The Saga of the IGOFAR/Shuey/Valker/Lee T ST 1300 - How can such a well kept bike be cursed?

SMSW said:
I had a lot of difficulty getting my 1300 up on the center stand until I bought a modified one from a guy here. He had purchased a used center stand, cut the foot pedal off and had his BIL weld in a 3" extension, making the foot pedal arm longer and increasing the lever arm. I had the whole thing powder coated and installed it on my bike. Voila, putting the bike up on the new center stand was doable without a board. The extended arm did infringe upon the space taken by a passenger's foot, but I ride alone.
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Gota picture?
 
drrod said:
You still are using the large muscle groups of the legs and not using your back. Your hands are free to help you maintain balance of both you and the bike.
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That would definitely be a huge plus. Lifting it up high enough then turning around to right it the rest of the way is simple. Maybe for some but a bit unnerving from my perspective. Hopefully there's no Pop-Go-the-Clavicles. But it looks like the traps bear the brunt. Good quads still a must.
 
Donk said:
Might have something to do with how far the weight is above the axles? It may also depend on where the pivot point of the centerstand is on the frame and the overall length of the stand?
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I wouldn't think the height above the axles would make much if any difference in the degree of difficulty. But the pivot point of the stand in relation to the engine would really make a difference. The farther back it is the less the weight of the engine would affect levering up the bike. The farther forward the more Herculean effort would be required. I once put my 750-4 and later my GL-1000 on a scale one wheel at a time. In both cases the "front wheel" weighed more than the rear indicating a forward bias of the total weight.

I know someone who found putting his GoldWing on the center stand easier than putting my 1300 on its. I never thought to compare the location of the center stand's pivot. Nor the end of the lever compared to that of the ST.

I found having 42lbs in the tires at the start of the day and 3 bars on the gas gauge at the end of the day made getting it on the center stand doable without drama. It makes doing it look easier than it is at least.
 
Let me know if you have used a Motobikejack also, I made one and had some tips on using mine.
Make sure you tie onto the bike as high as possible and pack your jacket between the strap and side, this gives the strap more bend to straighten out
Without getting to deep into how it works, you are raising the bike by straightening the sides of the strap more than lifting. once you get to a certain point it is easy to raise the bike to upright. If you keep on trying after reaching the point it becomes very hard to crank more into it. Also pause to lift it a bit as you go. Assisting helps ease the climb up
Also I was practicing on a Dual-sport which are really tall, the website shows one,.
I had to practice a bunch to get it right.
If you get one, practice before you need it, not when. REALLY REALLY, can't stress it enough. There are too many bikes to have a universal hook up point. The KLR has a lot of exposed points, my Concours has them under the seat. Haven't tried the ST yet and don't own a cruiser. There are some short tie-down loops that you should get to toss in the bag as well as a section of heavy leather to place between the straps and body work and seat.
 
Donk said:
and the overall length of the stand?
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I missed that bit. Yes that would definitely affect the ease of getting on the stand. The longer the stand the greater the arc of travel and the more grunt needed.

I had a Bates Ride-Off center stand on my GL that attached to the frame forward of the engine.

It was the best mod. The two feet were heavily spring loaded and adjustable for height. Pushing the stand down and rolling the bike back compressed the two spring loaded feet. There was a resistance felt as the feet were compressed but nothing like putting on the factory stand.

The bike was then even more planted (lol) than with the factory center stand as the R-O's feet were probably twice as wide as the factory stand making four contact points with the ground.

As the name implies just start the bike and ride off. It was a blast to be sitting on the bike feet on pegs which at a quick glance appeared to be on the bike's center stand. Then without taking my feet off the pegs I just road off. Only once did someone notice that after backing the bike up it remained upright when I put my feet on the pegs.
 
The higher the weight is above the axles the more awkward the bike will feel as you lift it as CG is higher. Try putting a big tall Adventure bike on the center stand compared to a shorter bike of the same weight.
 
Donk said:
The higher the weight is above the axles the more awkward the bike will feel as you lift it as CG is higher. Try putting a big tall Adventure bike on the center stand compared to a shorter bike of the same weight.
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I don't see the science in that. A taller bike or one with a higher CG might be more awkward only to "line up" ie getting both feet of the center stand on the ground. But once that's done gravity should affect the bike regardless of high or low its CG.

A big tall Adventure bike might be more difficult to center stand but I'd guess height above the axels itself isn't the culprit one the feet are down. I see this as lifting two poles of the same weight but of slightly different heights as in differing weights above bike axels. The taller pole might be more difficult to right upright to a bipod platform. But once done why/how is it harder to lift.

If you're referring to the overall process of putting it on the center stand then yes I'll stipulate that Phase 1 could be more awkward. I don't see how Phase 2 of actually lifting the bike would be different.
 
I do not believe I said or implied there was any science to it. :D

Yeah let's go back to talking about the bike.
 
Lee T said:
Hello all!

I am the current custodian/proud owner of Igofar's former ST 1300. Beautiful bike, amazingly well kept, smooth as glass, and finally (today) equipped with new Battlax tires.

As many/most of you reading this know, Igofar put the first 102,000 miles on this one, and then did a complete nose to tail refresh that left it literally better than new. As the song says "smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy".

Sadly, shortly after, Larry had to hang it up for the size/weight of the ST, and the torch passed to Shuey.

Shuey did a bunch of tweaks to refine the bike for his style of riding - lots of energy invested and more than a little $$.

Sadly, about 2,000 miles later, Shuey also found that the mass of the ST just wasn't working for him anymore, and the torch passed to Valker.

My introduction to the story was in reading Valker's "Ode to the ST/Igofar" post, where he raved about the ride home to Texas on the ST, and all of the care given to the bike by the previous two owners (mostly Igofar). I wrote a note to Valker saying that if he ever decided to sell it, I wanted a chance to buy it. I had spent quite a lot of time and money "rescuing" my first ST1300 - Lazarus -- and I had more in it by then than it would have taken to have bought the 2007 directly from Igofar when he sold it. Alas, I was not in the community at that time. Valk sent a very kind note saying he would keep my contact information, but fat chance he would sell it anytime soon, because it was the smoothest thing he had ever ridden.

Sadly, about 2,000 miles and a surgery later, Valk also found that it was no longer comfortable to ride.

I conned a friend with an airplane into to flying me from COS to Valk's house in TX, got a quick check out, and practically flew back to Colorado.

Sadly, (change of pace), I discovered that the shenkos pretty much delaminated on the way home, and my piggy bank was empty.

Far more sadly, by the time I got the new tires bought, my knees were hurting so bad I was afraid to rock it off the center stand. and since I don't have a lift, I couldn't get down low enough to even work on it (not that it needs it).

Can a bike be cursed? Are the subsequent owners being taken down by the bike, or is the bike the unlucky one, going through so many broken old men?

On the bright side, with the help of compression wraps, my knees are waaaay better, (that's a whole nuther post) but sadly, my company is on hard times, and I may not be able to afford to keep the ST's.

I rode it home this morning with the new tires, in a slight rain. But it looks like decent riding days are going to be rare in Colorado for a while. At least I have gotten in some good rides on the 2003 in the last month or so.

Any thoughts or musings on all of this? Between rehabbing the '03 (which is nearly done) and buying the '07, I have about $10K in STs, and I have loved every minute of the rides, and most of the wrenching. I really don't want to give up riding again - it's the only thing, other than the dogs, that is pure joy .

Lee T (and yes, that is the Igofar in my new profile pic)
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A small, but to me very important, update:

My daughter is home from college for a few days, and it was 62 degrees in Colorado Springs today, and I FINALLY got to take my daughter on her first motorcycle ride!!! That's been a quest/dream of mine for years now. And she loved it. She decided she needs to cut back on spending to grow her bike fund faster.

Another data point for why I stay with a bike of "substance" -- my daughter is 5' 11", and a little under 180, which means that 2-up we were a little under 400 pounds in the saddle, and the ST handled like an absolute dream! With the new tires for grip, I was hitting the turns faster and leaning in farther than I thought I would, and it was solid as a rock! Last time I rode two up was in about 1998, with my Valkyrie.

While we were looking at the bikes after the ride, I was telling her about my idea of going on a father-daughter cross country tour one day.....she called the IGOFAR. Girl has discriminating taste!

:)
 
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