Center Stand for 2014 Valkyrie

[bradrcfii]

Looking for advice.  Wondering if I need a center stand.  What value would a stand offer besides checking oil?

Thanks,

Brad

[Bighead]

A lot of benefit in somes eyes and none in others. Why would you need a center stand to check the oil?

[mrtappan]

The center stand from the Goldwings fits but is too short to be useful.  It stands the bike up straight but that's about it. 

[hungryeye]

If you slide a 1/2 - 1" or so piece of plywood under the bike where the legs touch down I would think that would get it to a workable height for tire service and such. I put jack stands under the engine guards to stand level, makes it easier for cleaning and modding.

[bradrcfii]

Thanks guy.  When I checked the oil with the bike leaning on the kickstand, it showed no oil.  With the bike upright, I received a good oil reading.

[bradrcfii]

Will the center stand raise the bike enough for the wheels to turn?

[hungryeye]

Will the center stand raise the bike enough for the wheels to turn?

People are saying no, but as I stated in post#4, put a piece of plywood under the bike to give the legs some extra lift, it may be 1/2" thick or it may need to be 1.5" thick. Check the specs on a 2014 GL1800 Goldwing and see what the difference in ground clearance is, that may be the thickness needed to get the bike high enough to clean or remove wheels.

[mrtappan]

The difference should be one inch. That's due to the one inch larger in diameter wheels.

[bscrive]

The difference should be one inch. That's due to the one inch larger in diameter wheels.

Then that would be 1/2".  The radius is only 1/2" bigger.

[mrtappan]

Yeah, what he said.

[Ed Norton]

The left exhaust pipe needs a notch in it 

[hungryeye]

The left exhaust pipe needs a notch in it 

Do you mean the heat shield? I see a place for the rubber bumper, I'm wondering where the spring finger/holder on the frame goes and if there is a place for it?

[hungryeye]

I won a fleebay auction for a new centerstand with bushings and spring, $45, free shipping. I will have to by 2 bolts, rubber bumper, spring holder. I will notch the exhaust cover, to replace it would cost $184 . I'll look on fleebay but to cut a notch is not a big deal. the small parts needed will only be about 10-12 bucks.

[SURFNDAD]

I put a Goldwing center stand on my Blue 2014 and the rear tire is off the ground. You have to change out the exhaust cover so it fits correctly. What I find is useful is that you can get about 1/2 gal of fuel extra if you have the patience to do it.   And of course cleaning, having it upright gives you even access to both sides.

[hungryeye]

I put a Goldwing center stand on my Blue 2014 and the rear tire is off the ground. You have to change out the exhaust cover so it fits correctly. What I find is useful is that you can get about 1/2 gal of fuel extra if you have the patience to do it.   And of course cleaning, having it upright gives you even access to both sides.

I found a used exhaust heat shield on fleebay for $25, only looks dirty in pic, I hope its only dirt and will shine up like new, I ordered 2 bolts, the spring tab and rubber bumper from my Honda dealer today, I should have everything in my hands by next Tuesday. I'll have $80 in this project

[hungryeye]

I put a Goldwing center stand on my Blue 2014 and the rear tire is off the ground. You have to change out the exhaust cover so it fits correctly. What I find is useful is that you can get about 1/2 gal of fuel extra if you have the patience to do it.   And of course cleaning, having it upright gives you even access to both sides.

Surfn, did you have to remove the front cowl and front exhaust cover in order to remove and replace the short mid exhaust cover?

[hungryeye]

I completed the install of my center stand. The rear tire is off the ground, you can rotate the front wheel by sitting in front and pulling up on the spokes, moves easy enough. I haven't tried to jack on the front of the engine yet to see if the front tire would be off the ground, if not I would just stick a 1/2" shim when needing to remove the wheel. If you are removing both wheels this would not be a problem, still unknown if you can get the wheel out without removing the rear fender, but I think it may be easier to remove the fender than the muffler.

The hardest part was changing the heat shield. You have to remove the front cowl, then the heat shield that extends from the cowl to the small chrome heat shield that needs replacing, you must replace that chrome shield for the cut out on bottom to accommodate the stand foot lever as was suggested in an other post. The little metal tabs with rubber inserts are what is a little difficult to R&R. The next thing, I tried starting the right side stand mount bolt for 20 minutes before discovering it is a left hand thread, I'm glad I went to Honda to buy the 2 mounting bolts, rubber bumper and spring hanger that was not included in my fleebay purchase. I would have never known the right side bolt was a left thread.

The bike goes up with little effort, I always had the knack to lift bikes on the center stand but 5 yrs ago I developed major weakness from pinched nerves in my neck in my hands and feet, I can't lift my little Triumph without a board under the rear tire, the Valk goes up with little effort, so anybody can do this if I can. I wish I could post some pics but I don't like using hosting services.

[bscrive]

I also just purchased a center stand and heat shield off ebay.  But, I have to wait for that left handed threaded bolt to arrive.  Apparently it is back ordered until June 10th.  It will make cleaning and other things easier.

[hungryeye]

The 4 pieces I needed (2 bolts, spring hanger, rubber bumper) took 2 days from Honda. There were 2 covers on ebay, mine was $45 or best offer, they took my $25 offer with free shipping. I cleaned and polished, had a scratch where a passenger heal rubbed. It was a little out of shape but it looks ok on the bike, I'll wait for a better one to come along. I'm guessing you won the auction on the new one?

You have to remove the front cowl to get at 1 screw for the 1st heat shield, no way around it, the 1st shield has to come off to get at the chrome cover.

[bscrive]

I did bid on that one but someone else outbid me and it ended up going to $96.  So, I contacted some of the wreckers on eBay that had exhausts for the 1800 for sale, and asked them if they had any.  One guy did and, I got a like new cover for $60 with free shipping. 
I have already had all the bottom covers off when I was looking at how the clutch line is run, so that I could measure it.  Not a difficult piece to take off. 
That left handed bolt is not something you can pick up just anywhere.  I even called a few specialty fastener places near me, and they didn't have anything like it in stock.  I guess I will be waiting until next week to put the center stand on.

[bscrive]

Well, I finally put on my center stand, and it sure does work nice and makes cleaning a little easier.  I am still waiting for the rubber stand stopper, it is on back order until June 17th.  All in all, a good option for under $70.    I always wanted one on my I/S, but I would not pay the ridiculous price for one.

[mrtappan]

Is it functional though?  Can you remove the wheels with it on the stand or does it just basically stand the bike straight up?  Can you drive off it like the old "ride off" stands?

[hungryeye]

The rear wheel is about 1/2" off the ground, if you remove the muffler the wheel would come off, but I think it may be easier to remove the fender. to get the muff off you would need to remove the 2 front cowl covers, then the header cover, then the small muff cover. If you get the rear wheel off you can easily jack up under oil pan to remove the front wheel. I can spin the front wheel with 2 hands pulling up on the spokes, it may be possible to jack under oil pan to remove front wheel??

It goes up on the stand with little effort.

[bscrive]

If need be, a 1/2" piece of plywood can be used to raise it some more.

Taking it off the stand is real easy.