And now the dumbest question for today
I ordered a yamaha original center stand for my Tenere and tried to install it today

I've been trying for 45 minutes to get the rubber bumper pad in that top hole

Can anyone tell me how you're supposed to get that much rubber in to such a small hole?

sorry for the crappy quality pic...



I heard from one other person who had simply cut it off and glued it on....

I trimmed down the cone a bit. but the trick is to get some long nose pliers on the other end of the rubber and having copiously lubricated the cone end pull it through. This method stretches the rubber and hence thins it.
I've done two Ten sidestands.

...................and then the trick with the springs is to use some 6mm rope and using it like a pulley from the spring onto the sidestandcross bar you will easily be able to get the spring onto its location.
I've done two sidestands now and my bike is in for a service. For some reason the mechanic has taken the sidestand springs off!
I have told him I will show him how to get them on quickly and safely.

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Well, that worked ! Trimmed down the cone, used nose pliers and practically pulled like crazy while soaking it in WD40. I figured, the worst thing that can happen is snapping it in two, forcing me to glue it on. (that was my last resort any way)

The springs now, I managed to get the smaller spring on rather easy. Some brute force. The longer one is more difficult. I tried a pulley system, but not with much succes.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong? You didn't take any pictures while doing it by any chance?

Nevermind, .. Yes, I did it wrong, I'm officially a moron!

I took a piece of paper and taught myself the basic principles of a pulley system again. Comparing my scribbles with what I was doing, I slapped myself in the back of the head and managed to do it, rather easy.. with a piece of cord.

for future reference... *pull grey cord towards camera POV*



However, it's impossible to get the bike on it. My tenere was lowered (-4cm) by the previous owner and that's perfect for me. Especially for the novice that I am. But I didn't manage to get it on the center stand now. Raising the rear wheel a couple of centimeters made it better.

Is there a special "trick" to do it? I know it will be a bit more difficult due to the lower height, but I have seen it done before on a lowered bike

Really depends on who you are, height, weight, strength.

I use to own a honda deauville which fueled and loaded weighted a good 300kg and the rear shock sat very low as standard anyway. Best way i use to do it was

Bike on side stand
Lift bike level with side stand still out
Right foot on center stand foot peg bit
Place all your weight onto the right foot and left hand on left hand bar grip and right hand on the left hand side rear rack grip or another spot on the left that you can pull on (the bike will not go up at this point but you will be able to balance the bike and yourself to get ready)
Using your right and left hands, **** your knee (no puns here) pull with your arms on both right and left hands and pull your bike up and push down with your right foot using your left foot as a balance weight.

This does sound very technical but once you do it in real life its fine. Ive used this to get a Pan european, varadero 1000, deauville, gsxf600, gs1200, tiger 1050 etc which are all heavier bikes on to there center stands (dad use to have the tiger 1050 lowered by 50mm and still no bother to get up on centre stand)

But then again i am 6ft4inchs and 15stone with out my bike gear and pretty built boy!! (who eat all the pies, who eat all the pies......continue)

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Plough on

Well done JonasA, the 'pulley' system is the way to go and as you have found out, rather easy when you know how.

As for getting the beast on the centre stand, Max has it in a nutshell. I am half his height and brawn but I can get my bike onto it's centre stand by pushing down on your right foot on the bar that comes off the stand, left hand on the handlebar and use your right hand on the frame to pull upwards and backwards.
It's technique rather than brawn as I can do this manoevre with all my camping gear on, and that's heavy!

Hope this helps. Over to you now.

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If I'm not working, I'll be

Not sure about Steves method..... try this one.


Put the spring in a vice, open it by moving side to side, as the gaps appear place a coin in the gap, then move the spring over to the other side until a gap is formed, then same again. Keep going until the spring is long enough to fit.

Once the spring is on the bike, put the sidestand down and most of the coins will fall out, the rest just take out with pliers. Simple, safe and no potential airborne missiles!!

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Someone on the forum mentioned drilling a slightly bigger hole which makes pushing the rubber through a piece of pi$$.

bumper - heat it up and the rubber becomes more pliable, moisten the rubber and hole and it will pull straight thru

mounting springs - get one of these, they work a treat http://www.amazon.com/POSSE-SPRING-P.../dp/B004MB0FOY

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Yes.

I know it's a bit late, but the answer is quite simple.

Tie a piece or strong cord around the rubber on the narrow part next to the 'cone' . Feed the cored through the hole, and the narrow part of the cone, make sure the rubber, and the hole are wet, (with water) pull the cord.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.