Hello from new member

Hi all..........My name is Den and I'm from the county of Northumberland UK.  I'm coming up to 66 years young and I've just bought a Silverwing yesterday. I've been lurking around this forum for a while now, getting loads of good info while I've been looking for the right Silverwing.  I bought from a private seller a 2014 black one.  It only has 466 miles on the clock so virtually brand new and still under warranty.  In fact the previous owner took out a further 1 year extention to the warranty so I'm covered right until December 2017.  I was into bikes from the 60s, obtaining my licence in 1966. I worked as a bike mechanic for several years but gave it all up when wives and children came along !  Then three years ago I decided to get a bike again.  I bought a 2004 Yamaha xvs 250 Dragstar.  Still have the Dragstar but I'll have to sell it asap to get some money back.  So, the Silverwing is a new learning curve for me again.  Hoping to get out for a few god rides while weather is still ok here in the UK.  One thing that I've found difficult with the bike is getting it onto the centre stand.  I'm fairly short in stature and have arthritis in various joints and have a bit less muscle strength than I had years ago.  There seems to be a bit of a technique to it.  Sometimes I've managed reasonably ok then the next time I'm really struggling.  Pleased it has a side stand. Just wondering if anyone else has this problem and if there is a trick or a mod that may help me.  Appart from that I really love the bike.  Cheers.

Den

Den welcome to the best Silverwing forum on the web. I understand what you mean about getting it onto the centre stand. There's a trick to getting it onto the centre stand and hopefully someone will chime in on that. You can find answers to questions you may have not thought of asking by looking through old posts.
If you are looking forward to learning and plan on doing your own maintenance you'll find you can do anything you need or want with the service manual and help from this forum.
I add the paragraph below for most new members because there's a lot of information in the links and may save you some work.
Here are some links(3 below in blue)that will help you learn a lot about your Silverwing. If you can't find what you need in the links below the search on this forum works good, and if you still need help just ask and someone will do what they can to answer your questions.

Maintenance, Tips and Hints
Maintenance "Pictorials"
Accessories-Modifications

Den, it sounds as if you got a good deal.


There are several things involved in getting the scooter on the center stand. Make sure you are on a level firm surface. Make sure both sides of the center stand are making contact with the ground. I have found that pushing down on the center stand while pulling up and back works best for me. The process is described in the owner's manual. You said that sometimes it is easy, so I think with a little practice you will have it mastered.

It is easy to put the bike on the center stand when it is facing uphill, but you will learn a new vocabulary trying to get it down. Don't ask how I know.

Thanks for the welcome guys. I'll have to persevere with the centre stand. I'm sure I'll get there with a bit more practice. In the meantime I'll be spending many hours looking at all the posts on the forum and learning lots of good stuff from previous posts. I'm sure to be back with more questions though Cheers.

Den

Hi Den and welcome to the best SWing site on the Net.

I just turned 69 in July and have had my 08 SWing for two seasons now and LOVE it. Like what has been said, flat level surface is the best bet for getting it on the center stand. I usually put it on the center stand while in my garage with a cement floor and with the door closed. That way the neighbors can't point and laugh at me so much.  Anyway, the way I do it is to grab onto the left handlebar grip with my left hand, which is a lot easier than using the right hand... Then I grab the passenger grip and sort of stand on the center stand while making sure it has both legs on the floor. Then I push down on the passenger grip to get the SWing to sort of bounce back up. As it's doing that I pull up like my life depended on it while pushing down on the center stand, sort of like trying to pull them apart. Step down hard while pulling up hard. It will usually go onto the stand in a try or two.

Welcome and LOL, thinking G'Wings and finding the S'Wing is almost as difficult at times, that's why unless it's a special reason it's on the side-stand 95% of the time.

Den, there is one more thing you can do to make it easier to put your scoot on the centrestand. If you know a welder , get him/her to weld a 2" square of metal to the centrestand foot rest. That way you will have more purchase and be able to put more pressure.
Practice also makes perfect.

cotetoi................Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately with the bike being under warranty I wouldn't be able to do mods like that.

Den

I forgot to mention that if you run the rear wheel up on a piece of wood it may help some.

466 on a 2014, yes that s new. Welcome to the site from Arizona.

Hi all...........Just a quick update now that I've had my Swing for almost two weeks now.  Loving it loads and I'm finally managing to get it on the centre stand  I think I've found the tecnique.  Also, a little bit of info and recommendation, more so for the UK members.  I've managed to get a service manual from http://www.service-shop-repair-manual.com/ It cost $50 including shipping to the UK and took less than a week. That's great service and the manual is excellent.  Ride safe.

Den