laid bike down

[Pat C]

Today the wife decided to take a ride with me, this would be the first time in years since she was on a bike. We were in the garage I got on bike first then she put her left foot on peg and then I couldn't hold it up and had to lay it down. My wife is not tiny, but she is not huge, I can't understand why I can't hold her up, she used ride with me when we were younger. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

 

[bramfrank]

I couldn't hold it up . . . . . . . she is not huge, I can't understand why I can't hold her up . . . . .Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Must resist until Friday :blink:

 

[Intech]

Today the wife decided to take a ride with me, this would be the first time in years since she was on a bike. We were in the garage I got on bike first then she put her left foot on peg and then I couldn't hold it up and had to lay it down. My wife is not tiny, but she is not huge, I can't understand why I can't hold her up, she used ride with me when we were younger. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Getting on she caused you to drop it? If so, put the side stand down while you are on the bike and then let her get on. If while she is on you cannot get the bike upright from the stand then you should not ride with a passenger.

 

[bramfrank]

Today the wife decided to take a ride with me, this would be the first time in years since she was on a bike. We were in the garage I got on bike first then she put her left foot on peg and then I couldn't hold it up and had to lay it down. My wife is not tiny, but she is not huge, I can't understand why I can't hold her up, she used ride with me when we were younger. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Seriously . . . since it's been a few years, perhaps you aren't properly bracing for the force vector that is applied when your SO mounts the machine.

The machine is going over because the center of gravity moves outside the triangle that is created by your feet - your feet are too far apart and too much force is being applied and your legs are giving way - or she is pulling the machine over. Extend the side stand to prevent a tip over.

When she gets on the bike she is supposed to be pressing down, not pulling the bike to the side.

It could be her, as much as or more than you . . . . . but we'll leave the exploration of the alternative meanings that might appy to the statement until Friday.

 

[olsonm3915]

I plant my feet wide and straddle the bike, steadying it with my thighs, before I let my pillion passenger get on. Avoid sitting on the seat. Also you should be leaning the bike a little to the right (assuming your wife is getting on the left side), then straightening up after she gets on.

I never consciously thought about any of this, it's just obvious that you need to keep the bike balanced as well as possible and react to the torque created by someone putting all their weight on one peg. You could deploy the side stand as someone else suggested, but if you can't manage without that, you really shouldn't be carrying a passenger at all.

 

[bang-n-gearz]

+1 on kick stand down, wife mount first. My wife has difficult time kicking her leg up, ..I am 51 years of age and she is 54. Not over weight just not as limber as 20 years ago. She has a Miata she prefers to CRUISE around in.

Don't beat yourself up Pat it happens

Buck 05 FJR

Dls.TX

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

Pat- You likely were not ready for her to mount the bike. Is it possible you didn't really have good solid flat-footed control of the bike as she was getting on? Sorry to hear about the mishap. Good suggestions by rablanch above.

 

[wfooshee]

She should be using your shoulders to pull herself up, not part of the bike, like the grab handles, top case, or backrest, if any of those exist.

My process: Both my feet firmly on the ground, front brake on firmly, she stands on the left footpeg using her hands on my shoulders or arm to pull up if she needs to. Once standing, then she swings her leg over the seat and sits down. I don't leave the sidestand down. She also knows to wait for me to say I'm ready, even if it looks like I'm ready.

 

[Intech]

She should be using your shoulders to pull herself up, not part of the bike, I don't leave the sidestand down. She also knows to wait for me to say I'm ready, even if it looks like I'm ready.

Very good points here except that why wouldn't you put the side stand down at least as a precaution. My SO can get on with me holding the bike up, but I don't do it that way for 2 reasons:

1. Why should I struggle at all with holding the bike up if I don't have to.

2. What if, for some reason, I bobbled while she was getting on? I am more concerned for her safety than the bike.

 

[old&slow]

Today the wife decided to take a ride with me, this would be the first time in years since she was on a bike. We were in the garage I got on bike first then she put her left foot on peg and then I couldn't hold it up and had to lay it down. My wife is not tiny, but she is not huge, I can't understand why I can't hold her up, she used ride with me when we were younger. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

Pat,,,

I usually have my wife "wait" until the side stand is down before she gets on or off.....

I've noticed some folks get on and off better than others and are better back seat riders than others...

With my daughter ,, you never know she's on the back of the bike,,,

My wife on the other hand , has a way of throwing you off balance when she gets on or off the bike..

She's not big or anything,,, She just has a way of throwing me off balance..

So, My rule is wait until the side stand is down..

 

[radman]

"No Honey Bun-we're taking the bike!"

 

[Old Michael]

She should be using your shoulders to pull herself up, not part of the bike...

Yes! wfooshee is wise. Makes a huge difference.

 

[v65]

All this talk about mounting, what are you guys talking about? We need pics I tells ya.

 

[Knifemaker]

She should be using your shoulders to pull herself up, not part of the bike, like the grab handles, top case, or backrest, if any of those exist.
My process: Both my feet firmly on the ground, front brake on firmly, she stands on the left footpeg using her hands on my shoulders or arm to pull up if she needs to. Once standing, then she swings her leg over the seat and sits down. I don't leave the sidestand down. She also knows to wait for me to say I'm ready, even if it looks like I'm ready.

+1

That's how we do it and never really a problem. I am thinking that at the moment I feel her weight on the side of the bike I might be pushing the bike off to the right slightly to compensate, but we would have to go out and try it cause I can't be sure.

Because it has been "years" since your wife got on the bike, I would hazard a guess she just forgot the routine. Speed helps here.

I don't bother to use the sidestand because if I can't hold the bike up with her getting on then I would stop taking her as a passenger. Not to mention that I have to shift the weight off BOTH legs to the right leg to put the stand up..(because Yamaha believes we are all idiots and you can't ride the bike forward with the stand down)

I can see it as a precautionary move , but you still have to put the stand up...much easier to do without a passenger onboard.

When we come to a stop while riding I always put both feet down and use the front brake to hold the bike still.

"I couldn't hold it up and had to lay it down"

Most times I see that phrase I always think the rider is saying he actualy had a choice, but that was the only one he could think of. You didn't lay the bike down...it did it all on its own....lol

KM

 

[Mizz Bustanut]

"No Honey Bun-we're taking the bike!"

That poor, poor car. :cray:

 

[djon]

Pat

I don't know about your garage but my garage concrete has a smooth finish and the driveway has a brushed finished. If anything gets on the garage floor, dust, dirt, grass clippings or water it get very slippery. I wear my work boots as riding boots and generally I wear them until they go from treads until slick.

So add the two together and things get tricky. I now back my bike straight out of the garage before making any turns.

My SO uses the hand on the shoulder approach and that seems to help. I don't have a back rest or a top box so she can swing her right leg around back without any difficulty.

 

[FJR-Voltron]

Like others have said, I have the wifey get on the bike first with the kickstand down and the engine off, in 1st gear. That way there's no chance of any drastic CG shifts.

 

[7xray]

... She just has a way of throwing me off balance..

Don't they all do that? It's genetic I think. :huh:

 

[marcusorelius]

I can just see your avatar radman ride'n with that beshemoth on the back!