Mounting The Beast

[Woodstock]

I always stand on the ground (left side) and swing my right leg over the seat. If I have the bike on the center stand, and saddlebags on, it's a bit hard to do with my 30" inseam. I've seen people step onto the footpeg first, then swing over, but for some reason, that always seemed unsafe, esp. on the sidestand. What say you all, do you ever put all your weight on one footpeg? Even if it's on the sidestand?

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I don't do that on the sidestand...mostly because my BMW (1977) sidestand is weak and already bent a little.

 

[FJRocket]

I only have a 28 inch inseam. I don't EVER stand on the pegs using the side stand. I certainly have done it on the center stand. To get the bike OFF the center stand, I just about HAVE to be on the pegs. I can't touch the ground!

 

[Thug]

Have you tried the rear horse mount? :blink: Might be a bit of an issue with a top box insitu though...

 

[lomaxcm]

Here is a silly idea that I use a lot. Try mounting the bike from the right side. For some reason I have less of a tendency to kick the bags and put boot marks on them this way. Also if the side stand were to break or slide out from underneath you and the bike were to go down, from the right side you are on top of the bike instead of underneath it. This is also a bit safer if you happen to be pulled off the side of a road as it puts you out of the way of traffic. At least for us drive on the right types.

Ride Safe.

Marc

 

[Mr Bill]

I have a 36 inch inseam. I mount with bike only on the sidestand (much more stable that way) and from the left. I usually can't swing my leg over the back because I have gear on the back seat and a big ass boat antenna for my cb. I either put my right leg over the seat and hop on my left foot to get close to the bike or stand on the peg. Getting on the bike is when having long legs is a hassle.

 

[radman]

 

[Mr Bill]

I want one!

Thats how fat old Henry VIII got on his horse

 

[Bounce]

let's see...

learned this on a Wing... with the oem trunk... with stuff on the rack on top of the trunk... with either the aux fuel tank in the pillion seat or things like tents and such on pillion...

As you swing your leg over, bend it at the knee and pivot forward on the ball of the foot that's on the ground. You can clear a BUNCH of stuff and height that way. If things are still too high to clear, then do the hop-skip-and-jump. With your leg straight out in front (like just finishing a front snap kick) skip the grounded foot forward as the airborne leg moves across the bike (being careful to clear the saddle so as not to tear it).

 

[FJRocket]

Bounce, is that you giving a demo of your hop skip jump technique in your avatar?

 

[spine60]

wow, this is getting ridiculus, and how exactly do you wipe your ass, front to back , back to front or sideways?? :dribble:

 

[antvq]

back to front

:reading:

 

[Woodstock]

So, I guess the consensus is that on centerstand, people feel comfortable putting all their weight on one side peg, but no sidestand.

 

[JimLor]

That's what I think - and do!

 

[Groo]

I do both... and my statisically insignificant sample of 1 indicates everything is dandy!

 

[FJRocha]

With my 32" inseam, I don't have much of a problem getting on (or off) the bike. This is how I do it:

Grab on handle bars, left foot pointing forward and parallel to the bike, rotate hip to the right and lift right leg (knee bent and heel close to butt) just above the saddle bags. Rotate hip to the left until the right leg clears the bike, put right foot on ground, lower butt to touch the seat, lift the bike off the side stand. Voila, done.

However, here are a couple of techniques to mount the bike in case the seat is too high:

Alternative 1- Grab on to the left of the saddle with both hands, put the left foot on the left peg and lift your weight up, then, put your right foot on the pillion left peg and push yourself up a bit higher. Now, reach over the saddle, and grab firmly from the right side of the saddle with both hands, pull yourself up and rest your belly on the saddle. Stretch your arms all the way to reach the brake lever and pull from it (this will elevate your pelvis to reach the saddle. At that point, grab onto the gas tank with your left hand and, at the same time, lift your right leg over the left side case. Stop to take some air and dry your perspiration. Now, move your right leg over the saddle to reach the right side case. Grab on the base of the handle bars with your right hand and pull you body forward. bend your right knee and let your right foot drop on the right side of the bike. Push on the gas tank, and elevate your torso. Ok, now you are straddling the bike, all you have to do is reach the floor to lift the bike (Damnation!!!).

Alternative 2 - Use one of the side cases as a stepping stool.

 

[Groo]

Dang FJRocha,

I think that first technique won the gold medal on Pommel Horse at the Athens Olympics.... :eh:

 

[twowheelnut]

OK, if you guys think the centerstand is a big whoop, check out this month's issue of Motorcyclist wherein they explain how to pivot your bike 180 degrees while balancing it on the side stand. Me thinks I'll not give that a go...

 

[Toecutter]

how to pivot your bike 180 degrees while balancing it on the side stand

I saw a guy do that with an R6, but I decided that dropping my bike while sustaining a back injury just wasn't for me, not to mention letting the sidestand bear the entire weight of an FJR.