I must be either stupid, or really a light weight.

After reading all the good input here about the Wheeldock center stand, I ordered one. Good News: arrived in three days, and as advertised, took less than 1/2 hour to install.

Bad News: I can barely, and I mean barely, get the 850 lb ultra up on the stand. If I really bear down on the foot handle and sort of rock back on the handle bars while straddling the ride, about 50% of the time I win and 50% the stand wins.

Yesterday, I tried to raise it on the 1/2 inch plywood...absolutely no way until my wife helped pull it back...and she REALLY pulled!.
Next, the rear wheel would not turn at all with the stand on the small piece of plywood, but worse yet, it was raised just enough so that I couldn't drive off it...only burned some rubber. Again the wife had to help push me off.

Now, I weight 178 lbs soaking wet which is supposed to be "average weight" for a six foot tall guy. I've put 12,000 miles on my ride in 2008 and have what I consider to be a really good "grip on the ride".

So far, except for washing the bike, I've not noted any of the other benefits ya'll have mentioned.

Oh yeah, and BTW, I can't get the bike up by being off it either. Good think someone mentioned keeping the original stand down or I would have laid it down yesterday for sure!. And yes, I also keep the wheel straight and the ride is in neutral gear. (See, I did read most of the posts)

Right now, my right shoulder is really sore from trying to pull the bike while my lower back is feeling the effort I put on the stand's peg pushing down.

Guess I'm just not getting it.

bj

 

Is your bike lowered at all? Do you have any air in the shocks? You cannot get the stand up on plywood while sitting on it. You probably already know that but I thought I would just check. I have not had trouble getting my bike on or off the stand.

spiz

 

I'm sure you just need some practice. When your on the bike and putting down the stand, make sure your using the heel of your foot and don't spend much of your effort trying to pull back on the bars.

When it's up on plywood and you want it off, try putting a equal thick piece of plywood in front of the rear wheel and try to pull off slowly. And until your really sure of yourself, do put the jiffy stand down while doing this.

 

I do have 15 to 20 lbs of air in shocks if that makes a difference.

Good input on putting another piece of plywood just in front of back tire. Reminds me of the times I need to do something like that when I lived in Michigan to get my car out of the snow.

I'll keep trying, cause I REALLY like the concept of checking tire air and washing the bike with less effort

bj

 

I had a little difficulty lifting the ultra on to the stand, while sitting on the bike,when I first installed it. It was me being a little worried about dropping it. After a very short time it became no problem. As far as lifting it with plywood under the stand, you need at least 1 inch to clear the rear wheel and have it spin freely. That additional inch requires a lot more effort and you can not lift it while sitting on the bike.

The reason it is more difficult to lift the bike when the stand is on the plywood is that you are now lifting all the weight instead of some of it being supported by the rear wheel.

 

I haven't tried to put mine up on the plywood yet but I can't understand the reasoning why you cannot be on the bike while using the plywood.

Your straddling the bike, so there's no extra weight on the bike, right?

I have no issues putting the SG up on the stand, in fact it's really unbelievable how easy it goes up on the stand. Now, doing it off the bike, that's a different story....

 

No, it ain't just you. There is no way that I can get my RG up on the stand while I'm straddling the bike nor can I get it up on the plywood either. I've tried many times and it just won't go with my weight (165lbs) on the lever. I think you need to be in the 200+ range to get this to work.

Still, I like the stand and it works fine for me while standing beside the bike.

 

Something definitely has to be wrong. On my RK it is very easy to put up on the stand while on the bike. It amazes me just how easily it goes on the stand. I wonder if you can measure the distance from your frame to the ground before you put it on the stand and also after and see if somehow your bike is lower than most, or your stand is wrong. That is the only reason I could imagine that it would take much effort to put it on the Wheeldock stand.

(UPDATE)
I just went out to the garage and with the 2003 RK on the Wheeldock stand there is 6" from the bottom of the frame in front of the Wheeldock mount to the ground. When off the Wheeldock stand and the bike just sitting straight up there is 4.5" from the bottom of the frame to the ground. I even tried putting the bike on the stand without sitting on it and I don't even have to pull the bike. I just push the lever down and it just rocks back and sits on it extremely easily. On my bike, it would not matter how much I weigh, It is easy enough that my wife could put it on the stand, except I would not trust her holding up the bike!

 

Have you tried to contact the Wheeldock people? I`m sure they could give you some pointers and help diagnose your predicament.Just a thought. Maybe it`s your bike ,maybe it`s the stand or a combination of both.Maybe you should eat more(LOL).Call them.Toby

 

I a Sorry to hear that you are having problems getting the Bike on the Stand, I have no problems at all, I usually stand next to the Bike and get it level and push down on the Stand and the Bike Walks up on it, give it some practice and give Wheel Dock a call like others said. I have a Road Glide which is not as heavy as the Ultra so that would make a difference also. Good Luck with it.

2009 Road Glide - Red Sunglo