Road King centre stand

[Mr B]

I've recently fitted a centre stand to my Road King, and I had to do some modifications to it in order to make it usable. Some club members have shown some interest in this stand, so here's what I had to do to make it work properly.

After looking at what was on offer for the Touring models, I decided without actually seeing any, that the Wheeldock EZ-UP was the one that I wanted to have. I liked the idea of being able to lift the bike back onto the stand without having to get off. It turns out that this is just a gimick, and although it works, it's dangerous to use. This is a full size heavy weight Harley, not a Lambretta or a Vespa. The only way they could make this possible, was to make the legs so short that they went over centre easily. The only problem...they came back on their own just as easily. A gentle push from behind, and my Road King was off down the garage on it's own. Lucky I was ready to grab the handlebars as she took off.

I decided that I had wasted my money unless I could make it work properly. So I needed to make the feet thicker, and get more weight on the stand to make it more stable. I experimented with different thickness pieces of MDF until I had the back wheel off the ground, which is what I wanted. I settled for 20mm. That seemed the right height to get the back wheel 15mm clear of the ground, and it changed the angle of the bike so that the legs were well over centre now. I got ready to grab my pride and joy, and gave her a push from behind to see what would happen....nothing, it was as solid as a rock. It wasn't going to accidently fall off on it's own now. To get it off the stand, just sit on it and push hard forwards and it just rolls off gently.

This stand is now a quality piece of kit, and a great addition to any Touring model, but only after it's been modified. I emailed the manufacturer with my concerns, and haven't had a reply. I suppose it is called the 'EZ-UP', but should also be called the 'EZ-DOWN WHEN YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING IT' stand.

Operation is simple. It won't go up with me sitting on her anymore, but I just kick out the jiffy stand for a little bit of insurance. Get off. Then left hand on handlebar, right hand on saddlebag support, right foot on operating lever. All at the same time, I push down with my foot, lift the bag support, and pull the handlebar and up she goes. It's easy...works everytime.

If anyone wants one of these stands, don't buy from the States like I did, there's a stockist in Scotland somewhere. I only saved £20 by the time Gordon Brown and Parcel Force had their share. I waited 6 weeks for it to arrive. If I hadn't been able to make it work, I'd have wasted my money.

There are 3 different heights you can buy. I bought this one for a standard height Road King, but you may not need to modify it at all if you get one for a raised suspension model and fit it on a standard height bike. the legs will be longer.


This is how it came out the box. Note the thin feet.


I welded 20mm feet onto the bottom. Looks a bit like platform soles now.


The foot operating lever fits out of the way under the passenger footboard.


A view from the right hand side. That's my new stabilizer link as well.


Brian.

[Baff]

When's it going to come off to be chromed?

[Mr B]

You only chrome something if you want it to be seen. I want this hidden from view, so it stays black.

Brian.

[Baff]

I spy a foot operating lever.

[Mr B]

You can actually buy them with the lever chromed. Even I think that's going a bit too far Baff.

Brian.

[Limey_Dave]

How do these prices compare?

EZ-UP Center Stand :: Speedline Moto

[Mr B]

Dave, looking at that...I didn't save anything by buying from the States. Everything considered...it cost me £220

Brian.

[Limey_Dave]

On the Wheeldock site it says 3/8" (10mm) ply under the feet will lift back wheel clear of ground.Isn't that enough to stop it jumping forward?
Was getting one but having second thoughts now.I've seen somewhere that they make one that lifts the wheel as standard.

[Mr B]

I tried all sorts of thickness pieces under it. 3/8" didn't seem to make much difference. It wasn't until I got to about 18mm that I started to feel satisfied that it was ok. I eventually went for 20mm because I just happened to have some flat steel that size. As it turns out, it's most stable with 20mm under it. Much less than that, and I feel it would have been a waste of time modifying it in the first place.

Now I think about it after I've got it...I should have gone for something that was thought out properly before being offered for sale. I've fixed it, so I'll keep it, and I like it now, but not everyone can weld or has the equipment. It would have been a waste of their money.

Brian.

[Limey_Dave]

I would think the main problem for most would be bending 20mm bar.
One way would be cutting 2 parts at an angle and welding together once they were on there.
I've seen a MoCo one with adjustable legs but God knows how much that is,and the lever is much shorter so might make it harder to operate,plus it's got a strap that bolts to the swingarm mount that looks ugly.

Looks like you've made yourself one of these.

YouTube - Centerstand for Harleys from RIVCO Products