Lifting Handle for use with Centre stand

It's really worth making sure that the feet on the main stand are not worn and flattened. Rather than pulling up, the effort in putting a Commando onto the mainstand should be in pushing the tang down with the right foot and just gently easing the machine backwards as it goes over-centre. If the stand feet are flattened, then they fight back !

Just grab hold of the rear frame loop.

Those high rise bars won't make it any easier.

I'm unsure whether it would work on a Mk.III Commando, but on a BSA Rocket Three I had, I replaced the nearside rear shock-absorber mounting bolt with an inverted folding footrest which simply flipped-up and acted as a padded handle - it worked a treat. The footrest was one of these after-market jobbies at about £10.00 a pair. I couldn't use this on my Mk.2A Commando as the shock mountings incorporate the knurled saddle location knobs but I gather the MK.III has a hinged seat so it might work..

Not directly helpful for you Christopher, but I saw this very neat solution (on-gasp-a Triton) at a Cafe Racer day run by the Oxford Branch. My immediate reaction was, why is that footrest so high up- and why is it hanging upside down? Then the penny dropped, it was a lifting handle that folds down when not in use. Very neat, and clearly a purpose-made item.

If the club member who did this reads this note, I'm sure you would have a stream of customers!

... getting my 850 on the stand even when fully loaded with luggage. There are 2 things to remember:

1. Make sure when you push the stand down that the bike isn't leaning to one side or the other

2. As said, use your weight on the stand and you only need a very slight pull up and back on the frame loop and it will pop up very easily. It helps if you're fairly heavy!

If still difficult then as said something is not right. If you want to try a difficult stand the one on my plunger framed ES2 is the very devil.....

Hi Chris,

Can`t see from your photo but if you have an 18 inch rear wheel instead of the standard 19 inch one, that will make it harder as will worn stand pivots.

Regards, Al.

Hi Chris,

here's some photos of a handle I made from a Commando rear footrest.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/m4n7a5cvMWw2bDvDA

It's not fitted to a Norton, but a similar set up may be possible for you.

Good luck!

An 18" rear wheel does make a big difference, might be worth considering changing it or shortening your stand to compensate for the extra 1/2" you are lifting the bike before the stand gets to the original angle for the foot lever to operate as intended.

Regards, Al.