happydaze
John
I was just reading another forum and found out something that I thought I would pass along because I had not heard it before.
If your XS650 has a 16" rear wheel, it's much easier to get it onto the center stand if you roll the rear wheel onto a piece of 1"x4" lumber or 3/4" plywood. The extra height in the rear gives you more leverage. This is (allegedly) because when Yamaha went from the 18" rear wheel to the 16" they did not change the height of the center stand. So, the bike sits 1" lower.
Anyway, I didn't know that. Remember to push down with your leg rather than trying to lift the bike with your arms. My '81 has a 16" rear wheel and I have never put a board under the rear wheel to get it onto the center stand. You can feel it when you're doing it right. It's all about applying leverage at the bottom.
If your XS650 has a 16" rear wheel, it's much easier to get it onto the center stand if you roll the rear wheel onto a piece of 1"x4" lumber or 3/4" plywood. The extra height in the rear gives you more leverage. This is (allegedly) because when Yamaha went from the 18" rear wheel to the 16" they did not change the height of the center stand. So, the bike sits 1" lower.
Anyway, I didn't know that. Remember to push down with your leg rather than trying to lift the bike with your arms. My '81 has a 16" rear wheel and I have never put a board under the rear wheel to get it onto the center stand. You can feel it when you're doing it right. It's all about applying leverage at the bottom.