will leave a witness mark on tire when you extract the bike from the wheel chock but it goes away in short order.

To keep the plywood from sliding I put some rubber non-slip shelf liner on the bottom of the plywood with spray contact cement.






Thanks     

[YoungPUP]

Vaguely remember seeing/reading somewhere that the centerstand for our sister bike, the GL1500 wing will fit with little modifications.  Any ideas????

[PhredValk]

The idea of a centre stand for me is tire change and repairs on the road (like in Daniel's dark side item). Wheel chocks, jacks and lifts are all easier at home. I would only want a stand when on the road.
Fred.

[olddog1946]

Welcome aboard.....I had wondered myself why no center stand..but to be honest I could never get my 80 goldwing up on it's stand and most likely being 22 yrs older now, I couldn't get my Valk on one either..so the heck wit it...

[currahee2-6]

THANK ALL OF YOU  FOR THE WARM WELCOME!   

I'm still looking for the post i found that the whole subject of configuring a GW center stand to a Valk was being discussed. They were making progress. Center stand seems to be such a great idea as it provides some semblance of balance while on the road for tire change etc. easy access for general maint. too without having to use a lift/jack and an adapter.  Average shop wont have the adapter if you are out on the road.

BTW, the Currahee2-6 is Army. 101st Abn.  radio call sign; 2 is second platoon, the "6" is it's leader. '68-'69.

The front wheel chock seems like a simple solution too. I'll have to try it. Thanks!

[gordonv]

The talk about a GW stand on a Valk was just talk. It was someone trying to remember what was told to them about someone else bike (turned out the Valk was in Mexico), but if I have it right, it was NOT a simple modification, but a complete job.

The GW uses a "rod" through the frame and the stand (pictures where sent to me), which was the pivot. You can see the cmparision of the two in the pictures above.

I was looking into what it would take to make it work. I'm also looking into designing and making center stands for the Valkyrie. I have pictures, measurements, autocad, with a CNC shop and a metal shop all within walking distance from home. I already have prices for water cut designs of some of the pieces, but found them too pricey to make it work, about half the price of the part. I need to redesign and rethink it out, but it's all part time, and learning autocad is not easy, I'm a paper draftsman. I also have my wrecked Valkyrie frame to use to test out these things, along with local riders to try it out on.

[Walküre]

If I recall, the bike in Mexico only had the "adapter" for using a lift - it wasn't a center stand. I think it had lost something in the translation. I could be mistaken.

I also looked into a center stand - don't think I'd make one for other people, if I ever got one done, but I have access to most necessary equipment also. I probably would opt for a CNC plasma cutter for the parts, as I am using my plasma cutter for a prototype. Sure wish I had Gordon's spare frame!! For me, it's measure, measure, measure, then measure some more...I haven't made any progress on it, as it is VERY low on my priority list.

Here's some pics of the 1500 Wing center stand, so you can see a few of the complications:

[gordonv]

Sure wish I had Gordon's spare frame!! For me, it's measure, measure, measure, then measure some more...I haven't made any progress on it, as it is VERY low on my priority list.

Since my frame is bent, I may end up just cutting out a section of the cross member to get the right size, scrape the rest. If/when I do that, I'll keep it in mind that you would also like a section.

I think I still have your email, it was you that sent me those pics of the GW stand. Looking at them again just gave me a really good idea of a design I could us.

[PhredValk]

Here it is.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,18682.0.html

Any thread you may wnat to go back to in the future, go to the bottom and click on 'Add Bookmark' and you can access that thread from 'My Bookmarks' at the top of the page.
Fred.

[Bone]

Didn't know that thanks Fred.

[captsharky]

Hi from Sunrise, Can't help with the centerstand, but I may be able to answer other questions. I ride with the USMVMC out of Pompano Beach. We'll have to get together for a ride one of these days. I know 3 others in WP that have Valks, and 2 or 3 in Ft. Lauderdale.