CX500 GL500 650 Global

Is there a trick to getting the bike up on the center stand? I tried for a bit and all I managed to do was mash my finger between the tank and handlebars and look funny. Anyone care to share the secret? Thanks.

Left hand on the left handlebar grip.
Right hand under the seat/sissy bar.
Place right foot onto the centre stand stub and press it to the ground.Stop.
Now lift yourself up onto the centre stand stub so that your body weight pushes down on the centre stand and as it does pull back with the left hand and pull up with the right.
Your body weight acts as a counter-balance and will lift the bike up and your left hand then just has to pull it back onto the stand.

If at home you can place a piece of say 1/2" under the back wheel when you stop and that makes it even easier but best lern the above technique

First time I dropped my bike was trying to get it on the CS while wearing cheap sandals!! What a DORK huh!!

Try to visualize that all you're doing is taking a step up onto a rock or log using nothing other than your RIGHT leg to lift your body up. Something like you might see in a 'step aerobics' class. As Shep describes, THIS IS ALL THAT YOU NEED TO DO - focus your body weight on the stand as it swings down. Theres is NO NEED to try and 'swing' or 'jerk' the bike up onto the stand! You will eventually hurt your back doing it this way.

It took me a while to figure it out, but here's what works for me, EVERY time, using my 170 lb body weight to do 90% of the work.
The breakdown:

Prepare:
Start with bike on the side stand
Stand on left side, with your body facing the left side of bike (NOT facing forward or to rear)
With left hand, lightly hold left hand grip
With right hand, firmly grasp left passenger seat grab rail

Balance:
Now, straighten the bike up and straighten the bars so front tire is roughly centered
Firmly plant left foot on the ground while right foot locates and swings the center stand down to touch the floor (not pushing yet)
Keep light squeeze on left grip to steady and balance the front end (You don't want to pull bars though)
Bend knees slighty - and remember, you are using your body weight, NOT your back

Note: You may have to adjust where you put your feet at the beginning so that as the CS swings down, your body weight is first centered over the stand and then shifts to the rear as stand swings down and the bike swings up. This means, do not stand next to fuel tank!

THRUST:
Now, in one smooth motion,
Shift all of your weight onto your right foot/center stand and give an upward tug on grab rail with right hand
You should feel the bike roll to the rear !Keep standing on the CS! - !Keep pulling up with right hand!
The bike will hop up onto stand!
DO NOT yank rearward with left hand - try to just hold the bars straight

I hope this helps!

Don't feel bad, I had the same problem when I first got mine a few months ago. I think the biggest secret is making sure both feet of the centerstand are on the ground, if you try it without the bike being level and both feet of the stand on the ground, all you'll get is angry.