I used to ride a B31 many years ago (1966 actually) and have always considered it one of the best handling machines I ever had. I now ride a similar bike but am experiencing major problems with it (them) which I have no recollection of all those years ago. I have solved the first problem by biting the bullet and purchasing an electric start kit. The second problem is currently active and well recognised by geriatric riders of these machines...to wit, the herculean strength required to get the things onto the centre stand. I know that back in the day the difficulty of employing the centre stand was recorded in print by several journalistic testers but I must have been up to it, as well as kicking them over with no problems. I have inspected my centre stand in some detail in an effort to invent a modification to ease the task, but it occurred to me that finer brain power than I command may well have come up with a crib already hence my post. Does anyone have knowledge of some form of modification to the centre stand which eases this problem. Initially I obtained another lifting bracket and fitted it to the opposite side brackets in the vain hope that I could somehow position myself to the rear of the bike and have the benefit od two lifting brackets to pull back on. Not feasible although useful if a second person is around to assist!
Hi,
I think we are all now suffering from this poor design. There was a very interesting modification/adaptation in an article in The Star on an A10. If you are a BSAOC member go through your back issues or access it on the Members Area of the BSAOC website. It looked relatively simple to do and seemed to be very affective.
If in the garage you could roll your back wheel on to a piece of wood perhaps 1.5" thick. This will allow the stand to drop down further before pulling the bike back. I also use a wide strap so that I do not have to bend down to try and lift/pull the bike up/back.
Dave.
Thank you Dave, I am on the case, I am a BSAOC member although a fairly recent one (about 3 years) if the article is more than 3 years old I will attempt to locate it via the website. The tip re the wooden plank is also appreciated!
I used to ride a B31 many years ago (1966 actually) and have always considered it one of the best handling machines I ever had.
I agree MGI, I'm recently new to the B models, mine is a 1950 B31. It really does handle the road very good, wish I had a B model years ago it would have prevented me wasting my money on the rubbish I've had over the last 40 years.
Regards
Bob
I'm quite strong but my centre stand is still not easy to use. It was discussed in this thread:
https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=8733.msg45007#msg45007 (https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=8733.msg45007#msg45007)
A side stand might be of help for those times where you have to get off the bike, open the garden gate, wheel the bike through, then go back to close the gate. With a side stand that's two times you don't have to put the bike on the centre stand, and two more times when you come home again.
I got a piece of wood about an inch thick, but I put it under the front wheel, not the back. Didn't seem to make it much easier, if any . Don't ask why I put it under the front rather than the back - I don't know. I look forward to trying it under the back wheel. Seems to me a ridiculous design, and I'm surprised it wasn't addressed by BSA. Maybe people were stronger then, or more used to hardship, or just uncomplaining. But it's not just the huge effort required that bothers me: it's also that when the bike at last rolls over onto the stand it's with such a crash that I worry it might cause some damage, break a casing seal or even crack a casing. Phil
I agree with you Phil regarding the crash. My C15 does the same. There's no finesse with it.
Being short of stature and owning an AJS heavyweight single (as well as my little Beeza!) I struggled to get it on the centre stand when I first got it 3 years ago on my return to biking after a 40+year gap.
Somewhere in the immense wealth of information on the Jampot site I found a note as to how the AMC factory riders put the bikes on the centre stand which was certainly new to me but I find works a treat. The method relies on there being a handle on the mudguard behind the seat - I presume BSA's have a similar facility?
So:
1) Right hand holding the mudguard handle
2) Left hand cupped under the edge of the seat close to the tank
3) LEFT FOOT on the centre stand
4) Right foot somewhere near the rear axle
5) Lift with the right hand whilst pulling backwards with the left hand
6) et voila! Even the vertically challanged can get the bike on the stand.
It works because you are lifting vertically close to your body, with the weight being taken by both feet to get the stand over-centre, rather than trying to drag the whole bike backwards whilst it climbs itself over the stand.
A bonus of not pulling on the handlebar with the left hand in the conventional manner is that the handlebar grip can''t come off in your hand so the now free and unsupported bike can't fall over all by itself. Ask me how I know .....
Give it a go and let us know how you get on.
Alan
Thanks, Group Leader. I don't know about other BSAs but I don't think mine has such a facility. Over.
I haven't got a handle either. As it's relatively a light bike I almost find I'm picking the rear end up and kicking the stand under simultaneously. As Phil said, there's nothing graceful about it.
For a lifting handle, substitute the top suspension bolt for a rear footrest. Folds down when not needed and is strong enough to lift the bike.
Dave.
For getting my B33 up on the centre stand at home, I have made a small ramp. About 1 ft wide, 3.5 in high at one end and at floor level at the other.
Push the front wheel up the ramp, put on the front brake, push down the centre stand with your foot, grab the rear hand rail and pull back. The bike goes up on the centre no sweat!
I still need my wife to help me get it off the stand however.
Would putting a bit of wood under the centre stand help getting it off? I found that the legs of the stand are too short to be able to easily push the stand back and being able to tilt the bike forward assists this.
Rear hand rail, you say. Sadly, I don't have one. General opinion seems to be that something at the back to grab and lift is very useful. I like the idea of a footrest at the suspension bolt point. Phil
Hi,
Getting a bike off the centre stand should be easier but if the stops are worn then the stand angles too far forward or is it back, so more effort is needed to lift it over centre. Repair to the stops will be needed but best done with a bare frame unless just the stand can be done. Usually part of the original stop can be seen so there is something to aim for.
An indicator of knackered stops is if both tyres touch the ground or there is little 'rockability' between front tyre touching to rear tyre touching. Part of the role of the centre stand was to facilitate removal of the wheels (one at a time) so a bit of clearance between tyre and road is needed.
Dave.
My bikes both have handles on the left hand side of the rear mudguard but even with the handle it is almost impossible to get it on the stand safely. I actually purchased another handle and installed on the opposite side which doesn't help at all but at least it is somewhere for anyone else that can be persuaded to assist to pull/lift. The thing is, with the advent of old age it is necessary to get it onto the centre stand in order to be able to kick start it, trying to kick start it whilst similtaneously keeping it vertical is even worse than trying to get it on the stand. At least the 500 now has an electric boot enabling me to start it whilst sitting on the seat - priceless!
I have had the same problem with my 1958 B33. Fitted a new stand for an A7/A10 which has an arm out on the left side and with weight applied to the end of that with the left foot, and pulling up on the lifting handle that I fitted (just to the rear of the top shock absorber mounting), I now find it quite easy to put on the centre stand. The arm does stick out a bit in order to clear the non-existent left hand silencer; unfortunately a new singles style version was unobtainable.
I use a block of wood under the front wheel technique on another bike when in the garage, but no use when out and about on the BSA with no electric start where I have to use the stand to start it.
Hi,
Has anyone tried starting their bike standing on the righthand side with the bike on the side stand? Left or right leg?
I used to know a chap who had been quite badly affected by polio and this is how he started his Spitfire Mk2 with 10:1 compression using his better leg which was his left one. This might be doable especially with lower compression engines.
Dave.
A guy at the branch starts his A65 using his left leg. He has done this since he had a replacement right knee. I have tried to do it with no joy.
Quote from: idie on 09 Jul, 2020, 15:00
A guy at the branch starts his A65 using his left leg. He has done this since he had a replacement right knee. I have tried to do it with no joy.
It's pretty awkward kicking over a bike with a left side lever. With MZs I've owned, I would start it from cold standing on the left and using my right foot. Once the engine warmed up, I could start the thing left footed, while astride it.
Fitted a new stand for an A7/A10
Richard - do you know if the A7/A10 stand would fit my 1950 B31 Plunger?
Bob
I think you will find that the design is very different.
I have plans to modify my centre stand following the stand design of my other bike, which weighs another cwt over the heft of my BSA. It's still far easier to get on the stand. One issue is that the BSA's stand in use is 20 degrees from vertical; the stand on t'other bike is at 15 degrees, and it's a worn stand...
I'm sure I wrote about this somewhere; this isn't the first time this topic has come up, and it won't be the last. I will try and find it.
(Edited) I found two threads:
https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=7699.msg37217#msg37217 (https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=7699.msg37217#msg37217)
https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=8733.msg45041#msg45041 (https://www.bsaownersclub.co.uk/bsaoc_forum/index.php?topic=8733.msg45041#msg45041)
Bob,
No, I don't think that there was such a stand made that would fit a plunger.
Dave,
I nearly always kick start my motorcycles when they are on the centre stand using my left leg; this is just habit from when I got my first one at 16 years old and there was no-one to show me otherwise!
Only exceptions are that I can do right leg hot starts astride my B33 because it's so well mannered and doesn't often kick-back so I feel fairly confident; however I hardly ever do this. Other exception is with my Morini K2 with the kickstart on the left where I stand on the left and kick with the right leg. However, I tend to use the electric leg instead!
I don't have any problem with the main stand on my plunger M33. This might be because it has an oversize front wheel. I push the stand down, shove a foot behind it and pull the bike up just using the handlebars. When it's on the main stand the rear wheel is only just clear of the ground but that's not normally a problem. Putting the back wheel on a plank to give you a head start often works but only at home in the garage. I had to do this with one of my heavy old Guzzis until I gained the knack which involves putting left foot on the stand, letting go of the bars and lifting up and backwards using both hands. My M33 doesn't have a side stand and I don't like those clamp-on jobs. I've thought about designing something to go at the front of the frame where the engine plates mount but don't want to just come up with something that bends the frame. I've often wondered if those military stands for rigid M series bikes can be made to work on a plunger.
Having said all that, the bike's currently propped up, as usual, on an old wooden tool box which just happens to be the right size to put under the riders footrest. I also have a wooden prop to put under a footrest if I'm likely to have to park on grass at a show or whatever.
As for starting the bike. I usually roll it off the stand while astride it and kick it over still astride. I am lucky being tall and with no dodgy knees yet.
I have perused all the copies of the Star that I have, regrettably it is clear that I don't have the issue with the centre stand crib. I have attempted to regurgitate it via the BSAOC forum but without success - does anyone know which copy of the Star featured this adaption? I have been a member for approaching 4 years and generally fail to keep too many editions, a fact I now regret.
Hi,
I will try to have look through mine tomorrow.
Dave.
Hi, If you log into the Members Area of our BSAOC website you will find a 'searchable' Technical Articles list. Once you find the month and year Star it was published in you can go to the Star Magazines page where PDF copies can be downloaded. I find this works well.
Also interesting to read some of the old magazines which go back to 1964.
Good morning,
I have gone back through 4 years of The Star and did not see the article about the stand modification. Perhaps Chris (Editor) can point you in the right direction re year and month.
Dave.
I found an article about mods to a C15 centre stand in the archives of The Star. It was the January 2017 issue, pages 16 and 17. It refers back to discussion on the old forum, but the link from this forum send me to a page with almost nothing on it. I couldn't find the piece about mods to an A10 stand.